As everyone knows, President Obama is pushing hard to reform the current healthcare system. This effort will help to reduce insurance costs and will also assist in helping those who cannot afford health insurance to be able to get insured. It is for this reason that the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops is also pushing for the change.

However, I was listening to the Catholics Next Door Podcast and Fr. Frank Pavone from Priests for Life was talking about the danger of abortion creeping in to the language of the health care reform act, under the guise of “comprehensive reproductive health care” or “comprehensive women’s health care”. This scared me a bit.

If abortion is forced to be covered by all insurance providers, this would mean that it implies that abortion is a right. However, I can’t see how taking the life of an innocent human being is a right. Murder isn’t a right. It wouldn’t be a right for me to go next door and shoot my neighbor, would it?

The other thing that worries me is the fact that if all insurers must cover abortion, this may mean that Catholic hospitals and care facilities, as well as pro-life doctors, could be forced to offer abortion as an option or to perform abortions, despite it being gravely immoral.

For this reason I wrote to my state representative and senators expressing that I wish that it be clearly stated that abortion not be covered in the health care reform act. I also requested that cord blood donation be better organized and covered by insurance providers, as the stem cells from cord blood are not only ethical, but, also have provided for great treatments for serious illnesses.

I strongly suggest that ever Catholic write their senators and representatives. You can find their information by going to Votesmart.org. Just enter your zip code and there are links to your state’s representatives and senators’ websites where you can contact them.

Health care reform is important, but, shouldn’t result in the further promotion of, and destruction of innocent American citizens.