August 8, 1994

No Tolerance

To the Editor:

In two recent open letters to President Clinton and in a July 13 press conference in Louisville, Ky., Cardinal O'Connor made it clear that any health care bill that includes abortion coverage is morally unacceptable.

First of all, such a bill violates the preborn child's right to life. If allowing healthy children to be dismembered in the name of health care is called "universal coverage," one has to wonder what "universe" is referred to. It is certainly not one of right reason, justice or compassion.

Secondly, to force Americans to pay for child-killing is a moral insult beyond all measure.

As pro-life leaders we join our voices to those of the cardinal and the majority of Americans who oppose the inclusion of abortion coverage in a health care bill. We will not contribute in any way to the destruction of innocent children. We do not acknowledge that the government has any authority to force a citizen to pay for the destruction of children by abortion.

We call upon civic and religious leaders to speak out clearly, firmly and swiftly against abortion coverage in a health care bill, and to work for an end to abortion altogether.

We further alert all citizens that the president's health care bill would require the establishment of a multitude of new abortion centers, and would prevent states from regulating abortion.

We can tolerate no "compromise" on abortion. To stop this bill is the most important pro-life action on the federal level since Roe vs. Wade.

Father Frank A. Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life