The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) has long been committed to a goal of health coverage for all people in the United States. CHA has not, however, endorsed any of the bills currently under consideration.
"Our message has always been clear," said Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive office of the association. "Health care must respect and protect human dignity from conception to natural death. In that spirit, coverage for everyone is a moral imperative and a matter of social justice."
Nearly two years before the national reform conversation began, CHA put forward a set of principles to guide the effort. The "Vision For U.S. Health Care" document, developed collaboratively with members of the Catholic health ministry, begins with values from Catholic social teaching including human dignity, justice and the common good. "The values and principles set forth in the Vision document guide our advocacy for effective health reform," Sr. Carol noted.
"To date, CHA has not endorsed any health care reform bill, but our message to lawmakers is unchanged: Health reform should not result in an expansion of abortion, and it must maintain conscience protections for health care providers who do not want to participate in abortions or other morally objectionable procedures," Sr. Carol stressed.
CHA is working closely with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to bring about health reform that respects the life and dignity of every person, from conception to natural death. This means care that respects the unborn, the patient with multiple sclerosis, the person living with cancer, the young mother, the addicted, the mentally ill, the frail elderly, the dying patient.