President Obama signs Health Care Reform into Law | Source: White House

We learned sad news today out of Pennsylvania: $160 million worth of taxpayer money is going to fund high risk insurance plans that include coverage of legal abortions. Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), stated: “This is just the first proof of the phoniness of President Obama’s assurances that federal funds would not subsidize abortion — but it will not be the last.”

Johnson also stated: “President Obama successfully opposed including language in the bill to prevent federal subsidies for abortions, and now the Administration is quietly advancing its abortion-expanding agenda through administrative decisions such as this, which they hope will escape broad public attention.”

Over the last several days, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have been reminding the Catholic faithful, Congress, and the American people of the position of the Catholic Church on the most crucial debate of health care reform. Many bishops throughout the United States have been issuing statements of disapproval of the current health care bill. Bishop Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando, is the latest bishop to voice his opposition to the bill. (emphasis mine)

The 40 days of Lent which evokes the time that Jesus spent fasting in the desert is a time of conversion and reconciliation. Yet, even as we have passed the mid-point in our Lenten observances, the word “reconciliation” has taken on a new and infelicitous connotation in our secular world. Reconciliation as a “legislative process intended to allow consideration of a contentious budget bill without the threat of a filibuster” seems now to be the preferred tactic of the Democratic leadership in Congress to secure passage of what has come to be known as Obamacare. While such reconciliation might bring together the House and Senate health care reform proposals, it will not bring together the nation – for, however, the two bills may be reconciled, serious flaws remain.

Almost everyone regardless of political ideology agrees that there is a need to fix “health care” in our nation: our present system serves too few people and at too high a cost. The U.S. Bishops have consistently advocated for health care reform for more than 40 years. We believe that health care is a basic human right – and we continue to support adequate and affordable health care for all. Health care coverage should not be denied to those in need because of their condition, age, where they come from or when they arrive here.