News

By Kathleen Gilbert

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 13, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has again claimed that the U.S. Catholic bishops, who have complained that the current health care legislation does not exclude government funding of abortion, are wrong in their assessment in the bill.

On Thursday, the U.S. bishops sent a letter to members of Congress asking them to “exclude mandated coverage for abortion,” and instead include “policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights.” 

The bishops' critique was based on the fact that – as confirmed by such establishments as the Associated Press, Time magazine and FactCheck.org – the current form of the House legislation explicitly calls for funds gathered in the public plan to cover elective abortions.  In addition, a slew of amendments to protect freedom of conscience for healthcare workers and to bar government funding for abortion have been defeated in committee votes, another point of concern voiced by the bishops.

The White House's latest denial of the funding came during a press briefing the following day.

A reporter for CNSNews.com asked Gibbs: “You said on Wednesday that the Hyde amendment would prevent abortion funding through the health bill. The Catholic bishops have repeatedly said that the Hyde amendment would not apply to the health care bill and yesterday in the letter that they sent to Congress they said that if language expressly prohibiting abortion funding is not added to the health care bill, they will vigorously—'vigorously oppose'—that's a quote—the bill.  My question on that, does the President support the bishops on this? And to eliminate this as an issue, will he call on Congress to have an explicit prohibition of abortion funding?”

Gibbs answered: “There may be a legal interpretation that has been lost here, but there's a fairly clear federal law prohibiting the federal use of money for abortion. I think it is—again, it's exceedingly clear in the law.”

The reporter followed up his question by asking: “But the Hyde amendment is only for direct appropriations for HHS, and that's—”

Gibbs interrupted to say: “Again, I think that law is exceedingly clear.”

Pro-life leaders have repeatedly pointed out throughout the healthcare reform debate that the Hyde amendment only bars abortion funding for appropriations under the Department of Health and Human Services, and therefore does not apply to the new bill, which creates an independent stream of government-appropriated funds.

When Gibbs deflected the funding concern by appealing to the Hyde amendment earlier in the week, Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the NRLC, said that “Gibb's statement is one more proof, if any more were needed, that the White House is actively engaged in a political smuggling operation—an attempt to achieve funding of elective abortion by the federal government, cloaked in smokescreens of contrived language and outright deception.”

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

U.S. Bishops Will “Vigorously” Oppose Health Care if Abortion Concerns Not Addressed
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/oct/09100807.html

Hiding Behind Hyde: More “Deception” and “Smokescreens” from the White House on Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/oct/09100808.html