The following comes from an email sent by the office of Chris Smith, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional pro-life caucus.
Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and over 75 Members of Congress have filed a comment letter with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services opposing the abortion aspects of the proposed rule on “HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2016” for the Obamacare marketplace.
Specifically the lawmakers object to the rule’s section on Segregation of Funds for Abortion Services, which they say ensures that the abortion surcharge (required for all Exchange plans that cover abortion) will remain hidden from consumers.
In their letter they note “… it is essential that the administration at least follow the minimal statutory requirements related to the accounting gimmick, often referred to as the Nelson amendment. Unfortunately, the proposed rule does the opposite by actually telling issuers how to avoid the requirements outlined in the ACA…under the proposed rule, the surcharge is not billed separately and will likely be all but invisible to the consumer. The text of the law and the legislative history is clear. The abortion surcharge must be a separate payment.”
The comment period on the proposed rule closes December 22.
“The Obama Administration’s cover-up of abortion insurance plans on the exchange is unnecessary, unacceptable and absolutely unconscionable,” said Smith co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. “Consumers have a right to know. Abortion is not healthcare – it dismembers and chemically poisons defenseless unborn children and hurts women.
“President Obama’s solemn promise not fund abortion on demand continues to be broken with impunity. For 2014 the GAO found that over 1000 plans included abortion on demand. Research by ObamacareAbortion.com has shown that for 2015 abortion coverage continues, and once again health consumers are left almost clueless as to which plans fund abortion on demand and which do not. Furthermore, no information about the abortion surcharge is provided to consumers while shopping for Obamacare coverage.”
“It is a shame that the administration that claims to be the most transparent in history has failed to provide this basic information to consumers—despite multiple inquires by Congress in the past. The language in the explanatory statement of the recently-passed “CRomnibus” spending bill is a modest step in the right direction by calling on Secretary Burwell to ensure “full transparency” to consumers “prior to plan purchase” and requires a timeline for clarifying guidance to be submitted within 30 days.
“I hope this language will finally motivate the administration to take action to provide total and complete transparency regarding abortion coverage and the abortion surcharge. If they do not, it will be incumbent on Congress to take further action in the coming year. When the new Congress convenes in January I will reintroduce the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act to remove abortion from Obamacare and ensure transparency in the interim.”
The OBAMA Administration is just plain dishonest.
And he promised transparency when he was elected. – Just another broken promise.
” No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act to remove abortion from Obamacare and ensure transparency in the interim.” – I hope we will be given plenty of notice about this so that we can contact our elected Officials in DC.
This legislation should be advertised by the USCCB, every Diocese Bishop, and all Parish Priests, so that the Laity can promote it.
It is too bad that the Democratic Senate killed this bill in 2014 and prior.
The Democratic Party has certainly proved its name – Party of Death.
If the Pope and our Church leaders would all start a strong program of religious education worldwide, for all Catholics– and to mandate solid Catholic religious practice, for all in the Church— a lot of things would change, in the world! Children need to hear religious and moral Truths of Christ, from babyhood!
They all need to “grow up Catholic!” Every Catholic should want very much, to live a good life, in simple obedience to Jesus Christ! That includes, to obey Christ’s teachings on sexuality, and to submit the sex instinct to Him! To date and marry rightly, according to Church teachings, to accept children with love, after marrying in the Church– with NO birth control, nor (God forbid!) abortion! To live a true Christian life, of unselfish love, virtue, and SELF-CONTROL, dedicated to GOD!! Soon, after seeing the good example of true, practicing Catholics, all sorts of horrible sins would be despised and unwanted, including sexual sins, and abortion! Many nations of the world, would again make good laws, following Christ’s teachings– including forbidding abortion!
Popes JPII, Benedict XVI, and Frances have been promoting the reading and study of:
1) Sacred Scripture which in entirety is the speech of God (CCC 81);
and
2) the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” which contains the Doctrine of the Faith in entirety.
For quotes from our Popes see: “What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
However, far too many (but not all) Bishops and Priests and Nuns ignore our Popes regarding these TWO most important books in the Catholic Faith.
And they refuse to promote reading of them at home by the literate.
Therefore the Laity have to do the job of the Clergy – which is indeed sad.
Push your Diocese Bishop and Parish Priest to do their teaching jobs accurately and fully by active promotion of reading the Bible and CCC at home.
This is their first/main task.
And until they do we all must encourage others to read these.
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians,
and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine,
enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
To see if your Bishop, Priest, and Nuns are doing their jobs – see your Diocese web site, Parish web site, Diocese publications, and Parish bulletins.
Also see the web sites of specific Orders.
I will add one more thing, to my above post. The Church needs to teach her people, with Christ’s Love. But also, she needs to be firm, and correct abuses! The Bride of Christ must be holy, good, and pure! With no abuses! Yes, offenders need to be warned, and then excommunicated, if they do not repent! They hurt Christ’s Church terribly! It is the responsibility of Church leaders, to show them the door, and tell them, they may not return, until they repent! A Church without decency, and good discipline, cannot possibly carry out Christ’s holy mission, for Him, on Earth!
Unfortunately there are Church leaders who have either had bad formation in their Seminary or choose to ignore some teachings of the Church for their own reasons.
There are some Laity who know the Faith better than some Clergy,
Save these for accuracy so we all may know and teach the truth:
1) Catechism of the Catholic Church (second edition with dark green cover) –
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htmCatechism
2) Code of Canon Law –
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM
3) GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Nov 2011) for the requirements of the OF (aka Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo) Mass.
No Priest may change anything.
The People must adhere as well, ie no hand holding, no raising arms (mimicking the Priest), no sign of peace except to those closest.
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html
Rep. Bart Stupak received personal assurances from Lord Hussein Obama that Obamacare would not involve US paying for abortions. He lied.