Antiabortion-Rights Black Pastors To Endorse Obama's Health Plan

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 25 Sep 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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A group of black church leaders who oppose abortion rights plan to endorse President Obama's health reform plan, a move that could help rally support as the president fights false claims by many white evangelical leaders and Republicans that the public plan option would provide taxpayer-funded abortions, the Los Angeles Times reports. The pastors are led by Bishop Charles Blake of the Los Angeles-based Church of God in Christ, a predominantly black Pentecostal denomination with an estimated six million members. The announcement, which was scheduled for Thursday morning, will include support for a public health insurance option, the Times reports.

The pastors are expected to use carefully chosen language that is in line with Obama's statements while also urging the administration to keep its word. According to an advance copy of Blake's remarks, he will say, "In accord with our commitment to Christian teaching, we wholeheartedly affirm the president's position that medical costs related to the abortion of fetuses shall not be covered by health care plans funded by this initiative."

A House Energy and Commerce Committee amendment to the chamber's health reform bill (HR 3200) would segregate federal health dollars from private funds to ensure that only private funds are used for abortion services.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director for National Right to Life, said, "From what the pastors are saying, it sounds like what they want to do is what we want to do -- which is to ensure that these new plans not cover elective abortions."

According to the Times, the Church of God in Christ has been "heavily courted" for years by Republican policymakers, including former President George W. Bush, who saw it as a potential ally because of its conservative views on abortion rights, embryonic stem cell research and same-sex marriage (Wallsten, Los Angeles Times, 9/24).

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