Tag Archives: abortion in health care

Catholic Action Alert — Working to Preserve Sanctity of Life in Health Care

Update from today’s Good Morning America:

BREAKING — HOW HEALTH REFORM COULD PASS — ABC’s George Stephanopoulos sees new wiggle room in the professed opposition by Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, leader of the pro-life Dems. Stupak told George on “GMA”: “My group is holding firm: We’re still ‘no’ votes. … As you know, I wanta pass health care — I vote voted for it before. … My group of 12 here — we can make the difference on this vote. But at the same time, there’s a principle we’re standing up for. … Protect the sanctity of life and keep current law — no public funding for abortion. Let’s keep that principle intact. Then you could probably get our votes. Probably.”  Please continue to call!

Earlier this afternoon, the House Reconcilliation bill was posted on the House Rules Committee website.  This posting starts the 72 hour review period before the House will vote on the Majoritys health care package Timing remains fluid, but based on the 72 hour timeline, the House is expected to vote on health care reform on Sunday afternoon, although the schedule could slip further. 

Members of the House have been told that the House will be in session and voting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  In addition Majority Leader Hoyer indicated that the House may have votes on Monday earlier in the day than previously scheduled.  (The announcement regarding Monday indicates that consideration of the health care bills may spill over into Monday.)  In addition, President Obama has again postponed his overseas trip (this time until June) to focus on generating votes for the Majoritys health care package.

The reconciliation text is designed to make changes the Senate-passed health care bill, H.R. 3590, after H.R. 3590 is signed into law.  As expected the text does not contain the Stupak amendment that protects against federal funding for abortion coverage, nor does it contain language to ensure that none of the authorities granted by the bill are not used to mandate abortion coverage, nor does it contain the Hyde-Weldon conscience protection provision.

It is important for Catholics and all advocates and defenders of the sanctity of life to keep up their activities to encourage Members to oppose H.R. 3590 unless pro-life concerns are resolved.  Catholics and pro-lifers may be particularly interested in focusing our efforts on the following Members of Congress.  However, please note that it is best if Members are contacted by their own constituents, NOT citizens from other parts of the country. 

Undecided — no public position for or against the Senate bill based on abortion language: Altmire (PA), Bocceri (OH), Boyd (FL), Carney (PA), Ellsworth (IN), Hill (IN), Kanjorski  (PA), Mollohan (WV), Ortiz (TX), Pomeroy (NC), Rahall (WV)

Public opposition to the Senate bill based on abortion language: Berry (AR), Costello (IL), Dahlkemper (PA), Donnelly  (IN), Driehaus  (OH), Cao (LA), Kaptur (OH), Lipinski (IL), Stupak (MI)

You may also be aware that Rep. Kildee (MI), Wilson (OH) and Perriello (VA) have endorsed the Senate abortion language, and Rep. Oberstar (MN) has also indicated he supports the Senate bill policies on abortion funding.

On behalf of the sanctity of life and in the defense of our faith, SMS prayerfully requests that you call these targets if you live in their Districts or States and we ask that you pray for defeat of any health care legislation that does not preserve the sanctity of life.

House of Representatives — 202-225-3121

Senate — 202-224-3121

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Culture of Death Knocks on Congress’ Door, Catholics Called to Action – Day of Prayer and Fast

Last week was a crazy and confusing week given the latest twists and turns emanating from the final days of the health care battle.  Pro-government run health care forces are doing all they can to play parliamentary games to try and pass pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, government imposed health care on the American people, despite the peoples’ fairly obvious objection — over and over again. 

SMS has covered the health care debate ad nauseum.  This is because of the tremendous life-altering impact health care “reform,” as proposed by pro-abortion/euthanasia forces in Washington, mainly President Obama and his allies in Congress, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, will have on the American people and our culture.  Obama, Pelosi and Reid are trying to pull out every trick in the book to force the American public, the taxpayer, to fund elective abortion on demand and sign up for policies that lead to rationing of care, as well as force doctors to perform abortions and engage practices that ration care. 

A new study out by the New England Journal of Medicine says that almost 1/3 of Doctors say they would leave the health profession if the Obama Democrats version of health care passes.  Yet we see little of this in the national media.

