Catholic Concerns in the Health Care Bills: USCCB Issue Comparisons

How do the House and Senate bills compare based on our concerns? Ready the comparisons below for more information:

• Affordability & Coverage in the Health Care Reform Bills: A Comparison (PDF)

• Life and Conscience Issues in the Health Care Reform Bills: A Comparison (PDF)

• Comparison of Senate and House Bills on Immigration (PDF)

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Action Alert! Urge Congress Today to Continue to Work on Genuine Health Care Reform!

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Yesterday the bishops wrote Congress urging that efforts to reform health care continue. Despite the changing political context, the moral imperative and national priority for health care reform remains.

Please act by January 31, 2010

WHY IS THIS ACTION IMPORTANT NOW?

On January 25, 2010 USCCB leaders sent a letter to Congress encouraging “Congress to begin working in a bipartisan manner providing political courage, vision and leadership.” The bishops emphasized that “We must all continue to work towards a solution that protects everyone’s lives and respects their dignity.”

Passage of a health care reform bill is uncertain, but the need for reform remains a national priority and moral imperative. Health care is a basic human right. Yet, there are nearly 50 million Americans who do not have access to health care. “Now is not the time to abandon this task, but rather to set aside partisan divisions and special interest pressures to find ways to enact genuine reform.” The entire letter can be found at www.usccb.org/healthcare/HC-Letter-to-Congress-012610.pdf

ACT NOW:

Senator Hutchison can be reached by phone at her DC office at 202-224-5922. Click here to get her local phone number or contact her on the web.

Senator Cornyn can be reached by phone at his DC office at 202-224-2934. Click here to get his local phone number or contact him on the web.

Sample Message:

"Hi my name is name and I am calling from city, Texas. As a Catholic I ask you to achieve affordable, accessible health care for all that protects all life. Health care must

1) Ensure access to quality, affordable, life giving health care for all;

2) Retain longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights;

3) Protect the access to health care that immigrants currently have and removes current barriers to access; and,

4) Restrain costs and apply them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

If you have any questions on the position of the Bishops of Texas with regard to this bill, feel free to contact the Texas Catholic Conference at 512-339-9882. Thank you for your time."

Prayer for the Uninsured

Father of goodness and love, hear our prayers for the uninsured members of our community and for all who are in need.

For those who seek care but find that it is out of reach, may they find consolation in your healing presence.

For all who are blessed with health and security, may they strive to fulfill the needs of those who are sick and insecure.

For leaders who make decisions that affect the health and well-being of others, may they work to ensure the fundamental right to health care.

We ask this through Christ our Lord who healed those who believed.

Amen.

Legislative Links:

-Texas Catholic Conference Legislative Agenda

-Outcomes of the 81^st Legislative Session

-Texas Catholic Conference Staff Blog

-Testimony and Letters
-Capitol Comments

The Texas Catholic Conference tries to be judicious in issuing alerts and does so when contact from constituents will make a difference at a critical moment in a bill's movement through the legislature. You may direct questions to Maria Huemmer, public relations and outreach coordinator at maria@txcatholic.org.    

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Bishops Urge Congress to Resume Work on Health Care with Access for All, Protection of Life, Conscience Rights

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.

Auxiliary Bishop Joe Vasquez named Bishop of Austin

Pope Benedict XVI has named Auxiliary Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as Bishop of the Diocese of Austin. Bishop Vásquez will be the fifth bishop of Austin and the first Mexican-American to lead the diocese.

"I wish to thank Pope Benedict XVI for the confidence he has placed in me in naming me shepherd of the Diocese of Austin," he said. "I also offer prayers of gratitude this day for Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza and the priests, religious and laity of the Archdiocese for forming me as a bishop. Most of all, I give thanks to God for the gift of priesthood, which has brought me such joy for 25 years. I trust in the Holy Spirit to enlighten me for this next step in my journey."

 News Release

Cardinal DiNardo's Statement

"Fast Facts" on Bishop Vasquez

Archbishop José H. Gomez Urges Catholics to donate to the Collection for the Church in Latin America.

The head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America, Archbishop José H. Gomez of San Antonio, TX, sent a letter January 22 to all U.S. bishops urging Catholics to donate to the Collection for the Church in Latin America. The collection is set to be taken up over the next few weekends in most dioceses, in solidarity with the tremendous losses the Church in Haiti has undergone.

