Catholic Brothers, Priests, & Sisters in Pa, Who Need to Get Up to Speed on Conscience Protection

Your Excellencies:

Though "abortion opt out" legislation passed both Pennsylvania's Senate and House in 2011, a bill was never reconciled and signed by Governor Corbett. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is to be applauded for its current effort to expedite HB 818/SB3, facilitating emails to our legislators:

• "As the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act and Pennsylvania has chosen not to set up a state exchange, Pennsylvania must take steps to prevent abortion coverage in the federal insurance exchanges used in PA. Please send a message to your legislators requesting that this important pro-life issue be addressed as soon as possible!" (Vote "Yes" on Abortion Opt-Out Legislation; https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Campaigns/25554/Respond).

A 4/5/13 Catholic News Service brief caught my eye:

• "In Pennsylvania, 1,300 sisters, brothers and priests petitioned Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, who is Catholic, to reverse his decision not to expand Medicaid. 'What we believe, not only as Catholics but as women religious, we need to look out for those who are most marginalized,' said Sister Donna Korba, director of the Office and Justice and Peace for her order, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton, Pa. 'With something like health care, it seems almost logical that the federal government is offering an opportunity for those who are uninsured to become insured,' a board member of Network, the Catholic social justice lobby, told Catholic News Service in explaining why she and Sister Mary Beth Hamm, who is a Sister of St. Joseph, and Mercy Sister Diane Guerin, both of Philadelphia, organized the petition drive."

To gather 1300 signatures from brothers, priests, and sisters in Pennsylvania seems like an impressive accomplishment. I took the opportunity to review the actual letter to Governor Corbett, which appears on the web site of "Network" (which describes itself as "A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby"). I also reviewed Network's accompanying Healthcare material, which claims:

• "The passage and signing in March 2010 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (healthcare reform) marked the first time in U.S. history that our government has committed to steps to ensure that people of all ages, including those with preexisting health concerns, have healthcare coverage. The new law does not have everything we wanted, but it is a historic step.  The new law promotes quality healthcare that is more accessible, affordable, universal and pro-life.  Specific changes in our healthcare system are occurring year-by-year as aspects of the new law come into effect.  Our support of the current law does not mean that we are completely satisfied, however. There are a number of steps we still need to take to improve our U.S. healthcare system."

Since Network's assessment of the Affordable Care Act as "pro life" is clearly out of step with the USCCB, I was intrigued to read Network's "steps we still need to take to improve our U.S. healthcare system." While it may not be surprising, it still strikes me as scandalous that there is nothing in these "steps" or in Network's "Medicaid Expansion Toolkit" to protest assaults on conscience by draconian efforts to dictate the funding of abortifacients/contraceptives and sterilizations.

Faithful Catholic lay people engaged in health care apostolates - indeed all people of good will - need Catholic clergy and religious to be in their corners, fighting for conscience protections.

Sincerely,