Catholic Health Association Comments on State of the Union and Need for Health Care Reform
January 29, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC (MetroCatholic) – The following statement is being released by Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, president and chief executive office of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA):
The Catholic Health Association has long championed health care reform for the same reasons President Obama expressed in his State of the Union – because of the continuing tragedy of “Americans with pre-existing conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage; patients who’ve been denied coverage; and families – even those with insurance – who are just one illness away from financial ruin.”
The President was right to say to Congress: “Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.”
We commend Congress for all its efforts over the past year on behalf of those who suffer under the current system, and urge lawmakers to bring those efforts to fruition as quickly as possible. And we urge Congress to continue its work toward the goal of health reform that protects life at all stages while expanding coverage to the greatest possible number of people in our country.
We understand the political realities and concerns with passage of such important and far-reaching legislation. But we firmly believe that now is not the time to let those concerns derail what may be the last opportunity of our lifetime to address the continuing shame of allowing so many individuals and families in our nation to go without access to affordable health care. For all who have worked so hard to make health reform a reality, we have come too close to that goal to give up on it now.
The Catholic health ministry remains committed to the goal of health reform as set out in our “Vision for U.S. Health Care,” and confident that our nation is capable of reaching that goal. In a letter our association sent today to Congress, we urged the members of both chambers “to put the needs of our nation’s people above political interests and partisan concerns, and continue to work for comprehensive health reform this year. As Congress considers the options for moving forward, we also reaffirm this urgent priority among our health ministry and pledge to work alongside those who will continue in good faith to achieve this goal.”
The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), founded in 1915, supports the Catholic health ministry’s commitment to improve the health status of communities and create quality and compassionate health care that works for everyone. The Catholic health ministry is the nation’s largest group of not-for-profit health systems and facilities that, along with their sponsoring organizations, employ more than 750,000 women and men who deliver services combining advanced technology with the Catholic caring tradition. For more information, visit the CHA website at www.chausa.org.
Source: Catholic Health Association of the United States
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Sister Kaheen should know better. May God have mercy on her soul….Hugh Galvin
I would like to thank Sr. Carol Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States for taking the moral high ground on the critical issue of Health Care Reform in the US. Do not let the conservative supporters of health insurance profits distract you from your position of LIFE – and the rights of ALL americans to have effective, available and affordable health care. I am a 61 year old retiree (with health insurance) who supports health care reform and that means I support LIFE. Thank you Sister.
Sister’s calls “Americans with pre-existing conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage” a tragedy. As if the insurance itself were the medicine. No such life depends on coverage. It depends on treatment. The tragedy is that her Catholic hospitals won’t treat them unless they have coverage.
It is all about money.
Now she even supports the senate bill that will use tax money from everyone,including pro-life Catholics like me, to pay for abortions.
The Bishops are against the bill and so is every Catholic pro-life organization in the country.
So why is sister for the bill? I’ve already said, It’s all about the money.
How dare a Catholic side with the abortionists!
Sister Keehan walks with her hand in the devil’s hand and thinks she will be okay in the hereafter?!! Blasphemy of God and violation of his clear will for man still has its consequences!
Pray for her soul and that she may convert back to serving God instead of the political left who hates our God!
Sr. Carol Keehan,
How could you or the Catholic Hospital Group support this health care bill? This is an outrage that the Catholic Group would support any bill that supported abortion. How long do you think the government will allow the Catholic Hospitals to refuse abortions and still be funded on other patient care? Why would you even consider trusting that if you receive government payment and refuse abortions that you won’t be cut from other government payment of medicare, medicaid and state levy funding? You will lead to the demise of Catholic Hospitals or to the disgrace of our faith and belief. You have fallen from our beliefs and that is shameful!
First it was Notre Dame and Obama and now Catholic Healt assoc and this anti-life HC bill and Sr Keehan. The USCCBs need to step in and reclaim the real Catholic identity of these institutions before they destroy the good name of His Church. Sr Keehan should be silenced along with all those who support her. She has brought scandal and shame to the Church and to Catholic social justice. Someone should tell her that this Senate HC bill has no conscience clauses and the Senate gives little to no hope of passing any would be reconciliation package. She is working well with the Devil. Pray hard and stand firm with Stupak!!!