Today the United States Supreme Court issued a decision regarding the Affordable Health Care Act. I join the bishops of the United States in supporting access to life-affirming health care as the right of every individual; especially the poor and most vulnerable.
We adamantly oppose the portions of the law that (1) allow use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions; (2) fail to provide essential conscience protection; and (3) discriminate against immigrant families by denying them full access to health care benefits.
American bishops have never joined in efforts to repeal this law in its entirety and do not do so today but today’s opinion does not diminish the moral imperative to ensure decent healthcare for all, nor eliminate the need to correct the fundamental flaws mentioned above. We continue to urge Congress to pass and the Administration to sign legislation to correct these three flaws as expeditiously as possible.
We will continue to advocate affordable health care for all and will continue to study the Court’s opinion to understand its full implications for healthcare reform and for our religious liberty.
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