Nov 15, 2009 7:04 pm US/Eastern
Catholic Leaders Debate Health Care Reform
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
Hundreds of Catholic leaders converge on Baltimore City. The hot topic this year is health care reform.
WJZ
Hundreds of Catholic leaders converge on Baltimore City. The hot topic this year is health care reform.
Jessica Kartalija has a preview of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
At the Marriott Waterfront in Harbor East, 300 bishops will discuss birth, marriage and death this week.
"They've been having--for six years, actually--discussions on liturgical translations and this is the last one, as they move documents to Rome for final approval," said Sister Mary Ann Walsh.
The main discussion this year is health care, as the Catholic Church continues to fight funding for abortions.
"They're very pleased with the recent vote of the House of Representatives not to extend abortion in the new bill, so they'll want the same for the Senate," she said.
Other pro-life discussions center on euthanasia and how the church views caring for patients in a persistent vegetative state, recalling the 2005 death of Terri Schiavo. The bishops will also hear a report on efforts to protect marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
"We want to encourage marriage. We want to encourage family. We want to reiterate what marriage is, between a man and a woman," said Archbishop Edwin O'Brien.
Other topics include discussions on reproductive technology, stem cell research and capital punishment.
"Very crucial topics because they're topics that certainly concern human lives. They're matters that concern matters of the spirit," she said.
The conference coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
"A lot of rejoicing and thanksgiving today for all these 50 years and all of the work that's been done," Archbishop Edwin O'Brien said.
Changes made within the church will go into effect in 2011.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments