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NOVEMBER 11, 2009 ARCHIVED STORIES:
WASHINGTON (BP)--Fifteen principles -- including the honoring of all human life -- must be implemented in order for health care reform to be satisfactory, according to a new document issued by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
The paper, "Fifteen Principles for Successful Health Care Reform," outlines criteria it says are needed "to achieve the desired result of affordable, high quality, universal health care." The document was produced by the Research Institute of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). The Research Institute is an evangelical Christian think tank of 25 fellows, including seminary presidents and ethicists.
The principles, available at www.erlc.com, were released as the health-care debate in Congress moves from the House of Representatives to the Senate.
The Senate is expected to begin debate on health-care legislation Nov. 17, according to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
On Nov. 7, the House voted 220-215 for a health-care bill that includes a government-managed option. The representatives did so only after approving in a 240-194 vote a pro-life amendment barring federal funds from paying for abortions in the public option and from subsidizing private plans that cover abortions. Exceptions are made for abortions in the cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.
The ERLC document rejects government-run health care as an option, with the Research Institute fellows saying reform of the private health-care system is the best alternative.
"The goal of this reform should be to reduce the cost of health care and health care insurance while maintaining the highest possible standard of health care for all, thus increasing the quality of health care for more and more Americans," they say.
"While a perfect system is not attainable, there is much room for improvement," the document says.
Regarding their first principle, the fellows say about the sanctity of human life, "Every stage of life, every type of disability must be treated with utmost reverence for every life. Abortion must not be mandated in health insurance plans.... Every treatment must meet a rigorous pro-life standard that refuses to value or respect one life more than another life.... Read More
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VETERANS DAY:
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Veteran escaped death at Battle of the Bulge
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