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The U.S. bishops called on Congress to continue to work on health care reform to provide access for everyone, protection of life at all stages and conscience rights.
The call came in a January 26 letter signed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston- Houston, chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City, chair of the Committee on Migration.
The entire letter can be found at http://www.usccb.org/healthcare/HC-Letter-to-Congress-012610.pdf
The bishops said that the need for reform remains despite a new political climate.
"Although political contexts have changed, the moral and policy failure that leaves tens of millions of our sisters and brothers without access to health care still remains," they said. "We encourage Congress to begin working in a bipartisan manner providing political courage, vision and leadership. We must all continue to work towards a solution that protects everyone's lives and respects their dignity."
The bishops asked for changes in proposed bills in the House of Representatives and Senate. The current bills, they said, "leave between 18 and 23 million people in our nation without health insurance."
They criticized the Senate bill saying it does not meet the church's criteria on life and conscience since it does not reflect the current U.S. policy as outlined in the Hyde Amendment passed in 1976.