Pro-Life Democrat Ellsworth OKs Senate Bill After CHA, Nuns’ Abortion Mislead
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 19, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — An Indiana Democrat who has voted pro-life and was considered one of the Stupak 12 who would vote against the Senate health care bill because of its abortion funding has flip-flopped. Brad Ellsworth says he will back the bill and cites the misleading statements from Catholic nuns and the CHA as his reason why.
Ellsworth’s office released a statement where the upcoming Senate candidate noted the Catholic Health Association endorsement.
And it ignores the new statement from the Catholic Medical Association saying the Senate bill funds abortions and taking CHA to task.
"As a pro-life Hoosier, one of my central concerns has been preventing federal funding of elective abortion," he said, according to the PlumLine blog.
"After assurance from the Catholic Health Association, Catholic nuns, and pro-life advocates, I am confident in my heart that this bill meets pro-life principles and upholds the policy of no federal funding for elective abortions," Ellsworth claimed.
The blog also spoke with Jonathan Kott, Ellsworth’s communication director, who said by phone, "He’s a yes. He will vote in favor of health care reform."
The concern enunciated by some pro-life advocates after hearing the news is that it may make it easier for fellow Indiana Democrat Joe Donnely, who is also said to be undecided and concerned about abortion funding, to support the pro-abortion bill.
The Catholic Health Association endorsement has come under fire from the nation’s Catholic bishops and pro-life groups that say it does not represent the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church.
While CHA and a small dissident group of Catholic nuns say the Senate bill is pro-life, CMA’s analysis shows the Senate bill the House may vote on this weekend definitely contains abortion funding and promotion.
The CMA statement also follows new newspaper ads the nation’s Catholic bishops have placed in several prominent papers read by members of Congress.
Ellsworth has upset pro-life advocates before.
Before the adoption of the Stupak amendment to the House health care bill, Ellsworth worked with pro-abortion Democratic leaders on a phony amendment that purported to ban taxpayer-funded abortions but didn’t.
Related web sites:
Brad Ellsworth – https://www.ellsworth.house.gov
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