{"id":426,"date":"2012-06-28T23:03:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-28T23:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/us-bishops-urge-congress-to-fix-problems-in-health-care-law\/"},"modified":"2012-06-28T23:03:00","modified_gmt":"2012-06-28T23:03:00","slug":"us-bishops-urge-congress-to-fix-problems-in-health-care-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/06\/us-bishops-urge-congress-to-fix-problems-in-health-care-law\/","title":{"rendered":"US bishops urge Congress to ‘fix’ problems in health care law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Jun 28, 2012 \/ 05:03 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has renewed its call for Congress to correct problems within the 2010 health care law, now that the legislation has been upheld by the nation\u2019s highest court.<\/p>\n

\tThe conference said that it did not join in \u201cefforts to repeal the law in its entirety\u201d after it was passed in 2010 and added that \u201cwe do not do so today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHowever, it argued, the Affordable Care Act contains \u201cfundamental flaws\u201d that were not addressed by the Supreme Court\u2019s decision. Further legislation is necessary to fix the law\u2019s problems with abortion funding, conscience protection and treatment of immigrants, the group said.<\/p>\n

\tOn June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including an individual mandate that requires virtually all people to buy health insurance. The court ruled by a vote of 5-4 that this mandate does not fall within the acceptable range of Congressional power under the commerce clause, but it can stand instead as a valid tax on those who refuse to buy insurance.<\/p>\n

\tIn its statement shortly after the decision was announced, the bishops\u2019 conference noted that for almost 100 years, the Catholic bishops have been advocating \u201cfor comprehensive health care reform to ensure access to life-affirming health care for all, especially the poorest and the most vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe group explained that while it did not participate in the case before the Supreme Court and \u201ctook no position on the specific questions presented to the Court,\u201d it had opposed the final passage of the Affordable Care Act for several reasons.<\/p>\n

\tFirst, it said, the law contradicts \u201clongstanding federal policy\u201d by allowing \u201cfederal funds to pay for elective abortions and for plans that cover such abortions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPro-life advocates have objected to the \u201cabortion surcharge\u201d that is required for all people enrolled in plans covering elective abortions. This surcharge must be at least one dollar per month, but can be significantly higher than this, as there is no maximum rate.<\/p>\n

\tFurthermore, the bishops\u2019 conference said, the law fails to \u201cprovide essential conscience protection, both within and beyond the abortion context.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIt pointed to the \u201cpreventive services\u201d mandate issued under the Affordable Care Act. That mandate, announced by the Department of Health and Human Services, will require employers to offer health insurance plans that cover contraception, sterilization and early abortion-inducing drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences.<\/p>\n

\tBishops from every diocese in the U.S. have joined those of various religious political and religious backgrounds in speaking out against the mandate, warning that it poses a severe threat to religious liberty and could force Catholic schools, hospitals and charitable organizations to shut their doors rather than compromise their beliefs.<\/p>\n

\tMore than 50 plaintiffs from across the country \u2013 including numerous Catholic dioceses \u2013 are currently challenging the mandate. Those lawsuits were not within the range of questions considered by the court on June 28, so they are not affected by the court\u2019s ruling and will continue moving forward in the judiciary system.<\/p>\n

\tIn addition, the bishops\u2019 conference warned, the Affordable Care Act is unfair to immigrant workers and their families, leaving them \u201cworse off by not allowing them to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges created under the law, even if they use their own money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThis contradicts the law\u2019s stated purpose of offering access of basic health care to all people, especially the most needy, the group said.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\t\u201cThe decision of the Supreme Court neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct the fundamental flaws described above,\u201d it emphasized.<\/p>\n

\tStressing both of these moral obligations, the bishops\u2019 conference urged \u201cCongress to pass, and the Administration to sign, legislation to fix those flaws\u201d that remain in the law.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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