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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Get Religion Out of Health Care Reform
By Joan Lamunyon Sanford
New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
While we want health care reform, we are outraged that the cost of passage of this legislation in the House of Representatives is new, expanded and unprecedented bans on access to abortion.
It is appalling that this single medical service was excluded from the final bill through the intense lobbying of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The bishops made clear that their will would be done, that they would oppose any and all health care reform that did not specifically include their religious ideology.
At the behest of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, instead of supporting a carefully-negotiated compromise to continue, but not expand current limitations on use of federal funding for abortions, anti-choice members of the House voted to deny women the ability to purchase any abortion coverage from either the new public option health plan or the private insurance plans that would participate in the insurance exchange.
Major Christian and Jewish denominations and millions of Americans disagree with this position and support a woman's right to make her own reproductive health decisions. This action by the House is an unacceptable denial of our constitutional right to live according to our own moral beliefs.
Those who support access to all reproductive health services want health care reform. We feel keenly our moral responsibility to ensure the medical resources necessary for the health of all children, families and communities. But this cannot be done without respect for our nation's religious diversity.
We call on the Senate to ensure that health care reform is freed of religious ideology and restrictions that will prevent women from making their own reproductive health care choices.
We support a health care system that is inclusive and respectful of diverse religious beliefs and decisions regarding childbearing.
Joan Lamunyon Sanford is executive director of the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
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