"Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation" - Bishop William F. Murphy

• Letters from Bishops
• Catholic Teachings
• News Releases
• Issue Backgrounders
• Bulletin Announcements

Opposition to abortion coverage strong

Official Documents

The U.S. bishops and their staff have been working hard to promote the position of the USCCB on health care reform. Their work includes news releases, action alerts, and letters and testimony to members of Congress.

Letters from bishops:

May 21 Setting the Record Straight
May 20 Cardinal DiNardo's Letter Urging Congress to Remedy Abortion & Conscience Flaws in Health Care Reform Law
March 23 Cardinal George's Statement on Passage of "Profoundly Flawed" Health Care Reform Act
March 16 Washington Post Op-Ed by Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Murphy & Bishop Wester
March 15 Statement of USCCB President, Cardinal Georg “The Cost is Too High; The Loss is Too Great”
February 24 Letter to Congress on Eve of Health Care Summit
January 26 Letter to the House
January 26 Letter to the Senate
December 22 Letter to the Senate
December 14 Cardinal DiNardo Letter to the Senate
December 14 Letter to Senator Robert Menendez
December 7 Joint Letter to the Senate
November 20 Joint Letter to the Senate (En Español)
November 9 Statement by Cardinal George on House Action and Senate Concerns
November 7 Letter after Passage of House Bill
November 7 Letter Urging Passage of Stupak Amendment
November 6 Joint Letter to House
October 8 Joint Letter to Congress
September 30 Joint Letter to the Senate
Letter from Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy in September 6 New York Times
August 11 letter from Cardinal Rigali to House of Representatives
July 29 Letter from Cardinal Rigali to House Energy and Commerce Committee
July 17 Letter from Bishop William Murphy to Congress
Statement of Bishop William Murphy to Senate Committee on Finance
March 26 Joint Letter to the Senate

Catholic Teachings:

Quotes From Vatican Documents Addressing Health Care
Comprehensive Health Care Reform – 1993 Document
Health and Health Care – 1981 USCC Document
Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
A Catholic Framework for Economic Life (1996)
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Resources:

Parish bulletin announcements and inserts

Action alerts:

UPDATED Nationwide Bulletin Insert (11-Mar-10) | en Español
Urge Congress Today to Continue to Work on Genuine Health Care Reform!
Call your Senators before Christmas Eve
Support the Menendez Amendment that Stands for Fairness to Legal Immigrants!
Support the Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment to Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform
Optional "Saving Lives" Ad/Flyer for Action Alert | en Español

News Releases

Bishops Note Way Forward With Health Care, Clarify Misconceptions
(5/21/10)
Bishops Urge Congress to Support Bill to Remedy Abortion, Conscience Flaws in Health Care Reform Law
(5/20/10)
Bishops Encourage Vigilance that Health Care Legislation Protects Conscience, does not Fund Abortion (3/23/10)
Bishops to House of Representatives: Fix Flaws or Vote No on Health Reform Bill (March 20, 2010)
Statement of USCCB President, Cardinal George “The Cost is Too High; The Loss is Too Great” (March 15, 2010)
Bishops Call Senate Health Care Reform Bill ‘Deficient,’ Essential Changes Needed Before Moving Forward (December 22, 2009)
Health Reform Bill Needs More Work Despite New Language on Abortion, Say Catholic Bishops

(December 19, 2009)

Bishops Deeply Disappointed by Senate Vote to Table Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment

(December 9, 2009)

U.S. Bishops Urge Senators to Support Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment on Health Care Reform;

Urge Constituents to Back It
 (December 7, 2009)
U.S. Bishops Voice Disappointment in Abortion-Funding Provisions in Senate Health Bill,

Urge Better Care for Immigrants and Affordability
 (November 20, 2009)
Cardinal George Lauds House Action to Ban Federal Funds for Abortion; Promises Vigilance

as Senate Pursues Health Care Reform, Wary About Effect on Poor, Elderly


(November 9, 2009)

Bishops Urge Passage of Stupak-Ellsworth Anti-Abortion Amendment for Health Reform Bill

(November 7, 2009)

Bishops To House: Keep Abortion Funding Out Of Health Care Reform, Make Health Care

Available To Vulnerable
 (November 6, 2009)
Bishops' Conference Blankets Parishes with Inserts Against Expansion of Abortion Through

Health Care Reform
 (October 30, 2009)
Bishops' Conference Officials Voice Disappointment In Senate Finance Committee Health

Care Vote
 (October 14, 2009)
U.S. Bishops: Current Health Care Bills Violate Essential Principles; Will Seek Changes Or Have To

Oppose
 (October 8, 2009)
Senate Committee Addresses Some Issues On Affordability, Fails To Correct Abortion Problems And

Immigration Concerns, Say USCCB Officials
 (October 2, 2009)
U.S. Bishops Raise Concerns Over Health Care, The Protection of Life, Immigrants And Affordability in

Letter To Senate
 (September 30, 2009)
New Survey: Most Americans Want Health Care Reform, Oppose Abortion Coverage, Support

Conscience Protection Laws
 (September 22, 2009)
USCCB Officials Welcome President Obama's Statements on Abortion, Care For The Poor In

Response To Health Care Address
 (September 10, 2009)
Abortion Provisions in House's Health Care Bill Unacceptable, Says Cardinal in Letter to House (August
11, 2009)

Cardinal Rigali Urges House Committee to Support Pro-Life Amendments to Health Care Reform Bill

(July 30, 2009)

U.S. Bishops Urge Congress to Observe Respect for Life, Access for All in Health Care Legislation

(July 21, 2009)

Bishops Renew Long-Term and Urgent Call for Health Care Reform That Benefits All in Statement to

Senate Committee
(May 22, 2009)

Issue Backgrounders:

Issues of Life & Conscience in Health Care Reform: An Analysis of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (5/24/10)
Factsheet: Abortion Funding in the New Health Care Reform Act (4-12-10)
Legal Analysis of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Corresponding Executive Order on Abortion Funding and Conscience Issues (3/25/10)
Community Health Centers: Setting the Record Straight (3/17/10)
“What’s Wrong with the Senate Health Care Bill on Abortion? A Response to Professor Jost” (3/6/10)
Abortion Funding in the Senate Health Care Reform Bill (3/4/10)
The Need for Conscience Protection (1/26/10)
13-Page Analysis of Life Issues Addressed in Health Care Bills (13 pp. 1/20/10)

Comparison of Health Care Reform Bills on:

• Affordability and Coverage (1/13/10)
• Immigration (1/13/10)
• Life and Conscience Issues (1/12/10)

Legislative Analyses (December ’09)

• Side-by-Side Comparison of Abortion Language in Hyde Amendment, Federal Employees Health Benefits and Nelson/Hatch/Casey Amendment
• Provisions on Abortion Coverage and Conscience Rights in H.R. 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, as approved by the Senate on December 13, 2009
• What Does the Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment Really Do? (12/7/09)
• Abortion and Conscience Problems in the Senate Health Care Reform Bill (12/4/09)

What Does the Stupak Amendment Really Do? (11/12/09)
Abortion and Conscience Problems in the Bills (“What’s Wrong with the Capps Amendment?”) (Nov 2009)
Myths and Facts: The Capps Amendment to H.R. 3962 (11/2/09)
Current Policy on Federal Abortion Funding: What is the Status Quo? (10/23/09)
Legal Immigrants and Health Care Reform (August 2009)
Coverage of Low Income Individuals (August 2009)
What is the Legal Status Quo on Abortion? (7/20/09)