Conservative Christian Groups Step Up Opposition To Health Reform

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 28 Aug 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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On Wednesday, a group of the nation's largest conservative Christian organizations announced a new coalition -- the Freedom Federation -- to attack health care reform efforts, Religion News Service/USA Today reports. According to the group, despite "problems" in the current health care system, "it is working." The group wants reform legislation to explicitly state that abortion is not a form of health care and that no tax dollars would be used to fund the procedure. Members of the Freedom Federation include the American Family Association, the Church of God in Christ, Concerned Women for America, Family Research Council Action, Liberty University and the Traditional Values Coalition.

Mathew Staver, dean of the Liberty University School of Law and head of the legal group Liberty Counsel, said that members of the coalition agree on core values, including "the sanctity of life." He added, "Without that, we are nothing at all."

Members of the group said that although the word "abortion" does not appear in draft legislation, they are concerned that abortion services would be paid for through taxpayer funds. Wendy Wright, president of CWFA, said, "When the government pays for abortion, the numbers of abortions increase."

The Freedom Federation also opposes "rationed health care for the elderly and government control of personal health decisions," according to Religion News Service/USA Today (May, Religion News Service/USA Today, 8/27).

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