Health Care as a ‘Moral Imperative’

[babylonsister]

Health Care as a ‘Moral Imperative’
By Jane Norman, CQ Staff


A group of religious leaders launches a health care blitz Wednesday that will be highlighted by television ads, sermons and a nationwide “call-in” to the White House that will stress the “moral imperative” to extend affordable coverage to the nation’s uninsured.

The “40 Days for Health Reform” initiative by the interfaith groups will include prayer services in congressional districts, meetings of religious leaders with members of Congress and a “Nationwide Health Care Sermon Weekend” with preaching from the pulpit on the need for a health care overhaul. The leaders say they’re the ones who see up close the problems with the insurance system and the need for change.

The event is being sponsored by denominations and groups such as the National Baptist Convention USA, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, United Methodist Church General Board of Church & Society, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, the Episcopal Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ and Islamic Society of North America.

Jim Wallis, an evangelical and president of the Christian social action group Sojourners, said Aug. 11 that the intent is not to “get into the weeds” on the specifics of what should be included in health legislation pending in Congress or take positions on highly controversial issues such as the public option, employer mandates or abortion coverage.

But he said religious leaders do want to counter those who have “demagogued” the issue at town hall meetings over the past few weeks — thus thrusting the faith community into an ongoing battle between Democrats and Republicans over health care, marked by town hall meetings involving shouting, fights and even arrests.

“There are people in the country who want to stop an honest, fair, civil and moral conversation about health care. They’re organized and they really want to shut down democracy and we can’t let that happen,” said Wallis. “The faith community is literally going to stand in the way of those who want to stop a conversation.”

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003192470

[Bandit]

1. Big Guns are starting to roll out.

All I can say is welcome to the battle..This is a Very good thing.

[unpossibles]

2. Good for them! I was starting to wonder at the lack of response from the religious communities. nt

[hwmnbn]

3. We've accepted torture, rendition, pre-emptive war, ...

I'm not sure appealing to our "moral imperative" would gain much traction.

You can't shame this country into doing what's right.

We'll always do what's in our best economic interest, so IMO, that's the way to go.

[babylonsister]

4. I imagine church goers who listen to these people might be

positively influenced. At least I hope so.

[WeCanWorkItOut]

5. I worry about people who are passionately moral but not so well informed

I worry that they are too easy to exploit.

Of course I've heard only a few people say that
"we must help the uninsured, no matter at what price."
But if we don't focus on price too, it may easily happen
that we will help the uninsured, while hurting
many other poor people.

Remember that even Medicare did a lot of damage. LBJ and
friends made serious mistakes. So the cost of health care
went up for everyone, went up in a major way.

And now we have a program that proposes to take from Medicare.
We hope they will do this in as painless a means as possible.
But people in a hurry make mistakes.

The individual mandate will also hurt some people.

Moreover, we have a lot of big lobbyists who are looking for profits,
and have gained major concessions. Money from us to them, folks.

So I hope that the religious groups do not let the lobbyists use them.

[L0oniX]

6. It is so wrong that people who profess to believe the bible can read about what Jesus did...

and yet not be for single payer health care. It's totally hypocritical and ignorant. They must be fakes because they can't see what is plainly written in Mathew Mark Luke and John. Most of what Jesus did on this earth was to heal people. Doh ...get a clue!

[babylonsister]

8. Did you read the OP? Religious groups are

supporting reform for the reasons you stated. I don't get your anger, if that's what it is.

[me b zola]

7. "When did I deny you, Jesus?"

Republicans make me ill, waving their bibles in one hand while behaving exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught.

[tj2001]

9. "Blessed are the insured, and the hell with the rest" - GOP Bible