Richard M. Doerflinger

Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in March, amidst an unresolved debate about the legislation’s impact on abortion and conscience protection. As president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Francis George explained then that the bishops had to oppose the final bill despite their strong support for health care reform, because (among other things) it “appropriates billions of dollars in new funding without explicitly prohibiting the use of these funds for abortion.” Others dismissed this charge, saying that legislative intent and a last-minute executive order from President Obama prevented abortion funding.

Fast-forward to July, when one of those PPACA provisions appropriating billions of dollars was about to take effect. Section 1101 of the Act provides $5 billion for “high-risk insurance pools,” providing much-needed health coverage for people with “pre-existing conditions” who cannot otherwise get coverage. This program ends in January 2014, when these patients can join others in purchasing qualified health plans on the new state insurance exchanges. State governments can propose the benefits list and other details for covering their residents in these pools, but the federal government makes final decisions and provides all government funds for subsidizing this coverage.

Pro-life groups found that several states – beginning with Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Maryland – had announced on their web sites that their statewide plans would include elective abortions. (New Mexico used the phrase openly; Pennsylvania said its plan would not cover “elective abortions,” but would cover abortions that are legal under the Supreme Court’s decisions – meaning any abortion an abortionist sees as needed for a woman’s social or emotional “well-being.”) These plans were described as already approved, and New Mexico had already begun signing up enrollees.

Public criticism of this development prompted immediate denials and evasive responses. An initial response from the Department of Health and Human Services insisted that “federal funds” would not cover these abortions – leaving open the prospect that everyone who enrolls could be forced to fund other people’s abortions with their premium dollars. Late on July 14, however, HHS issued a new and more welcome response, saying that abortions simply “will not be covered” in these plans except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life, as has long been true in federally subsidized health plans for federal employees.

Now pro-abortion groups are crying foul, with the interesting complaint that this pro-life outcome goes beyond anything in PPACA or the executive order. In other words, they are saying the bishops’ analysis of loopholes in these documents is right.

The high-risk pool program is just one funding stream left open to abortion by PPACA. For now it seems pro-life forces have won the first round, through careful research and a prompt public response. But PPACA needs a legislative fix to close such loopholes once and for all. That fix is offered by the “Protect Life Act” (H.R. 5111) sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and 115 other House members, including 13 Democrats. Whether these or other billions of dollars in taxpayers’ funds are used to help kill unborn children is not a matter we should leave to shifting politics or to chance.

Life Issues Forum by Richard M. Doerflinger, Associate Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. To learn more about the bishops’ pro-life activities see www.usccb.org/prolife.

This should have been good news; but alarms were raised when a careful reading of the approved insurance plan revealed it would cover abortions. Following a public outcry, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement that the agency will act to exclude abortion from this program.

The Bishops of Pennsylvania welcomed the commitment from HHS to exclude abortion from the federal health insurance program and echoed the sentiments of a July 15 statement issued by the chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB):

This week it was reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had approved a new high-risk health insurance program for residents of Pennsylvania that by its terms would cover abortions without meaningful limits. This federal program, established by the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), will provide health services until 2014 to uninsured persons with pre-existing conditions. The Pennsylvania plan, while purporting not to fund “elective” abortions, made clear in its text that all abortions that satisfy the requirements of certain Pennsylvania statutes (i.e., all abortions that are not illegal in that state) would be covered, and reimbursed, with a combination of private premiums and federal funds drawn from the U.S. Treasury. This first announcement that $160 million in federal funds would be used to provide pro-abortion coverage raised an alarming precedent. Later the news also became public that the state of New Mexico would be covering “elective abortions” in its federal high-risk pool, which was already accepting enrollees.

Last night, however, HHS reacted to public criticisms by announcing that it will act to exclude abortion from this federally funded program, in accord with the assurances that Secretary Sebelius and President Obama have repeatedly made that PPACA will not be used to promote abortion. We welcome this new policy, while continuing to be gravely concerned that it was not issued until after some states had announced that pro-abortion health plans were approved and had begun to enroll patients. This situation illustrates once again the need for Congress to enact legislation clearly stating once and for all that funds appropriated by PPACA will not pay for abortions or for insurance coverage that includes abortion. Such legislation would mirror the Hyde amendment and similar provisions which prevent such abortion funding in all other federal health programs.

