More Criticism for the USCCB's Attempts to Amend Health Care Bill.

Some Catholic and "pro-life" groups are criticizing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for their efforts this weekend to encourage parishioners to advocate for changes in the proposed health care reform bill. Many feel the USCCB has not gone far enough, like American Life League's Judie Brown:

"But we remind the USCCB that Catholics cannot stop at opposing abortion and demanding conscience protection. Where is the USCCB on the health care reform bills’ potential to fund Planned Parenthood, to use our tax dollars to indoctrinate children with sex education in schools, to fund euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, human embryonic stem cell research, contraception and health care rationing?

"All of these things are present in all of the current versions of the health care bill. None of these are acceptable according to Catholic teaching. All Catholics are duty bound to reject 'health care reform' if it contains any of the above grievous offenses against human life and personhood.

"Catholics need to know why, at every level, these proposals are fraught with death and destruction of the soul.

"Finally, Catholics need to know that the USCCB, acting of itself, carries no authority to instruct the bishops on the governance of their flocks. It is imperative that each and every bishop make a public statement condemning these health care proposals until they exclude any provisions for:

- abortion

- human embryonic stem cell research

- contraceptives

- rationed care

- in vitro fertilization

- euthanasia

- sex education in schools