The developments over the past week in support of the bill from the Catholic Church have been nothing short of astonishing, reflecting a real rift between the church's moral and/or power centers.

The bishops declared their opposition to the bill early, mostly due to its abortion provisions. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) agreed, and threatened to kill the legislation - with a nebulous bloc of other Democratic legislators - if the abortion provisions weren't changed. Incidentally, since the Republican party is forcing Democrats to go the reconciliation route in the Senate, the abortion language cannot be changed. Reconciliation requires that provisions be primarily budget-related.

But then things got really interesting. Over the weekend, a group representing U.S. Catholic hospitals, led by Sister Carol Keehan, declared its enthusiastic support:

As I watched our president present his plan to pass the health reform legislation, it was clear this is an historic opportunity to make great improvements in the lives of so many Americans. Is it perfect? No. Does it cover everyone? No. But is it a major first step? Yes. The insurance reforms will make the lives of millions more secure, and their coverage more affordable. The reforms will eventually make affordable health insurance available to 31 million of the 47 million Americans currently without coverage.

Then, a group representing 59,000 Catholic nuns joined in the chorus of support:

The health care bill that has been passed by the Senate and that will be voted on by the House will expand coverage to over 30 million uninsured Americans. While it is an imperfect measure, it is a crucial next step in realizing health care for all. It will invest in preventative care. It will bar insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It will make crucial investments in community health centers that largely serve poor women and children.

Especially significant is that all three groups have broken with the bishops in recognizing that the bill does not change current law when it comes to federal funding of abortion.

The Reporter makes the case in no uncertain terms, and takes the bishops to task for their role in ginning up the controversy.

The bishops have to be clear that some of their talking points might lead honest observers to question their competence -- or worse. In the past week or so, much has been made of the bill's provision of $7 billion dollars to community health centers. The National Right to Life Committee chimed in that this money could go to pay for abortions at clinics run by Planned Parenthood. Back to Logic 101: All Planned Parenthood clinics may be clinics, but not all health care clinics are Planned Parenthood clinics. The community health centers in question do not, never have, and have no intention of performing abortions, and they are prohibited by statute from doing so. This is a red herring and it was profoundly disappointing to see the USCCB Web site give credence to it. Bottom line: The current legislation is not "pro-abortion," and there is no, repeat no, federal funding of abortion in the bill.

And the good sisters say:

Despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions. It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments – $250 million – in support of pregnant women. This is the REAL pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it.

Again - bottom line: There is NO federal funding of abortion in this bill. In fact, in my opinion, the bill actually disadvantages women when it comes to reproductive issues, as it forces them to decide, upfront, whether to pay EXTRA for services they hope they'll never have the occasion to need. The premium for these services needs to come out of their own pockets; subsidies cannot be used to cover it.

At any rate, to say the bill permits federal funding of abortion is disingenuous at best. I'm glad The Reporter made the case so clearly.

To the legislators still wrestling with the issue:

Please, read these arguments carefully. Listen to the Catholic hospitals, to the nuns, listen to those who work day in and day out with the poor and the sick. Don't be swayed by power masked as righteousness.

Spend some time over the next couple days in quiet meditation and prayer, and think about all the good this bill can do, the lives it will save.

We're counting on you.

TAKE ACTION - FRIDAY'S THE LAST DAY

It's possible if not likely that the fate of health care reform rests in the hands of a handful of Democrats who are concerned about the abortion provisions in the bill. I'm sure they're getting bombarded with calls from pro-life groups. Let's match fire with fire and get a calling campaign started today.

Call the representatives below and let them know that we need and expect them to vote Yes. These are reps who may be aligned with Stupak.

Bart Stupak (D-MI) (202) 225 4735

Steve Driehaus (D-OH) (202) 225-2216

Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) (202) 225-4146 - Leaning Yes, see update below

Charlie Wilson (D-OH) (202) 225-5705 - A YES per update below, thank him!

Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) (202) 225-6511

Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-PA) (202) 225-5406

Joe Donnelly (D-IN) (202) 225-3915

Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) (202) 225-4636

Dan Lipinski (D-IL) (202) 225-5701

Jerry Costello (D-IL) (202) 225-5661

Solomon Ortiz (D-TX) (202) 225-7742

Henry Cuellar (D-TX) 202-225-1640

Marion Berry (D-AR) (202) 225-4076 Adding back, per concerns he's wavering (he seemed like a Definite Yes, now not sure):

James Oberstar (D-MN) (202) 225-6211

All contact info above, and other great resources, from Catskill Julie's very informative action diary last week.

For a great overview of why Stupak and the bishops are wrong, see this Slate article.

UPDATE:

Missed this one. A couple days ago, Commonweal Magazine - which Wikipedia describes as "the oldest Catholic journal of opinion in the United States" - also endorsed the bill in a very thoughtful editorial.

Here's the closing paragraph:

If one wants to claim that no politician who’s really opposed to abortion can support the Senate bill, it’s not enough to show that the bill’s provisions are inferior to the House’s Stupak Amendment; one must also argue that the Senate bill is inferior to the status quo. The government is already subsidizing group plans that cover elective abortion by means of tax breaks for businesses that offer them. Millions of Americans must now choose between accepting such a plan and going without good health insurance; the only other option, a decent individual plan, is now just too expensive for them. The Senate bill would give such people the wherewithal to buy insurance that doesn’t cover elective abortion, which means that, in addition to its many other benefits, it would save millions of Americans from having to choose between their conscience and their health.

UPDATE 2 - VOTING DEVELOPMENTS:

Charlie Wilson is definitely a YES, considers the bill a PRO-LIFE BILL:

I am confident that the language in the Senate bill ensures that there will be no federal funding for abortions. It is important to remember that according to a Harvard Medical School study, an estimated 45,000 people die each year – that’s one American every 12 minutes – in part because they lack health insurance and access to quality health care. We must value their lives as well. At this point, I am confident that the Senate language upholds all of my pro-life values.

Marcy Kaptur leaning Yes:

One of the key undecided members of Congress on health reform, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), remained uncommitted yesterday but said she is "leaning" in favor of the bill after getting some personal attention from President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "I am leaning toward voting for the bill if we can properly deal with the abortion issue and we are fast about that task," Miss Kaptur said.

UPDATE 3:

Retired bishop endorses bill, breaks with former cohorts. Has the damn burst yet? Please tell me it has...