In this program as in others, the issue of government involvement in the taking of innocent human life should not remain subject to the changeable discretion of executive officials or depend on the continued vigilance of pro-life advocates. It is vitally important for people with serious medical conditions who have been unable to obtain coverage to receive the help offered by programs such as this – and for them to be assured that their coverage will be life-affirming, not life-threatening.

For the latest news and information about the Bishops’ positions on health care reform, log on to www.pacatholic.org/health-care.

Photo by Sara A. Fajardo/CRS

On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti causing extensive damage, killing many and leaving thousands homeless and in crisis.  Six months later, hope has been restored and progress is being made. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is still there helping meet the needs of the Haitian people.

Here is a progress report:

• Distributed food to nearly 900,000 people. Currently providing food to more than 90,000 students in over 270 schools, and monthly food rations to more than 100 orphanages and child-care centers in Port-au-Prince and Les Cayes, benefiting nearly 10,000 children.
• Provided emergency shelter materials to more than 114,000 people.
• CRS health care team performed over 960 emergency operations and conducted 62,000 outpatient consultations.
• Supported hundreds of thousands of people with food, water, sanitation, shelter materials and protection, including at two of the largest camps for the displaced. Established five “child-friendly spaces” for unaccompanied children at camps, regularly attended by more than 1,500 children.
• Installed over 600 latrines and hand-washing stations, as well as potable water tanks and inflatable water bladders, in Port-au-Prince and environs, providing an estimated 375,000 gallons of water per month.
• Provided assistance to numerous local and international partners in Haiti, including 164 Church partners.

Read more about the response in Haiti at crs.org.

EITC provides a tax credit to businesses that contribute to organizations that give scholarships to students to attend the school of their choice. Many Catholic school students benefit from EITC scholarships.  If your state Representative or state Senator is on this list, visit, call, fax, writer or send an e-mail to thank him or her for supporting EITC. (NOTE: some legislators represent more than one diocese.)

Not sure who is your state legislator? Look it up with this tool from the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Allentown Diocese

• Sen. Argall
• Sen. Boscola
• Sen. Browne
• Sen. Folmer
• Sen. Mensch
• Sen. Musto
• Sen,O’Pake
• Sen. Rafferty

• Rep. Brennan
• Rep. Caltagirone
• Rep. Day
• Rep. Freeman
• Rep. Goodman
• Rep. Grucela
• Rep. Harhart
• Rep. Kessler
• Rep. Knowles
• Rep. Mann
• Rep. McCall
• Rep. Reichley
• Rep. Rohrer
• Rep. Samuelson
• Rep. Santoni
• Rep. Seip

Altoona-Johnstown Diocese

• Sen. Corman
• Sen. Eichelberger
• Sen. Kasunic
• Sen. Wozniak

• Rep. Barbin
• Rep. Burns
• Rep. Conklin
• Rep. Fleck
• Rep. Geist
• Rep. Haluska
• Rep. Hanna

Erie Diocese

• Sen. Earll
• Sen. Robbins
• Sen. Scarnati
• Sen. D. White
• Sen. M.J. White
• Sen. Wozniak

• Rep. Brooks
• Rep. Causer
• Rep. Fabrizio
• Rep. Gabler
• Rep. George
• Rep. Harkins
• Rep. Hornaman
• Rep. Longietti
• Rep. Oberlander
• Rep. Rapp
• Rep. S. Smith
• Rep. Sonney
• Rep. Stevenson

Greensburg Diocese

• Sen. Kasunic
• Sen. Logan
• Sen. Stout
• Sen. Ward
• Sen. D. White

• Rep. Casorio
• Rep. Daley
• Rep. DeWeese
• Rep. Harhai
• Rep. Kula
• Rep. Mahoney
• Rep. Markosek
• Rep. Oberlander
• Rep. Pallone
• Rep. Petrarca
• Rep. Pyle
• Rep. Reese

