Faith leaders make case for health care reform
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Jim Winkler, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church
and Society, speaks with Bishop James Dorff of San Antonio during
a July 7 gathering of faith leaders in Washington to discuss health
care reform. A UMNS photo by John Coleman.
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A UMNS Report
By John Coleman*
July 7, 2009 | WASHINGTON
United Methodists joined with leaders of other faith groups in
appealing to U.S. lawmakers to make health care affordable to millions
of uninsured Americans.
Nearly 30 top leaders of Christian, Jewish and Islamic organizations
gathered July 7 in the U.S. Capitol for a day of dialogue and planning
on health care reform. They also heard from congressional leaders,
including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“We must speak on behalf of the poor and marginalized here in the
halls of power,” said Jim Winkler, top executive of the United
Methodist Board of Church and Society. The board co-sponsored the Faith
Leaders Summit on Health Care with the Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaism, in collaboration with Families USA and the National
Coalition on Health Care.
Winkler cited reports that the health care industry — including
insurance companies, hospitals, medical associations and pharmaceutical
firms — is spending $1.4 million daily to influence legislators who
will shape, debate and vote on comprehensive health care bills this
summer.
“We may not be able to muster those kinds of resources,” Winkler
told the gathering, “but we can testify to the damage done to our
people by a broken health care system, and today is our opportunity.”
Also attending the meeting were Bishop James Dorff of the Southwest
Texas Conference, representing the United Methodist Council of Bishops,
and the Rev. Cynthia Abrams, who works on health care concerns for the
Board of Church and Society.
“There was a real demonstration of unity in our opinions and
historical perspectives on this issue,” Dorff said. “These
denominations and faith groups share traditions of providing health
care to people. We’re working together on this, out of that experience,
and we’re not going away.”
Affordable to all Americans
At a press conference, five faith leaders voiced common goals of
ensuring that quality health care becomes available and affordable to
all Americans, especially the working poor and unemployed.
They also emphasized the religious and moral imperative of health
care as a human right, the importance of informed advocacy and the need
for broad-based united advocacy.
“We must speak on behalf of the poor and marginalized here in the halls of power.”
–Jim Winkler
“This is an important moment in the nation’s history, and we will
work to build energy behind these efforts to pass meaningful reform,”
said the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, head of the National Council of
Churches. “Health care for us is not simply another good cause. … We
must care for what God has created. Access is not a privilege but a
right to all.”
The faith leaders as a group did not support or oppose any
particular health care reform plan among the several that are being
considered in Congress, but several leaders said their denominations
were supporting the provision of government-funded insurance.
“There are good ideas and policies being recommended; the question
is how do we pay for them?” asked the Rev. Jim Wallis, head of
Sojourners. “We’re not getting into the weeds of policies. We’re
looking for what’s in the right bill that will meet the needs of
people.”
Wallis warned that faith groups need to help get accurate
information out to people and challenge any attempts at misinformation
about health care costs and reform.
“I firmly believe what the polls tell us: that most people in this
country are in favor of comprehensive health care reform,” he declared.
*Coleman is a freelance writer based in the Washington area.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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