WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 8, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Pro-life organizations welcomed an amendment to tighten restrictions on abortion in U.S. health care reform, but warned that the health care overhaul is still faulty.
In votes Saturday night, the Stupak-Pitts amendment passed 240-194, clearing the way for the House of Representatives to pass the bill 220-215.
The U.S. episcopal conference had sent a letter to Congress on Saturday, saying that the «Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment will keep in place current federal law on abortion funding and conscience protections.»
According to National Right to Life, the Stupak-Pitts amendment prohibits the federal government insurance program from paying for abortion, except in cases to save the life of the mother, rape or incest; and it prohibits the new federal premium subsidies to purchase private plans that cover abortion (except in the same cases mentioned above.)
Nevertheless, pro-life organizations pointed to other flaws in the bill and noted that there is «a long way to go» to keep tax dollars from funding abortions.
In any case, the Senate has yet to vote on the reform package and the bill passed by the House is not expected to stand there.
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On the Net:
The U.S. bishops’ ongoing efforts to support health care reform: www.usccb.org/healthcare/index.shtml
