The Bishop and The Bill - Bishop Aquila's Anti-life Stance

It's no April Fool's Day joke - The Catholic News Agency today published statements from the Bishop of Fargo, Samuel J. Aquila, critical of both the new heath care law and some "so-called ‘Catholic’ groups" who supported it. The Bishop criticized Catholic health groups, referring specifically to the Catholic Health Association (CHA) and others who had come out in support of the bill.

God Complex

The Bishop critisized what he called "self-described Catholic groups" who endorsed the health care bill despite objections and “severely damaged” the common good and diluted the pro-life witness of the U.S. bishops and the Catholic faithful. These groups, Bishop Aquila says, acted "in direct contradiction to the bishops" who are the "guardians" of authentic Christian teaching.

His critisizm seems to contradict a statement he made in September of 2009 in the same publication. In the article the bishop listed conscience protection as another important facet of health care for health care professionals.

“The doctors, nurses and health care professionals who possess such medical expertise are prime candidates for coercion from those who would destroy the most vulnerable human lives. The right to follow one’s conscience, as informed by God, must be guaranteed,” he stated.

But wouldn't the right to follow one's conscience also allow for them to make the decision to support the health care bill if that person feels they've been properly "informed by God"?

The Sister Speaks
The CHA is an association of Catholic health care organizations including 60 health care systems, 620 hospitals and long-term care facilities. The association also represents the thousands of Catholic nuns who serve in the health care industry.

In a statement titled "The time is now for health reform", published in the association's "Catholic Health World", CHA president Sister Carol Keehan said "The insurance reforms will make the lives of millions more secure, and their coverage more affordable."

Specifically addressing the issue of abortion Sr. Keehan said "CHA has a major concern on life issues. We said there could not be any federal funding for abortions and there had to be strong funding for maternity care, especially for vulnerable women. The bill now being considered allows people buying insurance through an exchange to use federal dollars in the form of tax credits and their own dollars to buy a policy that covers their health care. If they choose a policy with abortion coverage, then they must write a separate personal check for the cost of that coverage."

And that's where Bishop Aquila's so-called "pro-life" fervor is revealed. Although a person would have to pay for an abortion out of their own pocket, Aquila is still opposed to the new health care law because that person would be eligible for tax credits. A woman would have to  pay for a legal medical service from their own money, without being reimbursed by a health care plan.

Bishop Aquila would throw away all the good the plan does for millions of Americans simply because it doesn't somehow make abortions illegal, which would be impossible without the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.  The new law addresses the medical needs of millions of pregnant women and their unborn children.

As Sr. Keehan said in her endorsement of the law "there is a wonderful provision in the bill that provides $250 million over 10 years to pay for counseling, education, job training and housing for vulnerable women who are pregnant or parenting. Another provision provides a substantial increase in the adoption tax credit and funding for adoption assistance programs."

It seems Bishop Aquila would rather throw out the baby with bathwater. Perhaps absolute political power corrupts absolutely?

The Truth
The truth is that conservatives were invited to participate in crafting the bill before it was passed and they instead chose to spend the time campaigning against even discussing it in any meaningful way. President Obama was fulfilling a campaign promise to make health care affordable. The Republicans chose to fight against it and ally themselves with their corporate campaign donors, the health insurance industry (over the last 20 years, 63% of all donations from the industry have gone to Republicans).

The legal truth is that abortions ARE legal and will remain so until the Supreme Court finds otherwise. The moral truth is that it is impossible to stop abortions. Making them illegal will not stop them, just force those who seek them to go to extraordinary and dangerous means to obtain them. The political truth is that the right-wing opposition to abortion will continue to construct lies and terrorize those who support choice until they make safe and legal abortions impossible to find, risking the lives of millions of Americans in the process. And they call that "pro-life".