Respect Life Ministry - Diocese of Belleville at 2620 Lebanon Ave., Bldg #2, Belleville, IL 62221 US

Health Care Reform

USCCB has launched a new Health Care Reform webpage!
                  > Click Here to visit!<

Posted 11/14/09

On November 13, 20009 Tom Grenchik, Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, sent an URGENT request that Parishes continue their active engagement to ensure that the language in the Stupak Amendment to the House Health Care Bill be adopted by the Senate.  Additionally, "the Senate needs to address other essential moral priorities such as protecting conscience rights, making health care more affordable and accessible for those without coverage, and ensuring that immigrants do not lose or will not be denied needed health care coverage." Parishes and Pastors have been sent resource information to help in this regard. The UPDATED Bulletin Insert is included HERE. (Spanish Here) Thank you for your efforts, and most especially ongoing prayers.

Posted 11/12/09:

From USCCB, November 9, 2009, after passage of House Health Care Reform: "Cardinal George Lauds House Action to Ban Federal Funds for Abortion; Promises Vigilance as Senate Pursues Health Care Reform, Wary About Effect on Poor, Elderly" Click here for full release!

Thank you to those who contacted legislators to encourage voting "Yes" on the Stupak Amendment. Please click here to see how your Illinois Representative voted and consider placing a call to either thank him or her, or to request reconsideration for such legislation in the future.

Posted 10/29/09:

NATIONWIDE USCCB BULLETIN INSERT

In addition to contacting legislators you are encouraged also to contact the White House directly - click here for e-mail form and other contact information!
**Click here for two-sided contact sheets that can be copied, cut and distributed.**

Posted 10/26/09 Please consider placing a call to the U.S. Capitol switchboard as indicated below! CLICK HERE to get to the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA) Action Alert. Here is an excerpt:

ACTION: Contact Members through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters. To send an e-mail click here. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121, or call your Members’ local offices. Full contact info can be found on Members’ web sites at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

MESSAGE—SENATE: “During floor debate on the health care reform bill, please support a floor amendment to incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.”

MESSAGE—HOUSE: “Please support the Stupak Amendment that addresses essential pro-life concerns on abortion funding and conscience rights in the health care reform bill. Help ensure that the Rule for the bill allows a vote on this amendment. If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.”

Who is NCHLC and what do they do? From their website:

The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment is dedicated to pursuing this vision. The organization's objectives include educating citizens, developing pro-life legislative networks, and offering programs in support of pro-life legislation. Among its various activities, NCHLA produces educational and program resources, communicates with leaders about legislative priorities, and presents legislative seminars throughout the year. In a special way, NCHLA assists dioceses, state Catholic conferences, and Catholic lay groups. The Committee also works closely with the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Emphasis mine.)

Posted 8/14/09   The USCCB has launched a Health Care Web Page promoting its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.” The page,www.usccb.org/healthcare, includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.

Posted 8/12/09 Click here to read a letter from Cardinal Rigali, Chairman of the USCCB Committee for Pro-Life Activities, urging amendments to HR3200 to correct fundamental deficiencies.

Posted 8/7/09   Here is a link to "A Line in the Sand" by Tom Grenchik, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Posted 7/23/09     Here is a link (Click Here) to contact information for Health Care Reform policy makers who you may contact in addition to your own Senators and Congressman.

For the most recent USCCB JPHD Action Alert click here.
Also an excerpt from an update from Richard Doerflinger, USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat, 7/22/09:

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has interrupted the markup of a House “tri-committee” bill to see what can be worked out on a number of key issues that are blocking broader support for the legislation, including pro-life concerns. Two other House committees passed the bill earlier this week, but it is Energy and Commerce that has jurisdiction over the parts of the bill where pro-life concerns are most pertinent. If these concerns are not worked out by consensus among Energy and Commerce committee members we will soon be writing to the committee specifically supporting amendments to address them.

Posted 7/21/09    Please see this link (Click Here) to the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA), affiliated with the USCCB, for a Federal Legislative Action Alert in support of health care reform that respects life.

*This page provides a link to the letter written by Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, to Congress last week saying: “The USCCB looks forward to working with you to reform health care successfully in a manner that offers accessible, affordable and quality health care that protects and respects the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death.”    There is also a two page information sheet, Making Health Care Reform "Abortion Neutral": What is the Legal Status Quo on Abortion? by the USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat.

*NCHLA also provides a very user friendly way to send an e-mail to your legislator with both suggested text and the opportunity to personalize (which perhaps speaks more influentially to your legislator!) your remarks.

Posted 7/17/09     This link (Click Here )is to an Action Alert/Information Sheet from the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development (JPHD). It includes a prayer for the uninsured.  (On this link you will also see where you can sign up for direct Action Alerts this Department and ideas about being involved.)

This link (Click Here ) is to a concise Statement for the Record by Bishop William F. Murphy, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, to the United States Senate Committee On Finance Roundtable Discussion on "Expanding Health Care Coverage," dated May 20, 2009.

The full range of JPHD Health Care Reform resources (including above) is found by clicking here!

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	`May the Catholic Diocese of Belleville be a witness to human dignity in all stages and circumstances. May we protect and defend it against all assaults, and nurture and celebrate it through all transitions and milestones. May we be quick to recognize Jesus in the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the lonely, and the person with whom we need to be reconciled. Because of the witness of our love for one another, may people be drawn to the love of the Father. Amen.`	*The Respect Life Ministry is a member agency of CCSIL, click below to learn more!*
	A diocesan department site of Diocese of Belleville

Respect Life Ministry - Diocese of Belleville at 2620 Lebanon Ave., Bldg #2, Belleville, IL 62221 US - Health Care Reform