Harrisburg Diocese

• Sen. Alloway
• Sen. Brubaker
• Sen. Corman
• Sen. Eichelberger
• Sen. Folmer
• Sen. Gordner
• Sen. Piccola
• Sen. Smucker
• Sen. Vance
• Sen. Waugh
• Sen. Yaw

• Rep. Belfanti
• Rep. Buxton
• Rep. Creighton
• Rep. Cutler
• Rep.  Denlinger
• Rep. DePasquale
• Rep. Fairchild
• Rep. Fleck
• Rep. Gingrich
• Rep. Grell
• Rep. Harris
• Rep. Helm
• Rep. Kauffman
• Rep. Marsico
• Rep. Miller
• Rep. Moul
• Rep. Phillips
• Rep. Saylor
• Rep. Sturla
• Rep. Swanger
• Rep. Tallman
• Rep. True

Philadelphia Archdiocese

• Sen. Brubaker
• Sen. Dinniman
• Sen. Erickson
• Sen. Farnese
• Sen. Folmer
• Sen. Greenleaf
• Sen. Hughes
• Sen. Kitchen
• Sen. McIlhinney
• Sen. Mensch
• Sen. Pileggi
• Sen. Rafferty
• Sen. Stack
• Sen. Tartaglione
• Sen. Tomlinson
• Sen. Washington
• Sen. Williams

• Rep. Adolph
• Rep. Barrar
• Rep. Bishop
• Rep. Boyle
• Rep. Briggs
• Rep. Brown
• Rep. Clymer
• Rep. Cohen
• Rep. Cruz
• Rep. Curry
• Re[. DiGirolamo
• Rep. Donatucci
• Rep. Drucker
• Rep. D. Evans
• Rep. Farry
• Rep. Galloway
• Rep. Gerber
• Rep. Godshall
• Rep. Harper
• Rep. Houghton
• Rep. Johnson
• Rep. Josephs
• Rep. W. Keller
• Rep. Killion
• Rep. Kirkland
• Rep. Lentz
• Rep. Manderino
• Rep. McGeehan
• Rep. Melio
• Rep. Micozzie
• Rep. Milne
• Rep. Murt
• Rep. Myers
• Rep. M. O’Brien
• Rep. O’Neill
• Rep. Parker
• Rep. Payton
• Rep. Perzel
• Rep. Petri
• Rep. Quigley
• Rep. Roebuck
• Rep. Ross
• Rep. Sabatina
• Rep. Santarsiero
• Rep. Shapiro
• Rep. J. Taylor
• Rep. R. Taylor
• Rep. Thomas
• Rep. Vitali
• Rep. Waters
• Rep. Watson
• Rep. Williams
• Rep. Youngblood

Pittsburgh Diocese

• Sen. Costa
• Sen. Fontana
• Sen. Kasunic
• Sen. Logan
• Sen. Orie
• Sen. Pippy
• Sen. Robbins
• Sen. Stout
• Sen. D. White
• Sen. M.J. White

• Rep. Brooks
• Rep. D. Costa
• Rep. P. Costa
• Rep. Daley
• Rep. Deasy
• Rep. DeLuca
• Rep. Dermody
• Rep. DeWeese
• Rep. Ellis
• Rep. Frankel
• Rep. Gergely
• Rep. Gibbons
• Rep. Kortz
• Rep. Kotik
• Rep. Levdansky
• Rep. Markosek
• Rep. Marshall
• Rep. Matzie
• Rep. Mustio
• Rep. Preston
• Rep. Readshaw
• Rep. Sainato
• Rep. M. Smith
• Rep. S. Smith
• Rep. Solobay
• Rep. Stevenson
• Rep. Wagner
• Rep. Wheatley
• Rep. White

Scranton Diocese

• Sen. Argall
• Sen. Baker
• Sen. Boscola
• Sen. Browne
• Sen. Gordner
• Sen. Mellow
• Sen. Musto
• Sen. Scarnati
• Sen. Yaw

• Rep. Baker
• Rep. Carroll
• Rep. Eachus
• Rep. Everett
• Rep. Major
• Rep. Mirabito
• Rep. Mundy
• Rep. Murphy
• Rep. Pashinski
• Rep. Pickett
• Rep. Scavello
• Rep. Siptroth
• Rep. K. Smith
• Rep. Staback
• Rep. Wansacz
• Rep. Yudichak