“It goes without saying that after the immediate humanitarian response begins to take hold, equipping the local Church in Haiti will be a significant and long-term project,” said Archbishop Gomez. “The reported tragic loss of so many priests, sisters, seminarians and laity is irreplaceable.”

TX Catholic Voice: New Bishop Selected, Justice for Immigrants Resources, Haiti Video Messages

This week's Texas Catholic Voice includes information on Pope's selection of a new Texas bishop, a Justice for Immigrants Parish Kit, and information on the USCCB and CRS response on the earthquake in Haiti. Click here to see the entire newsletter.
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Pope Selects Diocese of Austin Administrator as New Bishop for Diocese of Corpus Christi

Pope Benedict XVI has selected Msgr. W. Michael Mulvey, current administrator of the Diocese of Austin, to be the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.The Most Reverend Edmond Carmody who submitted his letter of resignation one year ago as prescribed by Canon Law.


Bishop-designate Mulvey will succeed retiring Bishop Edmond Carmody, who was installed as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in March 2000. The Mass of Ordination and Installation will be March 25 in Corpus Christi.

Bishop-designate Mulvey was born Aug. 23, 1949, the second of six children, to Daniel H. Mulvey Jr. and Marjorie Jane Patterson Mulvey. His siblings are Dan, Martha, John, Tim and Kim. He has 12 nieces and nephews.

U.S. Bishops Mourn Devastation in Haiti, Urge Special Collection January 16-17 to Support Efforts of USCCB, CRS

The Church mourns the terrible suffering of the people of Haiti, and parishes across the country are urged to take up a special collection the weekend of January 16-17 for the humanitarian efforts of the U.S. bishops and Catholic Relief Service (CRS) in Haiti, according to a January 13 letter to Catholic bishops of the United States from Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.

Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop Dolan, chair of CRS board, said the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ravaged Haiti “destroyed countless homes, churches, seminaries, schools, and other buildings and has left millions without the most basic necessities of life. Our faith compels us to pray for and reach out to our brothers and sisters in their time of suffering.”

The full letter follows:

Massive Earthquake in Haiti

You can help the people of Haiti with your support of Catholic Relief Services as they respond in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that struck near the capital of Port-au-Prince. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and was still recovering from deadly 2008 hurricanes when the quake struck. Click here for more information.

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Action Alert: Justice for Immigrants Postcard

Immigration reform legislation may soon be considered Congress. Help us show your Senators and Representatives that Catholics and other supporters of immigrants want our elected officials to enact meaningful and compassionate immigration reform.



Click here to send an electronic postcard

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TX Catholic Voice: New Year Interim Update, Health Care Action Alert, Bishops Push for Immigration Reform

Happy New Year from the TCC! This week's Voice includes information on the legislative work of the TCC during the interim. It also includes an Action Alert on Health Care Reform, and information on the Bishops' Push for Immigration Reform. Click here to read the entire Voice.

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Action Alert:Several Health Care Reform Issues Still Need to Be Addressed

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Contact your Congressional Senator and Representative and ask them to ensure that health care protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Contact information and a sample message are included below.

Please act by January 29, 2010.

WHY IS THIS ACTION IMPORTANT NOW?

The U.S. House passed health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortion coverage.

The U.S. Senate has rejected this policy and passed health care reform that requires federal funds to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be required to pay for other people’s abortions through a separate payment solely to pay for abortion.

These two bills are being combined into one bill that both the House and Senate will vote on in final form.

U.S. Bishops Announce Push for Immigration Reform in 2010

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on January 6, announced steps to push for the enactment of immigration reform legislation in 2010. Bishop John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, bishop of Albany, New York, and chairman of the International Policy Committee of the USCCB, made the announcement.

“It is our view, and that of others, that the American public, including the Catholic and other faith communities, want a humane and comprehensive solution to the problems which beset our immigration system, and they want Congress to address this issue,” said Bishop Wester.

Capitol Comments: Accreditation and Accountability in Texas Catholic Schools

By Margaret McGettrick, Director of Education, Texas Catholic Conference

For the last two legislative sessions it has been my privilege to testify before the Senate and House Committees on issues pertinent to Texas children. Many of the issues fall under our Education policy area and include school choice, the expansion of pre-kindergarten and school breakfast programs.

With issues such as school choice, it has been an uphill struggle to convince legislators that many of the private schools in Texas indeed are accountable for their programs through their membership in the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC).The problem often arises out of being linked with other private schools that do not have any relationship with TEPSAC or the Texas Education Agency (TEA).