Faith-based organizations show support for health care for legal immigrants

~ by Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

The timing could not have been better!  On Friday, September 11, nearly 40 faith-based organizations sent a letter to President Obama and all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging that legal immigrants and other vulnerable immigrant populations be included in any national health care plan enacted by Congress.  Protestant Christians, the Catholic Bishops and religious orders, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists affirmed together that “the provision of health care is a shared responsibility grounded in the sacred act of creation and our common humanity.  Universal teachings within the scriptural texts of our diverse faith communities call us to welcome strangers and compassionately care for their basic human needs – including health care.”  View the letter

Health care reform proposals currently impose a five-year waiting period for legal immigrants to receive federal benefits; funding for benefits for undocumented immigrants is explicitly prohibited.  Now, in the wake of an ugly and disrespectful outburst from a member of Congress, there is a move to impose excessive citizenship documentation for federal health care benefits, which historically has done more to create barriers for racial and ethnic minority citizens than serve its intended purpose.  And a big disappointment is that the White House pronounced that undocumented immigrants would not be allowed to purchase health insurance in the proposed exchange — even if paying full price with no government subsidy.  (Are they aware of how many undocumented immigrants already buy their own insurance who could end up uninsured by this action?)

By sending this letter to our President and members of Congress, people of faith seek to rectify the injustice of denying access to health care for legal immigrants and their families.  We affirm that legal immigrants contribute to society, work hard,  pay all the taxes required of citizens, and desire to pay their fair share for affordable health care.  We recognize that uninsured immigrants, like uninsured citizens, are vulnerable.  With no access to preventative care, they too often have to rely on emergency-room care, which is always more expensive and is often too late.  We understand that providing access to health care would ensure healthier immigrant communities, would drive down the cost of uncompensated care, and ultimately would contribute to savings for all of us.  But most important, we ensure that they have what they need in order to live out the fullness of their sacred potential as individuals and as contributing members of our society.

Isn’t it time that we enact public policy based on compassion and justice, not on hate and bigotry?  And isn’t it time that we embrace the heart of ONE human family and, in doing so, reclaim the soul of our nation?

The letter is available as a Word document online for advocates to print and share in communications with their Members of Congress.

The moral case for reform: Isn’t that OUR job?

~ By Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

Waiting in my email box early Wednesday morning was the article Once More, With Feeling: Will Obama (Finally) Make the Moral Case for Reform?.   Melinda Henneberger, Politics Daily Editor in Chief, was making the point that President Obama was going to have to make the all-out case for health care reform as the “right thing to do morally.”

Well, that’s exactly what the President did.  He made the moral case.  His remarks were laced with values like the compassion, common good, shared responsibility, concern for the vulnerable, and better stewardship of our abundant health care resources.  To drive home his point he shared thoughts from a letter written by the late Senator Ted Kennedy. “He repeated the truth that health care is decisive for our future prosperity, but he also reminded me that it concerns more than material things.  What we face, he wrote, is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.”

Well, my question is this:  Whose job is it anyway to be making the moral case for reform?  Why are political editors clamoring for the President to make the moral case?  Isn’t that OUR job?  The only reason I can think of for calling on the President to make the moral case is that those of us who are entrusted with such proclamation are not making enough noise. Like so many others, we’ve been sucked into other spheres of the debate, to the exclusion of the moral imperative.

The economic imperative is what has forced us into our current national discussion about health care reform in the United States.  As health care costs rise faster than general inflation, as medical expenses force families into bankruptcy, as businesses burdened with workers’ health insurance struggle to compete in the global marketplace, and as government resources are stretched thin to provide health care for vulnerable populations, we have finally acknowledged that we must travel into our health care future along a different path.

Likewise, the medical imperative for system reform weighs heavily as 20,000+ people die prematurely each year for lack of needed health care, as more and more people turn to emergency rooms for their health care needs, and as the impact of un-insurance and under-insurance becomes evident in the reduced quality of life for millions.  We know that planning for a health care future which includes everyone and works well for all of us cannot wait.

But moving forward on reform with just these two imperatives clearly isn’t working.  In spite of broad consensus on numerous provisions for reform, we are stymied. In part because of political partisanship, and in part because of ideological differences over how we approach this issue, we find ourselves embroiled in ugly and, at times, violent discord.

