Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula - Powered by WLUC TV6

NEGAUNEE -- With Congressman Bart Stupak putting a wrench in the latest Democrat-supported healthcare bill, the healthcare debate has become a locally sensitive topic, and now, the local Catholic church is also weighing in on the controversy.

While most Democrats in Congress, including representative Bart Stupak, support comprehensive health care reform, Stuapk has been a major problem for the Democratic majority.

He says he'll vote against the bill unless it explicitly prohibits using federal funds for abortions.

"I'm afraid my party leadership is strictly pro-choice and even though the house and the American people say they do not want public funding for abortion, i'm afraid they're going to try to jam it into this healthcare bill," he said.

Stupak says he is personally against abortion, but more importantly, he says his constituents are as well.

"If a woman in an unfortunate position has to have an abortion, that's between her, a private decision as they always say, then don't ask the taxpayers to pay for that private decision," said Stupak. "We're not going to use public funding for abortion."

The local Catholic church agrees.

"We're very happy for the efforts of Congressman Stupak to make sure at least in a house bill that those provisions that would protect the sanctity of human life," said Bishop Alexander Sample.

The church does say it supports health care reform as a matter of principle, but it does have its concerns.

"The bishops aren't endorsing any particular piece of legislation, that's for the political process, it's just we're trying to make sure that these protections for human life are in whatever legislation is put forward for consideration," said Sample.

One other concern for the church: protecting the consciences of healthcare workers, to ensure that they wouldn't have to violate their morals by condoning or taking part in abortions.