Health Plan's Abortion Plank Alienates Catholic Conference

"Ours was a pained advocacy position," said Richard Dowling, the group's executive director, who told lawmakers of the group's position in hearings last week. "We've asked the legislature to remove the abortion thorn." The proposal may have seemed like natural for the Maryland Catholic Conference after they have spent years pushing for the state to provide more affordable health care. But they won't be supporting this year's legislation that would expand the pool of residents eligible for the state's Children and Families Health Insurance Program.

It's not the bill's $20 million price that has the Catholic Conference turning its back. It's a provision that allows the coverage to be used toward an abortion. Dowling said his organization struggled with the decision to oppose the insurance proposal, given that the Catholic Church has placed universal coverage high on its list of political priorities. In most respects, he said, the proposal being weighed in Annapolis this year is a major step forward--it will make it easier for people to qualify for Maryland's insurance program, qualifying anyone living at up to 300 percent of the poverty level.

Under the current program, a family of four would be eligible with an annual income of $33,400 or less. Under the new plan, the same family would qualify with an income of up to $50,100. "It's hard to oppose something like that, but the church's position is that abortion is not health care," Dowling said. "Health care is life giving, advancing and protecting, not life taking. As a policy matter, we believe the state ought to separate the two."

Abortion rights advocates say lawmakers should ignore the church's objections."This is a bill that's going to have a wide-ranging positive impact," said Nancy C. Lineman, political director for the Maryland affiliate of the National and Reproductive Rights Action League. "The fact that the Catholic Conference is opposing it on the ridiculous notion that it will increase the number of abortions is appalling." (21)

Seeing that the family planning proponents have been using Maryland as a model state for Medicaid Managed Care family planning services, MCC has provided powerful leadership in Maryland to keep from happening in S-CHIP what has happened in Medicaid services for children. For example, in the April 1999 Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, reported on the a model program from 1994 to the end of 1997 in Rhode Island (RI), where $5.7 million was spent for Rite Care family planning services.  State estimates that this helped prevent 1,443 deliveries to Medicaid–eligible women. Prevention of births, state estimated saving $14.3 million. (22) How much of this money was used for abortion, sterilization, abortive/contraceptive devices and consultation; and how many children were involved without parental knowledge?

Maryland Catholic Conference needs to be congratulated. This is another example of strong leadership on life issues. Religious organizations, prolife, and profamily groups must provide courageous leadership and STOP the attack on women and children. The anti-family, prodeath health care planners are manipulating health care programs to undermine parental authority.

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