“If Catholics want different policy, change the policy makers!”

Catholic Advocate President Matt Smith was at the Supreme Court this morning when they issued their 5 to 4 ruling on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He made the following statement in response to the Supreme Court upholding President Obama’s health care overhaul.

“The ‘individual mandate’ was just one problem with the law. Our tax dollars are still being used to subsidize abortion and our Catholic institutions are still being forced to violate our beliefs.

“Congress must act immediately to fix the critical flaws in the health care law and begin to replace them with measured, sensible reforms. At the very least, they should not allow any tax dollars to be used to implement the law while remedies are decided. We encourage them to focus their energy on improving our nation’s health care system in a way that respects all stages of life, protects our consciences, and avoids negatively impacting the economic conditions of Americans.

“Our country cannot afford President Obama’s massive health care overhaul and, among other problems, it has resulted in violating our first most cherished liberty. It creates problems where there were none in the first place and has lost sight of helping those truly in need with targeted reforms for the sake of a radical political agenda.

“Access to adequate health care for all Americans can be accomplished without putting it under the control of Washington’s bureaucracy. Catholic entities that provide insurance and health care services should be free to do so without violating their beliefs or having to tailor who they assist in order to fit into a federally mandated box. And, faithful Catholics should not be reminded every year at tax filing time that their hard-earned dollars are funding abortions.

“Our work is not done. We must remain vigilant. The fight goes on. If faithful Catholics are outraged by this ruling, they have an opportunity in November to affect decisions in Washington, D.C. If Catholics want different policy, change the policy makers!”

The full Supreme Court ruling can be found here: Supreme Court Health Care Decision Text