My correspondence with M. Bordallo

[Tim Rohr]

Friends, I have been including most of you in my correspondence with Madeline Bordallo's office. Of course, it's probably just a staffer replying with a standardized response. But we are getting what we're getting because of the people we keep electing. Tax-payer funded abortion will come to Guam thanks to Ms. Bordallo's inaction and ignorance of the facts. I will not call her a liar or call here ignorant personally, but she is still responsible for what has happened. Coyping you on our recent exchanges. Please take note. The election is in November.

Tim Rohr
T: (671) 777-7647
PO 9001, Agat, GU 96928

Forwarded conversation
Subject: RE: Health Care Refrom
------------------------

From: <gu0...@mail.house.gov>
Date: Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 7:37 AM
To: t...@ibosc.com

MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

427 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515-5301
Phone: (202) 225-1188
Fax: (202) 226-0341

March 24, 2010

 

 

Mr. Tim J. Rohr

P.O 9001

Agat, Guam  96928

 

 

Dear Mr. Rohr,

 

I write in response to your e-mail message concerning the Health Care Reform package passed by the House late yesterday. H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides no federal financing for abortions. The House, Senate, and President Obama have taken a number of steps to ensure that the Hyde Amendment, a longstanding prohibition on public funds from being used to finance abortion, will apply to H.R. 3590. If a consumer wishes to purchase an insurance policy that includes abortion coverage, they will not be allowed to use federal tax credits or subsidies to do so.  Section 1303 of Title I lays out the special rules prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortions and requiring consumers to write separate checks if they wish to purchase insurance coverage for elective abortions.  School-based and Community Health Centers established under Sections 4101 and 4201 are specifically prohibited from performing abortions.  Section 1303 also allows states and territories will have the right to exclude plans that offer abortion from being offered on their exchanges, if a territory ops-into an exchange system. Finally, H.R. 3590 re-affirms existing federal conscience protections; no doctor or other health care practitioner will be required to perform abortions and no government may discriminate against them for refusing to do so.

 

The Executive Order signed by President Obama, today, calls for vigorous enforcement of these provisions.  It does not purport to supplant or replace statutory language as the bill already prohibits federal funding of abortion.  The Executive Order was an important step taken by the President to show pro-life members of Congress, such as myself, that his Administration is committed to enforcing existing statute. A coalition of pro-life Democrats, led by Bart Stupak of Michigan, announced that they would ultimately support passage of H.R. 3590 with this additional consideration from President Obama.

 

Last week, a coalition representing over 50,000 Catholic nuns in the United States wrote to Congress to express their support of the health care reform package.  The nun's letter read in part that "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions.  It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments - $250 million - in support of pregnant women. 

 

I have always been a staunch proponent of the right to life. Thank you for your correspondence regarding this important issue.

 

Sincerely,

/s/

MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO
Member of Congress

 
----------
From: Tim Rohr <t...@timrohr.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 8:02 AM
To: gu0...@mail.house.gov


Dear Ms. Bordallo:

Thank you for your reply, but the personal support of  50,000 Catholic nuns or even a 100,000 Catholic nuns means nothing in relation to the position of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops and the authentic moral teaching of the Catholic Church which they uphold.

Perhaps you don't know this, but in the Roman Catholic Church there is a hierarchy and a teaching Magisterium. Just because one is a nun or priest does not provide instant credibility on matters of the Faith.

Besides it is well known that many (sadly) congregations and communities of nuns (and some priests as well) are at odds with the church over abortion and other moral matters. Some are even engaged in pro-abortion activities. In any event the nuns do not trump the Bishops and the Bishops have stated that this bill funds abortions. See the following story on the USCCB website.

http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-051.shtml

Bishops to House of Representatives: Fix Flaws or Vote No on Health Reform Bill

House leadership ignoring pro-life members for essential changes in the legislation
Won’t even try to address the serious problems on abortion funding
Ignoring conscience protection and fair treatment of immigrants.

I'm sorry but your appeal to the credibility of disenfranchised nuns, regardless of their number, over the teaching magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church is another example of complete ignorance on this matter.

I assume, also, that you did not bother to read the letter from the NRLC to the House that I included in my last correspondence or you would not have responded as you did here.

Besides, as a lawmaker you should know that an executive order cannot trump federal law and that such an order can be easily rescinded or set to expire.

 Esperansa consists of over 1000 Guam citizens. Out of respect for your office and your person I will once again encourage you to examine the facts and actually look at what the Bishops have said and not just a group of nuns and your own pro-abortion colleagues.

However, out of respect for the unborn and a desire to do everything possible to not see this legislation implemented on Guam I will make sure that everyone of our members knows of your position and your response.

Sadly,

Tim Rohr
The Esperansa Project



\
Tim Rohr
T: (671) 777-7647
PO 9001, Agat, GU 96928