EDUCATION

The big news about the budget is funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. EITC provides a tax credit to businesses that contribute to organizations that give scholarships to students to attend the school of their choice. Many Catholic school students benefit from EITC scholarships. The successful education program was cut by $15 million last year and was scheduled to be cut another $10 million this year. But thanks to the hard work of the Advocates of Catholic Education in Pennsylvania, this year’s cut was avoided. EITC will be funded at the same level as last year – $60 million. Better still, the share that funds scholarships for students in nonpublic schools was increased more than $2 million to $40 million.

Public schools were one of the winners in this year’s budget; their basic subsidy was increased $250 million for a total of $5.1 billion. Comparatively, non-public school students benefit from a small line item the state education budget that pays for textbooks, materials and a few special services. Those line items received a minimal decrease of less than 1%.

HEALTH CARE

Catholic health care facilities like hospitals and long-term care homes have a special mission to serve the poor. Many of their patients and residents are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA). Fortunately, no payment reductions were made to hospitals in the final budget. The budget also includes a modernized MA payment system that will improve and stabilize reimbursements to hospitals and will help leverage federal matching funds. Hospital officials say the new system will help to enhance patient access to care and provide hospitals with much needed additional funding.

Long-term nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and other long-term care services however, suffered a $34 million loss of funding in several different programs.

The budget counts on $850 million from an extension of the Federal Medical Assistance Program (FMAP) that Congress has yet to approve. If this does not happen, the governor and lawmakers will have to modify the budget to address the shortfall.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Catholic Charities agencies provide a number of programs that are funded by the state. Many of these programs, such as services to people with disabilities to help them live independently, are paid for by the state’s Human Services Development Fund (HSDF), which was cut by $2 million.

A slight cut of $38,000 to the state funded alternatives to abortion program, administered by Real Alternatives, Inc., seems minuscule within the billions of dollars being spent all together on the broad range of social service programs. However, each of those dollars would go a long way to helping women choose life for their unborn children.

The efforts of grassroots supporters made a definite difference in this year’s budget, especially for EITC. Advocates visited, called, faxed, and wrote letters and e-mails to their state legislators. Some wrote letters to the editor of local newspapers. Many more prayed for our elected leaders and the future of our Commonwealth. Thank you for your support.

If you are not yet a member of the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network or the companion Advocates for Catholic Education in Pennsylvania, consider signing up at www.pacatholic.org. Join us. Be heard. Make a difference in Pennsylvania.

PCC Column July 2010 by A.B. Hill, Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference – the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania.

At the center of the dispute is the creation of a new Legislative Fiscal Office.  Some want it included in this year’s Fiscal Code bill; others prefer to run it as a separate bill.

Legislative leaders will meet this morning in hope of resolving the dispute.

Governor Rendell has 10 days from passage to sign the budget into law.  He has warned he will veto if the Fiscal Code bill is not passed.

PCC staff will be reviewing the line items in this spending agreement.  More details to come.

The launch comes with the release of the first of five videos. The first video is called Made for Each Other and includes a Viewer’s Guide and Resource Booklet. It explores sexual difference and the complementarity between man and woman as husband and wife in marriage. Later videos will treat the good of children, the good of society and what constitutes discrimination, religious liberty, and issues particular to a Latino/a audience.

“The Committee’s efforts are grounded in the recognition that marriage, as the union of one man and one woman, is at the heart of a flourishing society and culture,” said Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, chairman of the Committee. “The truth of marriage lies at the very core of a true concern for justice and the common good. Promoting marriage is crucial to the New Evangelization. These initial materials seek to provide a key starting point, a compass, for assisting Catholics and all people of good will in understanding why marriage is and can only be the union of one man and one woman.”

The DVD, guide, and booklet are intended for use by priests, deacons, catechists, teachers and other leaders. Potential uses include instruction for young adult groups, adult faith formation, and seminary and diaconate education. Materials are online at www.marriageuniqueforareason.org and are available for purchase through www.usccbpublishing.org.