The Top Ten Catholic Stories of 2010 makes its debut with #10, the passage of Health Care Reform and its impact on the Church in the United States.

President Obama speaks about Health Care Reform | Credit: AP/Alex Brandon

In the early part of 2010, the focus of American politics was on the debate surrounding President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill, a plan that called for a complete overhaul of the American health care system. At the onset of the debate in the latter months of 2009, many Catholics, led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and other religious groups began questioning the proposed changes to health care. The two main concerns were: 1) the lack of appropriate language banning the use of federal moneys for the performance of abortions, and 2) the lack of conscience protections for those working in the health care industry.

On November 7, 2009, after considerable debate, the House of Representatives voted to approve the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” with a vote of 220 to 215. On December 24, 2009, the Senate voted on its version, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” with a vote of 60 to 39.

In the House’s version of the bill, the use of federal moneys in the performance of abortions was blocked by the addition of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, proposed by Representatives Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Joseph Pitts (R-PA). However, the Senate version lacked this crucial amendment.

Throughout the debate, the USCCB sent several letters to members of Congress detailing the Catholic Church’s support for the expansion of access to health care services for all Americans. However, they also reiterated the Church’s respect for the principles of life and human dignity.

In its letter to the U.S. Senate in December 2009, the bishops’ conference wrote: “We regret to say that in all the areas of our moral concern, the Senate health care reform bill is deficient. On the issue of respect for unborn human life, the bill not only falls short of the House’s standard but violates longstanding precedent in all other federal health programs.”

Sr. Carol Keehan speaks at the White House in support of health care reform | Credit: American Spectator

Despite these reservations, many Catholic groups, including the Catholic Health Association (led by Sr. Carol Keehan), advocated for the passage of the Senate version of the bill. As a result, many Catholics became confused as to whether or not this bill should be supported.

In the end, many Congressional Representatives supported the bill without language barring federal funding of abortions because of the support of the Catholic Health Association, Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and others. These so-called Catholic organizations were advocating fellow Catholics to support a bill that represented a total disregard of life and human dignity.

When the final version of the bill made its way back to the House of Representatives for reconciliation and final approval, those who supported the Stupak-Pitts amendment raised opposition. They refused to vote for a bill that ignored the protection of life and the promotion of dignity for all. In order to win their support, President Obama agreed to sign an executive order upholding the provisions of the Hyde Amendment, which has barred federal funding of abortions since 1976. However, many argue that the order is not worth the paper on which it is written.

Health care reform officially passed on March 21, 2010. On March 23rd, Francis Cardinal George, then-President of the USCCB, issued a statement in response to the bill’s passage. In his statement, Cardinal George applauded the effort to expand access to health care services for all. However, he also reiterated the bishops’ opposition to this particular reform measure.

Nevertheless, for whatever good this law achieves or intends, we as Catholic bishops have opposed its passage because there is compelling evidence that it would expand the role of the federal government in funding and facilitating abortion and plans that cover abortion. The statute appropriates billions of dollars in new funding without explicitly prohibiting the use of these funds for abortion, and it provides federal subsidies for health plans covering elective abortions. Its failure to preserve the legal status quo that has regulated the government’s relation to abortion, as did the original bill adopted by the House of Representatives last November, could undermine what has been the law of our land for decades and threatens the consensus of the majority of Americans: that federal funds not be used for abortions or plans that cover abortions. Stranger still, the statute forces all those who choose federally subsidized plans that cover abortion to pay for other peoples’ abortions with their own funds. If this new law is intended to prevent people from being complicit in the abortions of others, it is at war with itself.

Cardinal Francis George is interviewed about passage of health care reform | Credit: CNS/Bob Roller

In response to the Executive Order, Cardinal George wrote: “We share fully the admirable intention of President Obama expressed in his pending Executive Order, where he states, “it is necessary to establish an adequate enforcement mechanism to ensure that Federal funds are not used for abortion services.” However, the fact that an Executive Order is necessary to clarify the legislation points to deficiencies in the statute itself. We do not understand how an Executive Order, no matter how well intentioned, can substitute for statutory provisions.”

In the end, the Health Care Reform bill that passed through the U.S. Congress outlined the diversity of the political ideologies of American Catholics. However, our faith is not something based on partisan politics. Our faith is based on the life, death, and resurrection of a man who humbled himself, coming down from his eternal kingdom to dwell among us; a man who taught us how to love, respect, and defend one another.

The health care debate also tells each of us—bishops, priests, religious, lay faithful—that we need to do a better job living out our faith in the public square. Our faith is not something we leave in the pew on Sunday. No matter which path the Lord chooses for us, we are all called to live and spread the salvific message of Jesus Christ. As it is written in Mark 16:15: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”