CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND HEALTH CARE

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

Latest USCCB Resources: USCCB HEALTH CARE REFORM

Factsheet: Abortion Funding in the New Health Care Reform Act (4-12-10)

Legal Analysis of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Corresponding Executive Order on Abortion Funding and Conscience Issues (3/25/10)
 

LETTERS FROM BISHOPS:

March 23 Cardinal George's Statement on Passage of "Profoundly Flawed" Health Care Reform Act

March 16 Washington Post Op-Ed by Cardinal DiNardo, Bishop Murphy & Bishop Wester

March 15 Statement of USCCB President, Cardinal Georg “The Cost is Too High; The Loss is Too Great”

February 24 Letter to Congress on Eve of Health Care Summit

January 26 Letter to the House

January 26 Letter to the Senate

December 22 Letter to the Senate

December 14 Cardinal DiNardo Letter to the Senate

December 14 Letter to Senator Robert Menendez

December 7 Joint Letter to the Senate

November 20 Joint Letter to the Senate (En Español)

November 9 Statement by Cardinal George on House Action and Senate Concerns

November 7 Letter after Passage of House Bill

November 7 Letter Urging Passage of Stupak Amendment

November 6 Joint Letter to House

October 8 Joint Letter to Congress

September 30 Joint Letter to the Senate

Letter from Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy in September 6 New York Times

August 11 letter from Cardinal Rigali to House of Representatives

July 29 Letter from Cardinal Rigali to House Energy and Commerce Committee

July 17 Letter from Bishop William Murphy to Congress

Statement of Bishop William Murphy to Senate Committee on Finance

March 26 Joint Letter to the Senate
 

Making Health Care Reform “Abortion Neutral”:
What is the Legal Status Quo on Abortion?

Support Health Care Reform That Respects Life

Catholic Medical Association
Health Care Reform - Overview and Information

ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT: COLUMNS & ARTICLES

How we got from good intentions to a flawed bill
March 24, 2010
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Catholics, health care and the Senate's bad bill
March 17, 2010
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Health care, justice and the course of our national debate
September 2, 2009
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Health care and the common good
August 26, 2009
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Act now to ensure health care reform respects sanctity of life
August 12, 2009
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Urgent action needed to protect medical care conscience clauses
March 25, 2009
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Senate Bill 225: troubling for Catholic medical care
March 4, 2009
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A reality check from the discipleship front
November 18, 2009
Denver Catholic Register
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A promise was made; now it needs to be kept
November 4, 2009
Denver Catholic Register
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Health care, justice and the course of our national debate
September 2, 2009
Denver Catholic Register
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Health care and the Common Good
August 26, 2009
Denver Catholic Register
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Act now to ensure health care reform respects sanctity of life
August 12, 2009
Denver Catholic Register
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BISHOP SHERIDAN:

HEALTH CARE STATEMENT
March 17, 2010
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ARTICLES:

Make your voice heard on health care reform
November 6, 2009
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