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USCCB on Health Care

USCCB on Health Care

"Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation" - Bishop William F. Murphy

USCCB Position on Health Care Reform

In our Catholic tradition, health care is a basic human right. Access to health care should not depend on where a person works, how much a family earns, or where a person lives. Instead, every person, created in the image and likeness of God, has a right to life and to those things necessary to sustain life, including affordable, quality health care. This teaching is rooted in the biblical call to heal the sick and to serve "the least of these," our concern for human life and dignity, and the principle of the common good. Unfortunately, tens of millions of Americans do not have health insurance. According to the Catholic bishops of the United States, the current health care system is in need of fundamental reform. To learn about Catholic teaching on health care in more detail, read the full statement by the United States Catholic Bishops, A Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform, at usccb.org/sdwp/national/comphealth.shtml.

Affiliates can remind their Bishops of the statement and get it out to the people. Click on "Read more…" to see a sample letter.

You may also want to check out Voices for Health Reform, a project of  the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop’s Residence
1011 First Avenue
New York, N.Y 10022

Your Eminence,

I am happy to have this opportunity to write you concerning a most pressing issue for the people of New York as well as the entire nation – HEALTH CARE. We have all had the Health Care Reform bill before us daily and have been involved in dialogues at various levels on what is the avenue to pursue for a just system for all. We have been reminded over and over again that this is a moral issue.

The Bishops of the United States have certainly been in the forefront in speaking out on Health Care Reform. As the USCCB position states:

“In our Catholic tradition, health care is a basic human right. Access to health care should not depend on where a person works, how much a family earns, or where a person lives. Instead, every person, created in the image and likeness of God, has a right to life and to those things necessary to sustain life, including affordable, quality health care. This teaching is rooted in the biblical call to heal the sick and to serve "the least of these," our concern for human life and dignity, and the principle of the common good. Unfortunately, tens of millions of Americans do not have health insurance. According to the Catholic bishops of the United States, the current health care system is in need of fundamental reform.”

This is truly a Gospel statement yet those of us in the pews of our Churches have been hearing nothing about it, at least in two Parishes here in Yonkers. I’ve attended Mass also in two other Dioceses during the past two months and have heard not a word on this most important issue. With a new policy being decided at this moment in Congress is it not important for our Senators and Legislators to hear from all the Catholics in the Archdiocese?

I am most grateful, your Eminence, for receiving this. I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting you but seeing you on TV or your pictures in the newspapers with your broad smile truly warms my heart. May you be filled with Christ’s blessing of Peace and Joy.

Sincerely,

Sister Patricia Gallogly, MM