July 22, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ,
As Catholics, we all hold the dignity of human life as one of our sacrosanct beliefs. Next week, the U.S. House will vote on a spending bill, H.R. 4502, which currently omits longstanding provisions prohibiting taxpayer funds to be used for elective abortions. The exclusion of the Hyde Amendment and the related Weldon Amendment in this spending bill would:
- Force taxpayers to pay for elective abortions in the United States and overseas.
- Compel healthcare providers and professionals to perform abortions and refer for them, potentially against their beliefs.
- Require employers and insurers to pay for and cover abortions.
The exclusion of these bipartisan amendments in the spending bill reverses policies set forth by previous Congresses for more than 40 years. Worse, it sets our nation down a path where we are collectively devaluing human life and requiring health care professionals to take part in procedures to which they may morally object. This a path on which we do not want to tread, and I urge you to let your congressional representatives know.
To express your support for restoration of the Hyde Amendment and other like provisions in H.R. 4502, call your House member through Voter Voice. See the alert. You can also sign a petition from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that will be delivered to all U.S. House and Senate members in advance of the vote the week of July 26.
Thank you for weighing in on this important issue, which directly impacts the sanctity of human life. For more information, contact Director of Social Concerns and Adult Faith Formation Tony Bosnick at abosnick@sfadw.org.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John