The USCCB issued a Call to Action that will appeared in many bulletins on Sunday urging Catholics to call their Represenatives and Senators and once again  make our voices heard in defense of the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death.  It also declares that a conscience protections clause must be in the final bill, protecting the rights of doctors, nurses and other pro-life medical professionals who refuse to engage in life ending practices or counseling on abortion or euthanasia.

You can read the Call to Action and bulletin insert here.

Additionally, SMS is asking our supporters to pass the word in joining Bishop Paul Loverde, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, VA in his call for Monday, March 15th to be a national day of prayer and fast to protect the sanctity of life in any health care legislation that comes from Congress. 

Learn more about the fast here.

Make no mistake, the health care bill that will be voted on this week will include taxpayer funding for abortion, will lead to rationing of health care and is devoid of sufficient protections for pro-life doctors, nurses and medical professionals.  The culture of death is knocking on Congress’ door.  Given that no life-protecting measures are in the bill to be voted on next week, SMS urges our supporters to call their Representatives and Senators and tell them to vote NO! 

Call your Congressman at 202-225-3121

Call your Senator at 202-224-3121

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Stop The Attempt To Use the “Nuclear” Option

From the Susan B. Anthony List

Nancy Pelosi is plotting to salvage Pro-Abortion Bill

Nancy Pelosi has revealed her intention to use the “nuclear” option to pass an amendment to the Senate Health Care Reform Bill through the Senate.  She intends to use this procedural trick to convince Representatives to pass the unpopular pro-abortion Senate Health Care Reform Bill.  Tell your Representative to oppose using procedural tricks to shove unpopular pro-abortion health care legislation through Congress.  Demand that they stand firm against any attempt to pass the pro-abortion Senate Health Care Reform Bill into law.

http://capwiz.com/sbalist/issues/alert/?alertid=14605861

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Stupak Digs In As Nelson Sells Out on Abortion Funding in Health Care Bill

Senator Ben Nelson has sold out the unborn and has announced that he is ready to support Senator Harry Reid’s abortion funding health care bill.  If passed, Senator Reid’s health care bill will lead to the largest expansion of abortion since the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision allowing abortion on demand.  (One has to wonder what that decision would have been if the Court had been shown sonograms.) Nelson’s fascade came to an end when Reid offered money to Nelson for his home state of Nebraska. In return for this scam, Nelson has watered down his bill which will allow federal funding of abortion, but, oh, states can opt out of the government exchange if  they want.  This move undercuts the pro-life, pro-Hyde Stupak-Pitts Amendment.  But as Senator Nelson caves, Congressman Stupak is digging in, calling the Nelson abortion funding compromise, “unacceptable.”

Senator Ben Nelson

Senator Ben Nelson

 

Here is how the following days will play out.

The mangers amendment released by Senator Reid now appears to have the 60 votes necessary to end debate and pass the health care reform bill in the Senate. The first in a series of cloture votes (vote to end debate on an amendment or bill) is expected around 1 am Monday morning If all goes as currently projected, the Senate would pass the health care bill sometime next week If the Senate passes its bill, there will then likely be a House-Senate Conference to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate language.  The House and Senate would then have to approve the modifications made in the conference.  In a statement released today Pro-life Caucus Co-chair Bart Stupak (D-MI) said “While I and many other pro-life Democratic House members wish to see health care coverage for all Americans, the proposed Senate language is unacceptable.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded immediately to the Nelson abortion funding Amendment. Statement here.

For more information please visit:

www.stoptheabortionmandate.comNational Right to Life Committee, and Americans United for Life

How ironic that as we ready for the coming of our Lord in this Advent season, that during Christmas week, the week of the birth of our savior, the United States Senate is going to pass a health care bill that provides federal funding for the taking of  innocent human life.  

St. Michael Society is encouraging all of our friends, followers and supporters to please pray to our Holy Mother to continue to give Congressman Bart Stupak, and other supporting Democrats, the will and the courage to stand their ground and defend innocent human life against a wave of pressure.  We also pray to Our Holy Mother for the protection of the unborn and for a culture of life in the face of an America that continues to head further and further down the road toward a culture of death. 

Finally, we encourage all to call their Senators and Representatives and tell them, no to a health care bill that leads to a massive funding of abortion, essentially an abortion industry pay out, and no to government run health care that leads to rationed care and euthanasia.

Senate: 202.224.3121

House: 202.225.3121

 

 

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