Hot Topics, Cool Talk How Can Catholic Convictions and Experience Illuminate the Health-Care Debate?” School Of Law University of Saint Thomas January 27, 2012 John Carr,Executive Director, Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Introduction Honored… Series…St. Thomas Anxious… Panel Perspectives Work, Politics, Sources (FCFC, Framework etc )

St. Thomas Outline Current Context Role of Church in Political Life Catholic Assets for Health Debate Catholic Teaching On Health Care USCCB Criteria/Advocacy For Reform A Current Controversy on Conscience Roles of Church

Political Context Passage of HCR did not end the debate… intensified it. More Polarized, Partisan, Ideological Tea party, Moveon.org Sound bytes: ObamaCare, RomneyCare Less about health care, more about role of government “Massive Change and no change “ “Keep Gov out of My Medicare” Ironies: 4 years ago…, SOTU

Health Context best health care in the world, but it serves too few and costs too much. Just under 50 million uninsured, 16.3% % children w/out down10years : SCHIP %of young adults w/ out down: ACA Spending on health care in the United States represents one-sixth of GDP- and is growing

Faithful Citizenship “it is not the church’s responsibility to make this teaching prevail in political life. Rather, the church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly, even when this might involve conflict with situations of personal interest.” Benedict XVI …God is Love…Deus Caritas Est

“Goals for Political Life” “Provide health care for the growing number of people without it, while respecting human life, human dignity, and religious freedom in our health care system.”

Health Care  The Church provides health care.  A sixth of all hospital patients in 600 Catholic hospitals and thousand nursing homes, clinics.  The Church pays for health care.  struggle with the rising costs of health care for those who work in parishes, schools, dioceses, charities.  The Church picks up the pieces of a failing health care system.  The uninsured are in our emergency rooms, shelters, clinics. They turn to us for help.  And The Church preaches and teaches  adequate health care is a an essential safeguard of human life and dignity.

Mission In Catholic Tradition Health Care is Not just an industry, but also ministry Not a commodity, but a service Not just a political battle, but also moral test Not a privilege, but a “right An essential good, necessary to protect human life and dignity

Catholic Teaching 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,“ the Catholic commitment to protect human life and dignity, and the principles of the common good and the priority for the poor and vulnerable.

Pacem in Terris (#11) But first We must speak of man's rights. Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of ill health;…

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (#1908) Certainly, it is the proper function of authority to arbitrate, in the name of the common good, between various particular interests; Certainly, it is the proper function of authority to arbitrate, in the name of the common good, between various particular interests; but it should make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family,… but it should make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family,…

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (#2211) The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially: - the freedom to establish a family… - the protection of the stability of the marriage bond and the institution of the family; - the freedom to profess one's faith… - the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing, and the right to emigrate; - in keeping with the country's institutions, the right to medical care, assistance for the aged, and family benefits; - the protection of security and Health

COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH (166) The demands of the common good… connected to respect for and the integral promotion of the person and his fundamental rights[349]. The demands of the common good… connected to respect for and the integral promotion of the person and his fundamental rights[349]. These demands concern… These demands concern… the provision of essential services to all, some of which are at the same time human rights: food, housing, work, education and access to culture, transportation, basic health care, the freedom of communication and expression, and the protection of religious freedom[350]... the provision of essential services to all, some of which are at the same time human rights: food, housing, work, education and access to culture, transportation, basic health care, the freedom of communication and expression, and the protection of religious freedom[350]...

It is not right: millions lack basic coverage and many risk losing what they have as costs rise. Has real consequences…life and death consequences health care should not depend on where you or your parents work, whether you have a pre-existing condition, whether you can afford insurance, where you live or when you got here

We can do better Have the capacity and resources to ensure that all have access to health care. Need to find the political will and practical ways to ensure that no one lacks access to basic health care.

How? “ Wide variety of options… Solidarity and Subsidiarity Individual and family Community, Religious and other Organizations Market: employers, health care providers, insurers, private sector Government: local, state, federal Washington:

USCCB Criteria a truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity; access for all with a special concern for the poor; pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options; restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

USCCB Advocacy Ensure access to quality, affordable, life- giving health care for all; Retain longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protect conscience rights; and, Protect the access to health care that immigrants currently have and remove current barriers to access. House bill met criteria. Senate did not. House bill met criteria. Senate did not. Opposed legislation in final form: Opposed legislation in final form: Failed to meet abortion/ conscience criteria and made the situation of legal immigrants worse Failed to meet abortion/ conscience criteria and made the situation of legal immigrants worse

HHS Mandate A week ago, HHS final rule mandated contraception and sterilization at no cost in all plans, offering a very narrow religious exception and year of "grace" to comply. most Catholic ministries compelled to provide and pay for "services" (i.e., sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients) that are clear violation of Catholic teaching.,

HHS Mandate government telling ministries they are not religious if they serves or employs non-members of that religious body. Faith calls us to "serve least of these" without regard for religious affiliation. serve the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, and educate children "not because they are Catholic, but because we are.“ bad morality, bad policy, bad precedent, (…bad politics, done badly)

Role of Church Make the case for moral urgency/priority Encourage, welcome debate on how… offer ethical criteria and help define economic choices, asses alternatives for moral dimensions and human consequences, Insist on the participation of the poor…voice for the voiceless Contribute to discussion and advocate our principles/policies

Faithful Citizenship “Affordable and accessible health care is an essential safeguard of human life and a fundamental human right. With an estimated 47 million Americans lacking health care coverage, it is also an urgent national priority.

Faithful Citizenship Reform of the nation’s health care system needs to be rooted in values respect human dignity, protect human life, and meet the needs of the poor and uninsured, especially born and unborn children, pregnant women, immigrants, and other vulnerable populations. Religious groups should be able to provide health care without compromising their religious convictions.

Deus Caritas Est … Love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind is as essential to her as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The church cannot neglect the service of charity anymore than she can neglect the sacraments and the word. Deus Caritas Est #21

Caritas in Veritate “ If we love others with charity, then first if all we are just towards them. Not only is justice not extraneous to charity, …justice is inseparable from charity, and intrinsic to it. Justice is the primary way of charity.”

Deus Caritas Est … charity must animate the entire lives of the lay faithful and therefore also their political activity, lived as “social charity. Deus Caritas Est #29

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (#2288) Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. Life and physical health are precious gifts entrusted to us by God. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good. Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, HEALTH CARE, basic education, employment, and social assistance. We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good. Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living-conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, HEALTH CARE, basic education, employment, and social assistance.

Pacem in Terris 19. Besides wages, various social benefits intended to ensure the life and health of workers and their families play a part here. 19. Besides wages, various social benefits intended to ensure the life and health of workers and their families play a part here. medical assistance should be easily available for workers, and that as far as possible it should be cheap or even free of charge. medical assistance should be easily available for workers, and that as far as possible it should be cheap or even free of charge.

Four USCCB Criteria a truly universal health policy that respects all human life and dignity, from conception to natural death; a truly universal health policy that respects all human life and dignity, from conception to natural death; access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants; access for all with a special concern for the poor and inclusion of legal immigrants; pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options; pursuing the common good and preserving pluralism including freedom of conscience and variety of options; and restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers. and restraining costs and applying them equitably across the spectrum of payers.