On the eve of what is considered to be a symbolic vote to repeal the health care reform legislation passed last year by Congress, the bishop chairs whose committees’ work has been impacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act issued the following letter to members of the United States House of Representatives:

Source: USCCB | The above document is the official release from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and was used with permission.

Bishop-Elect F. Richard Spencer

Well, this one slipped passed me. This morning the Holy Father appointed Fr. F. Richard Spencer as Auxiliary Bishop to the Archdiocese for the Military Services in the United States. Bishop-Elect Spencer was born in Sylacauga, Alabama on June 10, 1951. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1988 by Archbishop William D. Borders, a WWII Army Chaplain and the first Bishop of this young Catholic’s home diocese.

After the appointment, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, issued the following statement:

With immense gratitude, I am pleased to communicate that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has named Father F. Richard Spencer, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a chaplain in the US Army, Titular Bishop of Auzia and my Auxiliary.

This past weekend, members of the House of Representatives narrowly passed the Health Care Reform (HCR) Bill. Even before the bill was passed, the stance of the people was being heard around the country, many of whom were in opposition to the landmark legislation. However, some of those who opposed the bill took to name calling and slander; members of Congress who were in support of the bill were being called dehumanizing names. After the bill was passed, the jeering and name calling erupted into instances of violence. Many people who were opposed to the legislation and upset with its passage began making death threats to our elected representatives, throwing bricks through windows of district offices of the representatives and protesting outside the homes of the family members of the representatives.

Shortly after President Obama signed the legislation into law on Wednesday, I made the following statement on my Twitter page because I was completely dumbfounded that Americans had stooped to this level of immaturity: “People have been sending death threats to those in Congress who voted for the HCR bill?!?!? Needs to stop!!!” When did we begin viewing our fellow Americans, our brothers and sisters in Christ, as enemies. Well, I was not the only one experiencing that disappointment in my fellow Americans.

On Tuesday, March 23, 2010, Cardinal Francis George, President of the USCCB released the following statement regarding the passage of the health care reform bill by the House of Representatives on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

For nearly a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have called for reform of our health care system so that all may have access to the care that recognizes and affirms their human dignity. Christian discipleship means, “working to ensure that all people have access to what makes them fully human and fosters their human dignity” (United States Catechism for Adults, page 454). Included among those elements is the provision of necessary and appropriate health care.

For too long, this question has gone unaddressed in our country. Often, while many had access to excellent medical treatment, millions of others including expectant mothers, struggling families or those with serious medical or physical problems were left unable to afford the care they needed. As Catholic bishops, we have expressed our support for efforts to address this national and societal shortcoming. We have spoken for the poorest and most defenseless among us. Many elements of the health care reform measure signed into law by the President address these concerns and so help to fulfill the duty that we have to each other for the common good. We are bishops, and therefore pastors and teachers. In that role, we applaud the effort to expand health care to all.

Well folks, last evening was historic for the United States of America as the House of Representatives voted and passed a comprehensive health care reform bill. I personally stand with the USCCB and oppose the bill, mainly because of its negligence to protect the sanctity of all human life. Despite what our elected officials do in Washington, we must remember to treat everyone with respect and courtesy. All we can do is pray for those who are entrusted with making our voices heard. If our elected officials do not uphold our concerns, than we have a right and an obligation to vote for someone who will take our concerns seriously. Ultimately, however, whether we agree with the bill or  not, we should all be mindful of the fact that “Jesus Christ is [still] Lord.” (Philippians 2:11) While we can only voice our opinions, in the end, we will all have to answer for our actions.