A matter of social conscience: the goal is health security for all.

IT IS HARD to hear through all the noise on health-care reform. Average Americans are struggling to understand the details as well as the big picture.

This is not easy in a media environment that highlights and thrives on the most contentious of issues, and not always in the most helpful way. Add in the blogosphere, and you have a mix of messages that is far more confusing than it is clarifying.

At the Catholic Health Association, our message has always been clear: Health care must respect and protect human dignity from conception to natural death. In that spirit, coverage for everyone is a moral imperative and a matter of social justice.

Nearly two years before the national reform conversation began, CHA put forward a set of principles to guide the effort. The "Our Vision for U.S. Health Care" document, developed collaboratively with members of the Catholic health ministry, begins with values from Catholic social teaching, including human dignity, justice, and the common good.

The Vision then outlines elements of a strong, equitable health-care system starting with access for all. We have used this document to present our case for reform, and now to evaluate the legislation moving through Congress.

CHA has not endorsed any of the bills under consideration. We support health reform that is consistent with our values, matches our Vision, and expands care to the greatest possible number of people. The process is still unfolding, and the details big and small are still subject to major change. Unfortunately, as lawmakers work to reach consensus on important and controversial matters, the tone of the national conversation has reached a sometimes poisonous pitch.

Much of the press coverage and townhall shouting is focused on false and often frightening claims devoted to bringing down reform. Even when correcting the misinformation, the media still spends a lot of time repeating the falsehoods, which only keeps them in the headlines and brings more people to believe they are some version of the truth.

Here is our truth: A nation as wealthy and smart as this one can create an equitable and sustainable health-care system. Reforming the system means legislation consistent with protecting life--on behalf of the unborn, the cancer patient, the addicted, the dying, the frail elderly. It also means reform that comes as close as possible to meeting our other principles relative to quality, cost, and access.

Two of the most harmful misinformation campaigns have focused on the most important and sensitive of issues: the beginning and the end of life. I'd rather state the facts than repeat any of the distortions. Here are the facts:

* Along with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, CHA is working to keep health-care reform abortion-neutral, meaning it will not further the pro-life or pro-choice position, will continue longstanding and widely supported conscience protection policies, and will prohibit both federal abortion funding and mandated abortion coverage.

* CHA and many other provider groups have long supported efforts to improve palliative and end-of-life care. The House reform bill would allow Medicare to reimburse physicians for the time they spend with patients discussing advance directives and other matters related to care at the end of life. By reimbursing doctors for these conversations, they are more likely to take the time needed for a thorough consultation with their patients. Patients, meanwhile, are not obliged to have such discussions with their physician, nor is there any particular course of action required of them if they do or do not.

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The social justice component of health reform has largely been lost in the misinformation frenzy and the exchange of harsh rhetoric. This will not deter us from the ultimate goal of a health-care system that works for everyone. Toward that end, CHA continues to bring the voice of Catholic hospitals and health-care providers to the reform discussion to be sure that our preferences are heard and our principles are not violated. At the same time, we are working to mute the misrepresentations and publicize the importance of reform for our nation.

As Catholic health-care providers, we are privileged and proud to serve our patients, our communities and our country--and to be sure the most vulnerable are always represented and cared for. Now, as the reform conversation reaches a pivotal point, our message stays the same: It's time to create a health-care system the American people deserve and can be proud of.

Sister Carol Keehan, DC, is president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States.