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The current debate over healthcare reform is a dilemma for all observant Catholics. 

The media and government leaders have presented us with a dazzling, yet confusing medley of options with two lofty goals, to provide health care for those who have none and to provide better health care for those who have little. 

Yet there is great opposition to these seemingly simple and very worthy goals. 

Who, if anyone, if they really cared about other people, would oppose these plans?

As observant Catholics, we seek information and guidance from our bishops and our religious news sources - and yet we are still confused. Our great concern lies with the ambiguity and uncertainty within the proposed legislative reforms and, foremost, whether this reform will be used to increase abortions and disregard the sanctity of life. 

These are not unfounded suspicions because President Barack Obama and current Congressional leaders have been unwavering in their support of abortion. President Obama has shown a striking lack of understanding as to how important the issue of abortion is to Catholics when he refers to our beliefs on abortion as evidence of "culture wars" that all modern and progressive people should reject.

Just as our President and Congressional leaders are steadfast in their goal of increasing the availability of abortions both in the United States and abroad, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has been clear that opposition to abortion is a bedrock part of our faith. The danger inherent in supporting this legislation that accomplishes the clearly good aspects of healthcare reform but extends the clearly evil spread of abortion must be addressed as an essential part of all discussions on healthcare reform.

Catholics must unite and be firm in our oppositions to abortion, no matter how good or attractive the package of legislation may appear. On this, there can be no compromise. Abor-tion is a fundamental wrong. We must unequivocally say 'no' to our government leaders and ask Bishop Hubbard and The Evangelist to continue to be clear, firm and consistent in their presentation of information to us each week.

Pope John Paul II has perfectly expressed what Catholics believe in this one sentence: "The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of the human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with the maximum determination." 

Let us follow Pope John Paul II and defend the right to life with our maximum determination.

(Carol M. Cirincione lives in Niskayuna and attends St. Joseph's Church in Schenectady.)[[In-content Ad]]

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