It is the moral imperative and the values found therein that can change the complexion of this raucous environment. Reflection around moral values and justice can help move us from a debate that focuses too much on government-run vs. market-driven health care toward one that evaluates public policy as a tool to serve the common good.

If we affirm that truth is witness to the whole, then we know that moving forward without considering the moral imperative will lead only to an insufficient solution for our nation’s health care future. It will be up to us to elevate that moral message.

Toward the end of her editorial Ms. Henneberger said of the President, He’s whispered that we are all our brother’s keepers and our sister’s keepers, but he needs to make it rain, for heaven’s sake; I wanna hear some thunder.  That thunder can be no less than millions of people of faith raising our voices around the moral imperative for health care for all.  It can be no less  than all of us coming together to proclaim that in the sacred act of creation we were endowed with the talents, wisdom and abundant resources necessary to meet the needs of one another — including the health care needs for all.

The Public Option: The Heart of a Moral Vision

~ by Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

President Obama commented that the public health insurance option is but a “sliver” of the proposals for health care reform.  In terms of sheer numbers he is exactly right.  With the millions of additional persons who will have insurance through the proposed Medicaid expansions and employer mandate, the number of persons who will actually need (or choose) the public health insurance option will be a “sliver” of the number of persons with health insurance in the U.S.

From a moral values perspective, however, a public health insurance option (or something that achieves the same end of truly affordable insurance with comprehensive coverage) represents the heart of these legislative proposals – and the heart of who we are as a nation.  Do we want to guarantee that everyone has truly affordable insurance that provides access to needed health care – or not?

Over the years, we have taken numerous steps toward accepting moral responsibility for our most vulnerable populations. We have recognized that those with the lowest incomes, our elderly, our veterans, and our Native American populations need the support of our collective resources for health care.  And we have responded appropriately.  The crisis facing us now is the millions of persons who do not have employer-sponsored health care, do not qualify for any of these programs, and cannot afford to buy insurance or pay out-of-pocket for their medical expenses.

The public health insurance option is proposed to address that reality.  Reflection on this provision, or a comparable alternative, begins not with the public option itself, but with the proposed individual mandate for insurance. There is broad understanding that such a mandate is a given.  It is necessary to achieve universal coverage, to maximize the risk pool, and to spread the costs accordingly.  It is supported by the private insurance industry because millions more persons will be buying health insurance.  But they have used the individual mandate as a condition for their willingness to eliminate consideration of pre-existing conditions (guaranteed issue) and to accept limits on premium costs compared to payout for claims (medical-loss ratio).

From a faith and justice perspective, health care reform advocates generally have opposed the individual mandates at the state level because they have proven to be unworkable and inequitable. The plans ultimately were too expensive, and government entities simply couldn’t adequately provide sufficient subsidies to make the plans affordable.  The advocacy community has not resisted the proposed federal individual mandates because of the companion provisions – the  Medicaid expansion, the employer mandate, the public option, and the public subsidies.

It is troubling that even with the public option and other provisions, it is projected that several million persons still will remain outside the system because the expansions and subsidies will not likely go far enough in providing affordable and comprehensive coverage.

Even more troubling, however, is that without a public option, or a comparable alternative, it is almost certain that even more persons will not have access to affordable insurance.  Instead, millions could be forced into for-profit private insurance plans in which there are no guarantees that the combined costs of premiums, co-pays and out-of-pocket health care expenses would actually forestall financial hardships for families in need of medical care.

Is it possible to guarantee affordable and comprehensive coverage without a public option?

Download the entire document from which this except was taken — “How the Public Option Measures Up to A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care” — at http://www.faithfulreform.org.

140,000 people join faith conference call

~ by Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

It’s no wonder some of you couldn’t join the conference call and webcast today with faith leaders and President Obama.  There were 140,000 of us listening!  We were expecting tens of thousands, not over 100,000!  Our friends at Faith in Public Life, who coordinated the call, said that the tech consultants were floored, having never experienced something of this magnitude.  Our response today is a powerful witness to the fact that PEOPLE OF FAITH DO CARE and that we will do whatever it takes to raise our voices with a moral vision for our health care future.

So… to all of you who got on — and all of you who tried and tried unsuccessfully — thank you for your passion!  For those of you who were frustrated by the jammed lines and webcast, please accept my apologies!  All of the 30+ co-sponsors hope you understand and celebrate with us that there was an unprecedented level of participation by people of faith who were singularly focused on the moral imperative for health care reform in those few moments.

