Go Read It: US Catholic Conference of Bishops' Hypocrisy on Federal Tax Dollars & the Stupak-Pitts Amendment

Not all Catholics believe the exact same thing. There are Catholics for Choice, Catholics who use contraception, and then...there's the US Conference on Catholic Bishops, which was an active, energetic force lobbying politicians to pass Stu-Pitts prior to the recent House vote on the Affordable Health Care for All Act. Strongly opposed to a woman's right to decide when and if to terminate a pregnancy, the USCCB receives 67% of its budget in federal tax dollars to help fund hospitals and other good works with secular impact operated by the Catholic church, and is itself charged with separating federal funding from religious practices.

Go read this op-ed that calls out hypocrisy in how the USCCB separates taxpayer dollars from church funds in their operations. It spells out why they, if anyone, should realize that the never-voted on Capps Amendment ensuring compliance with 1977's Hyde Amendment already adequately addressed the separation of taxpayer funds from abortion services. A short excerpt:

Catholic Charities, the domestic direct service arm of the bishops, also depends on state and federal dollars. Sixty-seven percent of Catholic Charities’ income comes from government funding. That represents over $2.6 billion in 2008 — an amount that is more than three times as large as the next largest charitable recipient of federal funds, the YMCA. Just as Catholic hospitals do, Catholic Charities receives enormous quantities of government dollars while abiding by existing constitutional and statutory requirements that prevent government sponsorship of religion.

Yet the USCCB wants to potentially sink health care reform--which they've previously supported--with a culture-war grenade. They want to effectively prevent any private insurer from providing a legal medical procedure by pushing falsehoods about the Affordable Health Care for All Act.

Call your senators and congressperson and demand that Stupak-Pitts be prevented from being inserted into the Senate bill and that the final bill reflect the Capps Amendment's compromise.

Cynematic blogs at P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[Melissa S.]

Hello MOMocrats. I received the following from Planned Parenthood. Spread the word!

We need YOUR help: Join the Rally in DC on December 2nd!

The battle is on for women's health care. In just 2 weeks, thousands of supporters will gather at the Capitol to speak with one voice and tell our leaders: health care reform must protect access to abortion coverage.

The US House of Representatives made a dangerous last minute decision to add the Stupak ban to their health care reform bill. This amendment denies abortion coverage to all women, even those who purchase insurance with their own money. We can't let the anti-choice Stupak amendment become law.

Join the press conference and rally at Upper Senate Park from 12:00-1:30pm.

Can't join us in DC, but want to help in other ways?

Join the rally in Washington DC on Wednesday, December 2nd. We need thousands at the Capitol showing support for women’s health.

Visit www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/healthreform or call 410-576-2150 for more information.

Women must decide for themselves what kind of insurance coverage they can buy and what kind of health care they need. Anything less is unacceptable.

Please use Tell-a-friend below to spread the word about this important action!