Since 1919, the Catholic bishops of the United States have taught that universal access to basic health care is a component of the common good in a fair society. In the church’s teaching on social justice, concern for universal health care takes its place with concern that everyone have sufficient food and decent shelter and an opportunity for a job with a family wage.
The Bishops’ Conference (USCCB) therefore supported the goal of the health care reform bill that was passed a year ago. It has many elements that contribute to extending health care for all: the provision that insurance companies cannot impose pre-existing conditions as a restriction on offering health insurance policies, the provision that sons and daughters can remain covered by their parents’ insurance throughout their college years, increased coverage of health benefits for mothers and their children. But these and other benefits should not be bought at the expense of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. “Rights,” if they are genuine human rights and not just legal fictions based on a particular ideology, should not be played off against each other for political purposes.
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