By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A vote on an amendment to prohibit federal funding for abortion in the Senate health care reform proposal could come as early as today. Analysts say abortion may turn out to be the deal-breaker with both sides vowing not to compromise.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Only days after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled the health care reform bill that he and other Senate leaders have been crafting in secret for weeks, the full Senate will be asked on Saturday to vote on whether or not the bill should be brought to the floor for debate.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
According to the nation’s largest pro-life organization, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has rejected the Stupak-Pitts Amendment which stripped abortion coverage from the House health care reform bill and has decided to include abortion coverage in the Senate version of health care reform. Read the rest…
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Despite threats from lawmakers to punish the Church’s involvement in health care reform by revoking its tax-exempt status, Cardinal Francis George defended the Church’s right to enter this debate because it is their responsibility “to insist as a moral voice . . . that everyone should be cared for and that no one should be deliberately killed.”
by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
After an historic 240-194 vote in the U.S. House on Saturday evening, Rep. Bart Stupak’s pro-life amendment passed, but some pro-abortion lawmakers have already vowed to remove the amendment before the final bill comes up for a vote.
by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Tens of thousands of citizens, chanting “kill the bill” and “can you hear us now,” converged on Washington yesterday just as the U.S. House is planning to vote on a health care plan that includes abortion funding and death panels.
by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Planned Parenthood is appealing to pro-abortion Catholics to counter the initiative launched law week by the U.S. Bishops to oppose the current health care reform bills because of their many anti-life provisions.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has sent an e-mail directive to every parish in the United States asking that an urgent message about health care reform be communicated to parishioners in their bulletins this weekend and announced at every Mass. Read the rest…
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, bishop of the diocese of Providence, says Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s remarks about the Church’s opposition to abortion-funded health care reform are “irresponsible and ignorant of the facts.”
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
While the House version of health care reform seems to be proceeding according to schedule, nearly two dozen pro-life Democrats are maintaining their threat to use a procedural move to block a vote on the bill unless members are permitted to vote on an amendment specifically prohibiting abortion funding in the bill.
