I can’t recall a more anticipated ruling by the Supreme Court in recent memory than it’s ruling last week on the constitutionality of key provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or "Obamacare"). Certainly from a pro-life perspective, the Court’s ruling was deeply disappointing.
As mentioned in their public response to the Court’s ruling, one of the reasons why the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) ultimately opposed passage of "Obamacare" was that it "allows use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions and for plans that cover such abortions, contradicting longstanding federal policy."
Other reasons why the Bishops opposed passage of "Obamacare" are that it "fails to include necessary language to provide essential conscience protection, both within and beyond the abortion context" and it "fails to treat immigrant workers and their families fairly."
The common practice of the USCCB with regard to legislative activity is to advocate on behalf of the dignity of the human person, particularly those most vulnerable. The USCCB advocates more for the inclusion of important principles in legislation than for the legislation itself. However, if those principles are not included, as is the case with "Obamacare," the Bishops will oppose legislation.
In its response to the ruling, the USCCB reiterated these concerns—and its resolve to advocate corrective legislation. "The decision of the Supreme Court," the USCCB said, "neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct the fundamental flaws" of "Obamacare" mentioned above.
This brings us to an important point of distinction between the case decided by the Supreme Court last week and the numerous lawsuits filed by various plaintiffs against the so-called "HHS contraceptive mandate." The case decided by the Court last week upheld the broader constitutionality of "Obamacare" itself, particularly its mandate that every person purchase health insurance or face a fine (or as the Court declared, a "tax").
The lawsuits against the "HHS contraceptive mandate" are still working their way through the court system. These lawsuits are challenging the constitutionality of one portion of "Obamacare"—its requirement that virtually every health insurance plan provide (without charge to the insured) coverage for sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and devices, and contraception.
The USCCB did not join in on the lawsuits to repeal "Obamacare" in its entirety, but the bishops remain resolute and vociferous in the battle to invalidate or rescind the "contraceptive mandate." The Fortnight for Freedom, which ended July 4, was one expression of the Bishops’ resolution in this battle.
Now that the Fortnight has ended and the Supreme Court has left "Obamacare" largely intact, some people may be tempted to disengage from the battle against the contraceptive mandate. This cannot happen.
The battle against the contraceptive mandate and other unjust provisions of "Obamacare" will continue and we must stay engaged in it. We must continue the prayers, fasting and education that were fostered during the Fortnight. The Bishops’ website (www.usccb.org) will continue to assist us in this effort.
As St. Paul admonished us, "we must never grow weary of doing what is right" (2 Thessalonians 3:13).
You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference, 215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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