Update: Religious Health Care Supporters Launching Campaign

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By William Wan

In the latest escalation of health care battle, faith leaders supporting the health care reform announced Friday morning that they're launching a major push that will include a TV ad campaign, nationwide prayer events and a "health care sermon weekend," rallies and call-ins to congress.

All this, the faith leaders hope, will counteract the recent mobilization of conservative Christians against health reform, who have rallied their opposition around the issue of abortion. As Jacqui noted this morning, the conservative Christians have been on the warpath with lobbying, phone calls, e-mails, letters to Congress and plenty of prayer.

The more liberal faith-based groups are now battling back to support health care reform. Leaders said they'll hold a press conference call on Monday at 11 a.m. with details, but promised it includes "major new initiatives," calling it "40 Days for Health Care Reform." Here are some details from their press release:

"* Monday, August 10: New National TV Ad Released Featuring Local Evangelical, Catholic & Mainline Pastors and People of Faith

*Tuesday, August 11: In-District Prayer Events Nationwide Reaching 100+ Members of Congress

* Wednesday, August 19: **Major National Event to Be Announced on the Call

* Friday through Sunday, August 28-30: Nationwide Health Care Sermon Weekend

* September 1-18: Large-Scale Meetings in Key States with Members of Congress, A Major Event with Local Leaders in DC the Week of September 14, Plus Prayer Rallies, Call-in to Congress Days & Online Campaigns"

The campaigns being headed by prominent religious leaders in the social justice and faith-based movement:

*Rev. Jim Wallis, President, Sojourners

*Rev. Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor of the 13,000-member Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, KS

*Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Local pastors and people of faith featured in the TV ad:

*Rev. John Hay, an evangelical leader from Indianapolis, IN, who for the past six years pastored a church two blocks from two hospitals, on the frontlines of the health care crisis

*Rev. Stevie Wakes, a PICO clergy leader of Olivet Institutional Baptist in Kansas City, KS, who is active in his church and community on health care and reaching out to legislators on both sides of the aisle

*Linda Filippini, a PICO lay leader of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Melbourne, FL, who is struggling to afford health care with her husband and does not know how she will get coverage when he retires

Here are the groups sponsoring the campaign:

PICO National Network, Faith in Public Life, Faithful America, Sojourners and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith...g_campaign.html

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

bro steve,

this should be an interesting topic.

i know that within the catholic church, there is much debate about the role catholic health care has in society.

there is a feeling that the government will force these systems to shutdown due to mandatory abortion rights, etc..

then there is the 'liberal' wing of the church where the call to provide care for everyone is very strong and I think is part of the movement mentioned in the article you posted.

Daniel

[one...two...tree 2,762]

bro steve,

this should be an interesting topic.

i know that within the catholic church, there is much debate about the role catholic health care has in society.

there is a feeling that the government will force these systems to shutdown due to mandatory abortion rights, etc..

then there is the 'liberal' wing of the church where the call to provide care for everyone is very strong and I think is part of the movement mentioned in the article you posted.

Daniel

Hola hermano Daniel!

The Catholic Church is united on caring for the poor. There are of course Catholics who lean to the Right, who find their political ideology clashing with the Gospel, but it also happens to those on the Left over issues such as abortion.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This would appear to belong into the "Christ for Commies" thread.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

bro steve,

this should be an interesting topic.

i know that within the catholic church, there is much debate about the role catholic health care has in society.

there is a feeling that the government will force these systems to shutdown due to mandatory abortion rights, etc..

then there is the 'liberal' wing of the church where the call to provide care for everyone is very strong and I think is part of the movement mentioned in the article you posted.

Daniel

Hola hermano Daniel!

The Catholic Church is united on caring for the poor. There are of course Catholics who lean to the Right, who find their political ideology clashing with the Gospel, but it also happens to those on the Left over issues such as abortion.

yeah, so really my point was that i am keen on seeing on how this healthcare reform affects religious based health care systems. a case in point would be catholic health care systems would be required to provide abortions. that is simply against catholic doctrine and would not happen. the hospitals would have to be shut down.

Daniel

This would appear to belong into the "Christ for Commies" thread.

*ahem*

Daniel