Here is the link to listen to the call again, or for the first time.  It will be posted on the Faithful Reform in Health Care website for current and future reference.  Both a streaming recording and an MP3 format are available at this link.

As you listen you will be invited to sign a pledge to stay actively involved in the faith-based part of the health care reform movement.   Click here to sign the Faithful Reform in Health Care version of the pledge.

And then, stay-tuned for our next major effort — Health Care Sabbaths and Candlelight Vigils during the weekend of August 28-30 — a critical time to make our members of Congress hear us while they are home for their August recess!

Health and peace as we move through these important days!

“I’m really mad,” she said, and…

~ Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

“I’m really mad, and… I have to do something about it!” That’s what I heard from a voice on the other end of the phone line late Saturday afternoon. I braced myself, given the kinds of angry phone calls, letters, and such that are circulating these days, but when I realized who it was I was grateful. It was a friend, a neighbor, a band mom, and an active member of her synagogue here in Ohio.  It was someone who wants to be a part of making health care reform happen this year. It was an activist who understands that supporters cannot sit by idly while the opposition tears apart our hope for a health care future that includes everyone and works well for all of us.

Barbara is passionate about doing things that contribute to the common good.  I’ve been in her house before when she organized gatherings to help friends write letters to their elected officials.  Usually, the focus is broad to help get lots of friends there, regardless of their favorite issue.  But this time, it’s just about health care because she knows it’s that important.  She wanted talking points and phone numbers and schedules and strategies.  She recognizes that every one of us will have to take actions over and over again in the coming weeks until our voices prevail with the moral vision for health care in the U.S. So… in the next couple of weeks, she will host a letter-writing party and get letters delivered to our members of Congress before the end of the month. I’ll be there supporting her and writing my own letters.

Where will you be in the next few weeks and what will you be doing? Yes, I know it’s August, and it’s hot, and the kids are starting school, and… there are always things to get in the way of getting involved in the democratic process.  But the opposition isn’t taking a break, and neither can we. If we want reform that reflects the values of our sacred teachings, then our voices need to be heard.  I urge you to make a commitment today to take at least one action a week to help make comprehensive and compassionate reform a reality.

You can start with this week’s conference call with President Obama. Please set aside 40 minutes to join tens of thousands of people of faith who share your concern.  We’re excited that President Barack Obama and numerous faith leaders have accepted invitations to join us. The call will be Wednesday, August 19, at 5:00 pm eastern. Even if you think you’ve heard it all, join us in solidarity, to show the rest of the country that people of faith DO care, and that we won’t give up! Please RSVP to help facilitate planning and to guarantee your place on the call.  In addition, circulate the information broadly via email, FaceBook, Twitter, fliers and word of mouth to get the word out. Visit the Faithful Reform in Health Care website for more information and to RSVP.

And then… begin thinking about your next action:

* A letter-writing party in your home or in your community of faith.
* A visit to the district offices of your members of Congress or participation in a Town Hall meeting.
* A Candlelight Vigil or Prayer Service in your community or congregation. ToolKit
* A Health Care Sabbath during the weekend of August 28-30.
* A phone call campaign using our toll-free number 1-888-797-8717. Flier and talking points

Voices of faith are needed now more than ever!

It’s not just about the President!

~ Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

YES!  We’re definitely excited that President Barack Obama has accepted an invitation to join tens of thousands of people of faith on a nationwide conference call on Wednesday, August 19, at 5:00 pm eastern. Afterall, this is an historic opportunity: never before has a President addressed such a large gathering of the faith community so directly and specifically on the issue of health care reform.

But it’s not just about the President.  It’s also about US — the 30-40-50 thousand or more people of faith who will take 40 minutes from our busy lives to focus together on a moral vision for how we provide health care in the U.S.  It’s about demonstrating that even though we may not agree on policy, we agree that our shared faith values should be at the heart of public discourse.  If we hit 47,000 callers, it’s a very symbolic expression of our concern for the 47 million people who go without needed health care because they are uninsured. It’s about making a commitment to speak truth to power until our health care future includes everyone and works well for all of us!

Because tens of thousands of participants are expected, you are urged to RSVP to help facilitate planning and to guarantee your place on the call.  In addition, we invite you to tell your family, friends, and colleagues; to spread the word through your email networks; and to invite others to listen to the call with you.  Please help us make this event even more historic than it already is!  Print a half-page flier to distribute at your faith gatherings this this weekend!

