"Our Catholic bishops should be fearlessly leading the way towards a culture of life. Fighting to maintain a status quo that has led to the destruction of 51 million preborn children is wrong and confusing to 65 million Catholics united in the defense of life.

"What Cardinal Rigali has permitted, by way of political maneuvering, is to allow an amendment to be heard and, we fear, later watch it be defeated. While our Catholic bishops will scramble to define their opposition to abortion in the aftermath, Pelosi will wave Rigali's support for health care reform as evidence that lay Catholics would somehow be wrong in opposing her bill.

"In endorsing Pelosicare, our Catholic bishops have risked making themselves political pawns in advancing a culture of death that treats human beings as disposable.

"Once again, this incrementalist approach to abortion will serve to enshrine in law grave injustices condemned unequivocally by the Catholic Church. Among these are rationed health care, in vitro fertilization, embryonic stem cell research, human experimentation, euthanasia and birth control.

"Faithful Catholics have a responsibility to vigorously oppose all acts of killing in health care, not negotiate for the status quo.

"Our Catholic bishops, when they negotiate for anything less than the full protection all human beings deserve, undermine the very principles of the Catholic faith and destroy the confidence of faithful Catholics across America.

"Our Catholic bishops should point to the unchanging principles and doctrines of the Catholic faith, not negotiate for a status quo that ends the lives of human beings. Today's letter abrogates those principles. Americans should know that a truly Catholic position on health care protects the right to life of all human beings, at all stages and at all times.

"Negotiation of truth is never a Catholic principle. Truth alone should inform the consciences of faithful Catholics, and truth demands the full protection of all human beings."