Abortion and Health Care 'Reform'

Abortion funding IS in the health care reform bills that now stand before Congress. If the language is not amended taxpayers WILL be footing the bill.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - If this were a game of ping-pong, it might be no big deal. "Abortion is funded!" "No, it's not!" "Yes, it is!" "No, it's not!" "YES, it REALLY is!" "NO, that's a lie! Stop lying!"

But since it's not a game, we can't allow ourselves to be duped and swayed by the politician's insulting characterizations and the President's misleading statements.

Once and for all, abortion funding IS in the health care reform bills that now stand before Congress, and if the language is not amended to explicitly exclude abortion coverage, taxpayers WILL be footing the bill for the murder of the unborn on a massive, nationwide scale.

I can't figure out if the President is lying when he says abortion will not be funded with federal dollars, if he just doesn't know what he's saying because he hasn't read the bills, or if he is being poorly advised. Whichever is the case, his message is either deceptive, incorrect at best, or manipulative at worst.

You might comb through the thousand-page bill and never see the word "abortion" and think, "Hey, it's not in here. No worries." Wrong. It isn't what's walking through the front door that's the problem; it's what's coming in the back door. The evidence is in the fact that every single amendment offered in Congressional committee to specifically exclude abortion coverage has been soundly defeated. The pro-abortion powers-that-be know quite well that even though it isn't mentioned by name, abortion can successfully be included in health care plans, using taxpayer dollars, under the guise of "women's reproductive health services." After the bill has been passed and the details are being finalized, the "experts" can require abortion to be considered a "minimum benefit" that must be covered.

Here are just a few of the amendments that have been offered and rejected: (borrowed from Jillstanek.com)

Hatch amendment #10 restores funding for abstinence education.

Hatch #12 prohibits funding for assisted suicide and offers conscience protection to those who refuse to participate in assisted suicide.

Enzi amendment #12 strikes Baucus abortion language and adds language prohibiting any federal government entity from requiring abortion coverage.

Enzi #14 strikes Baucus abortion language and adds language to prevent overturning of state abortion laws.

Indeed, if abortion will not be paid for with federal dollars, then why not allow even one of the amendments to exclude it? What's the harm? Common sense tells us that the abortion lobby will not give up this chance to make sure abortion is part of the health care reform. They now have a solid ally in the White House and this is their moment to seize the prize they want. If abortion coverage is truly NOT included in this health care reform, do you think Planned Parenthood would remain silent and not object? No - they'd be having a conniption fit.

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Remember that President Obama stood before Planned Parenthood during his campaign and promised them that women's "reproductive health services" would be a central part of his health care reform. For PP, "reproductive health services" is code for unrestricted abortion.

The implications go beyond federal funding as well. Individual state laws restricting abortion could come under attack in the courts, as well as the rights of medical personnel and hospitals to refuse to provide abortion services. Just follow the thread to its natural conclusion: if abortion coverage is mandated by the federal government, and paid for by the federal government (you and me), and considered a minimum benefit that insurers must provide, any hospital or doctor who attempts to refuse would quickly be subject to a lawsuit. Suddenly, it's a court matter, and a single activist judge could undo pro-life protections with the swing of a gavel.

This is precisely what pro-abortion supporters would delight in. It's that "back door" I mentioned. That's why the language of the bill is so critical, and that's why the pro-abortion politicians won't allow the amendments to be passed.

Americans United for Life has created a simple flow chart that explains where the funding will come from and why the language of the bill is so important. Take a moment to look at the chart:

http://www.realhealthcarerespectslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/AUL-abortion-mandate-flow-chart-final-PDF.pdf

Remember also there is great concern over potential limits placed on care for the disabled, special-needs children, and the elderly. There's just a general disregard for the sanctity of human life in all its stages and degrees of "utility" that's alarming.

Please keep up the pressure on your Congressional Representatives this week and next week to reject any health care legislation that does not explicitly exclude abortion coverage. Nothing less than a specific exclusion will suffice.

Keep praying for our nation and our leaders, and stay aware of what's happening. If ever we needed to be "shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" it's right now. Go to Stoptheabortionmandate.com to get all the information you need to make your voice heard on behalf of the unborn and all human life in America.

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Jennifer Hartline is a Catholic Army wife and stay-at-home mother of three precious kids who writes frequently on topics of Catholic faith and daily living. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online.

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