

Catholic pastors directed to distribute anti-health reform materials at mass

by John Tomasic

This past weekend the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops instructed pastors at parishes across the country to distribute material urging Catholics to oppose the health reform bills making their way through Congress for allowing public funding of abortions. Priests were to insert the Bishops Conference pdf leaflets and letters into parish news bulletins, distribute them at church doors or place them in pews. They were also directed to read a statement at mass to reinforce the message.

The Lie

HEALTH CARE REFORM IS ABOUT SAVING LIVES, NOT DESTROYING THEM. Abortion is not health care because killing is not healing. For over 30 years, the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding and widely

supported laws have prevented federal funding of elective abortions.

Yet health care reform bills advancing in Congress violate this policy.

Americans would be forced to subsidize abortions through their taxes and health insurance premiums. We need genuine health care reform— reform that helps save lives, not destroy them. Tell Congress: "Remove Abortion Funding and Mandates from Needed

Health Care Reform!" Visit www.usccb.org/action to send your e-mails today. For more information on the U.S. bishops’ advocacy for authentic Health Care

Reform, visit www.usccb.org/healthcare.

The truth

WASHINGTON -- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius pledged Sunday that President Barack Obama will support barring public funding for abortion in any health care overhaul legislation. "That's exactly what the president said and I think that's what he intends, that the bill he signs will do," she said on ABC's "This Week."

at 1:45 in the video - the President says it will not fund abortions



Oddly enough, the Catholic statement instructing Priests on how to discuss this issue in the Mass also criticizes the Bill for not providing health care for immigrants - a point Republicans have been very critical of, as when Joe Wilson shouted 'You Lie' to the President.

No matter what, we must have an HONEST discussion on this issue - from our moral leaders, especially our Churches.