Anti-Life Politicians Insist 'Health Care' Allow Killing the Unborn

Let's be clear: anti-life politicians, with obdurate persistence, are committed to funding abortions with tax-payer dollars.

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GLADE PARK, Colorado (Catholic Online) - On October 8, 2009, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sent a letter to Congress expressing their disappointment that progress had not been made in protecting the sanctity of life in the proposed health care reform bill.The Bishops urged Congress to:

"Exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion. It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience. No current bill meets this test" (usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-10-08-healthcare-letter-congress.pdf).

Congress continues to ignore our Bishops. In a blatant display of disregard for the lives of the unborn our political leaders have repeatedly struck down amendments to the health care reform bill which would limit or prevent federal funding of abortions. The National Right to Life Committee (nrlc.org) reports that "In four congressional committees, pro-abortion Democratic committee chairmen and majorities, allied with the White House, rejected amendments to keep elective abortion out of the 'public plan' and to prevent federal subsidies from going to private plans that cover elective abortion."

The bills before congress fail to meet the nonnegotiable obligation to protect the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. Rather than protect our children who have a basic right to health care - which certainly includes the right to life - Congress has, time and again, insisted on advancing the morally bankrupt legalized "right" to abortion, which is the intentional killing of our precious, innocent children. Further, with pernicious aspirations to expand their attack on life, these same politicians intend to force Americans to pay for the barbaric deeds of abortion.

We hear statements from politicians who insist that the "Hyde Amendment" law already prohibits federal funding of abortions; therefore there is no need to be concerned whether federal funding of abortions would occur in the proposed "public option" plan. However, under HR 3200, private plans that cover elective abortions would be federally subsidized. Even the Associated Press reported on August 5, 2009, that the Hyde Amendment "applies the [abortion] restrictions to Medicaid . . . [But] The health overhaul would create a stream of federal funding not covered by the restrictions." FactCheck.org also confirmed the claim that HR 3200 would authorize the government plan to cover elective abortions (see factcheck.org/2009/08/abortion-which-side-is-fabricating). The Hyde Amendment will not prevent federal funding of abortions in the proposed "public option" plan.

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Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), notes that language on page 110 of the new bill (H.R. 3962) explicitly authorizes the "public health insurance option" to pay for all elective abortions. Johnson further noted that "The public plan will be a federal agency program, and all funds spent by the agency are federal funds." Addressing the deceitful tactics employed by pro-abortion politicians, Johnson said, "Prominent Democrats who have claimed that the federal government could pay for abortion with 'private' funds have been engaged in a big snow job -- and in swallowing such a contrived, implausible claim, many journalists have been all too gullible."

Let's be clear: pro-abortion politicians, with obdurate persistence, are committed to funding abortions with tax-payer dollars; they are aligned with Planned Parenthood, an abortion institution that is vehemently opposed to any restrictions limiting the intentional killing of the unborn; and they have consistently, throughout their terms in office, voted against protecting the lives of our young brethren. These public officials have every intent to publicly fund the death of God's newly created. The proposed "public option" health care plan is the means these politicians will use in order to execute their agenda.

And what is this agenda? It is one which seeks to establish a new global ethic; one where the most heinous crimes imaginable are legal and publicly funded; one where killing innocent persons is elevated to a "right" which is, according to the adopted ideologies of its adherents, inviolable. It is a non-ethic ethic; one where freedom of an evil 'choice' trumps the fundamental first right to life. It's blatant, open immorality that, through the use of clever rhetoric and propaganda, is falsely characterized as "compassion", "freedom", and "women's reproductive care".

It is important to mention that there are some admirable members of Congress such as Bart Stupak (D-Mi.) who are attempting to protect our unborn children. The Stupak amendment would also correct the problem in the health care bill which allows for federal subsidies to be used in order to help pay for private health care plans that cover elective abortions. However, Catholics can never support nor condone the intentional killing of the unborn under any circumstance. Catholics cannot support any legislation which funds the intentional killing of the unborn, regardless of whatever excuse is attached to such killing as a motive.

Further, some are of the mind that health care reform "must" take place, as if we are in a "crisis" situation. Yet what "crises" commands that we publicly fund killing our children? There is, too, the thought that abortions will continue, as if such deeds have reached an unstoppable inertia. Thus: "What's the big deal, so long as the public option plan limits abortions to 'extreme cases' only?" The sentiment is that such an "unavoidable" evil is necessary in order to effect a greater "good". But such thinking is wrong. It is dangerous. One can not commit intentional evil to bring about some sought after "good".

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Health care that publicly funds abortions must be opposed.Period. In order to work an end-run around those members of Congress who oppose federal funding of abortions, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is attempting to force the House to pass the health care reform bill under what is termed a "closed rule". This underhanded procedure would prevent pro-life amendments from consideration by forcing a vote on the current bill as it stands. Through such a process, the Stupak Amendment would not even be considered.

On October 30, the USCCB called on American Catholics "to prevent healthcare reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby." The U.S. Bishops are urging the faithful to contact their congressmen and demand restrictions on abortion funding in the proposed health care bill. It is imperative that Catholics and other Christians stand together on such a grave issue. The lives of our unborn children are at stake. We cannot allow this bloodshed to continue.

It is clear that anti-life politicians are highly obstinate in their intent to further abortions: they are dedicated to seeing abortions supported with federal funds. Utilizing adroit phrasing and illusive terminology, corrupted officials veil their ill intent under a false cloak of concern for women. One such cloak, as mentioned above, is a "concern" labeled "women's reproductive care", which is a favorite phrase frequently used by Planned Parenthood, our Nation's largest abortion provider.Politicians attempt to hide the evil of killing chidren in the womb behind what seems innocuous, compassionate or even considerate.

Then there is the lie that health care for women involves whatever might fall under "reproductive care". Since our children's first home is the womb they become a "reproductive care" fatality. The unborn's lives fall victim to relativistic "reproductive care" ideologies. They will be denied their right to live and grow as God's children. Make no mistake, when we hear the words "women's reproductive care", what is really meant is "women's federally funded killing of unborn children".

Cardinal George in an interview with "il Foglio" stated: "Today the greatest difficulty we have as a Church is that of communicating to society that there is a hierarchy of values. Let's take the question of abortion and of life in general. The Church's voice is listened to in the United States, but it also faces a lot of hostility. And the criticisms of the Church take place for one reason: because our society maintains that individualism and freedom of choice are the most important value to protect. Free will today is valued more highly than life."

A 2008 survey showed that 87 % of Americans placed economic concerns highest. Abortion ranked tenth on the list. It fell below "environment", "immigration", and "trade policy" concerns (pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=339). Trade policy concerns outweigh the intentional killing of children? Is it possible to argue that our Nation has not succumbed to insanity?

Catholics and other Christians must place the value of life above all. The late Servant of God John Paul II warned in his prophetic encyclical letter "The Gospel Of Life" of a "counterfeit notion of freedom". The death of the innocent is of greater concern than any financial matters. The notion that we can ever be "free" to kill the innocent is evil. Is it possible to love God and at the same time support legislation which spells death for untold millions of innocent unborn children? I think not.

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F. K. Bartels operates catholicpathways.com, and is a contributing writer for Catholic Online

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