The sad part is that the Bishops were lobbying on behalf of an amendment that isn’t even pro-life. It’s nothing but political cover for everyone.
Health Care and the Power of the Bishops' Conference
Health Care and the Power of the Bishops' Conference
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The bishops know the Stupak amendment still allows for some abortion scenarios. (rape, incest, etc.) But that’s not why they were lobbying for it. They lobbied for it because:
a) it was better than no amendment at all, should the bill pass (lesser of two evils), and
b) in the best case scenario, it creates a massive obstacle to getting a liberal healthcare bill passed at all, and thus, no federal funding whatsoever for abortions.
Once you have impassioned, socially conservative democrats who proclaim their opposition to federal funding of abortions, they’re locked in unless they want to lose face and flip-flop. So, now the Stupak amendment has created a situation where, if it stays in, libs will vote against the bill, and if it comes out, socially conservative democrats will vote against. With just a couple votes margin, this bill is going to be DOA if it passes the Senate, comes out of the committe (with or without Stupak) and goes back to the House.
The Church believes that:
a) Universal healthcare is a worthy goal, just like feeding the hungry. But not at any cost.
b) Universal healthcare that subsidizes abortion (and other immoral procedures) is not healthcare at all and must be stridently rejected.
c) Any comprehensive healthcare bill that does include abortion coverage MUST have an ironclad conscience opt-out clause.
So, the bishops are faced with an interesting game of chess. They have to work against the bill, and at the same time provide a way to hedge against the worst case scenario (full federal funding of abortions, no conscience clause) should their efforts to defeat the bill altogether fail.