Abortion Amendment Finds Its Way Into Reform Bill

Health Care and the "Creative Minority"

By Carl Anderson

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).- With an abortion-friendly political majority solidly in control of the U.S. government, an abortion-mandating health care bill seemed to many a "fait accompli." People didn't count on the power of a "creative minority."

On his recent trip to the Czech Republic, Benedict XVI called for the Church to act as a "creative minority" in the public square.

In his most recent use of this term, he said: "I would say that usually it is creative minorities who determine the future, and in this regard the Catholic Church must understand that she is a creative minority who has a heritage of values that are not things of the past, but a very lively and relevant reality. The Church must modernize, she must be present in the public debate."

On Saturday, the world saw this vision for a creative minority in action. The addition of an amendment that would ban public funding for abortion to the health care reform legislation was just such a creative presence in the public debate.

The passage of the Stupak Amendment -- named for Catholic and Knight of Columbus Representative Bart Stupak, a Democrat, and the amendment's author -- shows just how far America has come on the abortion debate.

A New York Times blog reported that some opponents had called it the most significant restriction on abortion since the Hyde Amendment. That amendment -- passed in 1976 -- banned the use of Federal funds for abortion in the United States. It was named for Catholic -- and Knight of Columbus -- Representative Henry Hyde, a Republican.

...Continue Reading Here...