This spring in Massachusetts, a Catholic hospital system announced a joint venture with a secular company to provide insurance to the poor under the state’s universal health-care program.
The venture fulfilled one pillar of Catholic social teaching — caring for the needy.
But it violated another principle, because the state-run health plan for low- and moderate-income adults subsidizes abortion. The Catholic hospital didn’t perform abortions but was required to refer patients to clinics that would, an act the church considers immoral.
The tension between Catholicism’s commitment to the poor and opposition to abortion touched off weeks of debate, prompting Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston to consult with Catholic bioethicists — and, eventually, to insist the joint venture be scrubbed.
[i]”The tension between Catholicism’s commitment to the poor and opposition to abortion..”[/i]
You can’t experience poverty unless you exist. Seems the sanctity of life should be of concern ahead of the quality of life..imho.
From [url=http://http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32298122/ns/politics-capitol_hill][b]here[/b][/url]:
[blockquote]Health care legislation before Congress would allow a new government-sponsored insurance plan to cover abortions, a decision that would affect millions of women and recast federal policy on the divisive issue.
Federal funds for abortions are now restricted to cases involving rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother. Abortion opponents say those restrictions should carry over to any health insurance sold through a new marketplace envisioned under the legislation, an exchange where people would choose private coverage or the public plan.
Abortion rights supporters say that would have the effect of denying coverage for abortion to millions of women who now have it through workplace insurance and are expected to join the exchange.
Advocates on both sides are preparing for a renewed battle over abortion, which could jeopardize political support for President Barack Obama’s health care initiative aimed at covering nearly 50 million uninsured and restraining medical costs. The dispute could come to a head with House and Senate floor votes on abortion this fall, a prospect that many lawmakers would like to avoid.
“We want to see people who have no health insurance get it, but this is a sticking point,” said Richard Doerflinger, associate director of pro-life activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “We don’t want health care reform to be the vehicle for mandating abortion.” The church can’t accept a public plan that covers abortion, he said.[/blockquote]
The right to life for the Catholic Church is fundamental and paramount – that is why Cardinal O’Malley scrubbed the joint venture. Other areas, like how to help best those in poverty, are also part of the Church’s teaching, but how to help is open to reasoned debate and Christians can differ on method – but they cannot put any other consideration above the right to life.