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Queen of Apostles Catholic Church |
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WHAT'S NEW?
Memorandum Health Care Bulletin Insert Health Care Flyer From: Bishop Paul S. Loverde To: All Priests Re: URGENT: Nationwide USCCB Bulletin Insert and Other Materials on Health Care Reform Dear Brother Priests: For many years, the U.S. bishops have supported decent health care for all based on our teaching that health care is essential for human life and dignity and on our community’s experience in providing health care and assisting those without coverage. We have always insisted that health care reform must protect life, not threaten it, and that it cannot be used as a vehicle to advance abortion. Specifically, we have clearly required that longstanding federal protections that restrict abortion funding and mandates and that protect conscience rights must be reflected in health reform legislation. In addition, we have also focused on efforts to insure that coverage is affordable and that immigrants have better health care as a result of reform. The USCCB principles and priorities are outlined in a series of letters to Congress, fact sheets and other materials on the USCCB health care reform Web site ( http://www.usccb.org/healthcare ). The debate and decisions on health care reform are reaching decisive moments. Congressional votes on health care may take place as soon as early November. The USCCB is asking for help in activating our Catholic people. I augment this request with an appeal that you take action in your parish in the following ways: - Encourage parish-wide distribution of the enclosed “Bulletin Insert,” which assists parishioners in sending a message to Congress. The Bulletin Insert should be printed or hand-stuffed in every parish bulletin and/or distributed in pews or at church entrances as soon as possible. - Make use of the enclosed pulpit announcements, prayer petitions and flyer. - Direct people to the USCCB health care reform Web site, http://www.usccb.org/healthcare , for updates, tools and resources. - Encourage the people of your parish to pray that Congress will act to insure that needed health care reform will truly protect the life, dignity and health care of all and that we will raise our voices to protect the unborn and the most vulnerable. - Finally, here are links to my recent homilies and columns on health care: “Vigilantly Defending Life” http://www.catholicherald.com/bishop/detail.html?sub_id=10868 “Beginning and End of Life Issues: Not Negotiable” http://catholicherald.com/detail.html?sub_id=11057 “Witness to the Truth About Life” http://catholicherald.com/bishop/detail.html?sub_id=11313 |
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