Health Care Reform
11/2/2009
“A Promise Was Made; Now It Needs To Be Kept” - by Archbishop Chaput
Archbishop Chaput outlines the dangers of the current health-care reform bills and urges Catholics to contact Congress(www.usccb.org/action) and demand that current health-care proposals be changed to respect all human life -- including the unborn, the elderly and the immigrant.
Read the Archbishop's Statement
“A Promise Was Made; Now It Needs To Be Kept” (English)
"Se Hizo Una Promesa; Es El Momento De Cumplirla" (Spanish)
On the subject of health care reform, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver takes its direction from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and the U. S. Bishops who are the legitimate teaching authority in the Church.
For further information concerning the Catholic position on health care reform, please click on the following links:
The chairmen of the bishops’ committees working on health care reform are urging Congress to improve current health care reform legislation. The bishops are disappointed “that progress has not been made on the three priority criteria for health care reform.
On October 8, 2009 Cardinal Rigali, Bishop Murphy and Bishop Wester sent a
letter to Congress reiterating their main concerns:
- Exclude mandated coverage for abortion, and incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. No one should be required to pay for or participate in abortion. It is essential that the legislation clearly apply to this new program longstanding and widely supported federal restrictions on abortion funding and mandates, and protections for rights of conscience. No current bill meets this test.
- Adopt measures that protect and improve people’s health care. Reform should make quality health care affordable and accessible to everyone, particularly those who are vulnerable and those who live at or near the poverty level.
- Include effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children and all of society. Ensure that legal immigrants and their family members have comprehensive, affordable, and timely access to health care coverage. Maintain an adequate safety net for those who remain uncovered.
To read the full text of this letter click on the link below:
Archbishop urges Catholics to demand that abortion be completely excluded from any national health care plan
Aug. 12, 2009 - In the Aug. 12
Denver Catholic Register, Archbishop Chaput addresses concern over the “common ground” rhetoric being used in the health care reform debate. “God, or the devil, is always in the details,” he writes, warning that “the whole meaning of ‘health care’ would be subverted by any plan that involves mandated abortion access or abortion funding.” (
Read more)
U.S. Bishops launch health care reform Web page
CCC urges Catholics to speak to legislators about Catholic principles for Health care reform