RSVP to receive your call-in information and to submit a question.

List of conference call sponsors (as of 8.16.09)

(Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition members noted in bold)

African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)
American Muslim Health Professionals
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Catholics United
Christian Community Development Association
Disciples Center for Public Witness
Disciples Justice Action Network
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Faithful America
Faithful Reform in Health Care
Faith in Public Life
Gamaliel Foundation
Islamic Medical Association of North America
Islamic Society of North America
Jewish Women International
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
National Council of Churches in Christ
National Council of Jewish Women
Network, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
PICO National Network
Presbyterian Church USA, Washington Office
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference
Sisters of Mercy of The Americas
Sojourners
The Episcopal Church
The Latino Leadership Circle
The New Evangelicals
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church General Board of Church And Society
United Methodist Church, Washington Office of Women’s Division, General Board of Global Ministries

RSVP to receive your call-in information and to submit a question.

Fear, Facts and Faith

~ Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

Fear works. The opposition knows it.  And they are using it to their advantage.  Just a few short weeks ago our fear was the cost of doing nothing – in terms of both human suffering and economic peril. We were moving along a path toward health care reform legislation that wasn’t perfect but would improve health care for all of us.  Sure, there were some hurdles to be overcome, but an overwhelming majority of the American public was still on board.  The powerful and wealthy industry stakeholders who have the most to lose in terms of profits and control have responded to that level of support by promoting lies, distortions and disruptions to elicit fear about what is really in the proposed legislation.  Let us be clear — our greatest fear must remain over the cost of doing nothing, and now of those who seek to destroy legitimate civil discourse and the democratic process.

Facts work – for some. Thankfully, the folks who know the legislation inside and out are producing the fact sheets to help us understand the proposals. They are making available to us the truth and the intent behind the provisions that are being twisted for diabolical purposes. But we must remember that facts don’t matter to many of those who are easily swayed by fear-mongering tactics.  Very simply, we can’t argue our way out of this with the facts.  But… for those who WILL listen, we can use the facts to develop a better understanding of the proposals, to answer our legitimate questions and to bolster our efforts in pushing our elected leaders to do the right thing.  Go to PolitiFact.com for help with sorting out the truth!  To read how one clergy colleague responds to all of this with faith values read:

Talk-Show Falsehoods: Hysteria masks value of Page 425

Health-care rationing vs. abundance – The truth shall set us free

Faith works — when we try! For people of faith who care about this issue, we need to understand that our voices are needed more than ever to create a health care future that includes everyone and works well for all of us.  The members of Congress on Wednesday’s conference call told us quite frankly that the voices of faith are not being heard over the fray of the powerful and wealthy self-interests and their high paid lobbyists. The voices of moral persuasion and compassion are NOT what our elected leaders are hearing.  We can change that… one by one until millions of us pick up our phones and pens, raise our voices in town hall meetings, and hold our candles high in vigils to demand comprehensive health care reform this year.

There are more of us than “them,” but that won’t be obvious until everyone one of us makes a commitment to take at least one action (or more!) EVERY week until health care reform is passed — and urge others in our communities of faith to join us!  Cultural transformation is up to us! And we are at our best when that is at the heart of our work.

Make phone calls TODAY to your Senators and Representative using our toll free number: 1-888-797-8717. Urge them to ignore the lies and to make their decisions based on the truth. View talking points and print a flier to invite others to make calls, too.  Put this number on your speed-dial and use it often!

Send hand-written letters to the home offices of your Senators and Representatives while they are home on their August recess.  Better yet, set up a table at a gathering of your faith community this weekend and ask others to join you in writing letters! Find the addresses of the district offices. View a sample letter.

Plan a Let Our Light Shine event with others in your community during August.

Sign “A Faith-Inspired Vision for Health Care” if you have not already done so, and urge others in your faith community join you.  It will be delivered to all members of Congress soon after they return to Washington in September.

Let Our Light Shine and Let Our Voices Be Heard!

July 4th, Patriotism and Health Care

~ Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

Oh how we love our red, white and blue bunting, balloons, T-shirts and lapel pins to show our patriotism.  And there’s nothing like a good fireworks display synchronized to a rousing rendition of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” to give rise to a few goose bumps!

But perhaps a more authentic expression of our respect for democracy would be that of reclaiming the ideals upon which our nation was founded. Dare we forget our forebears’ declaration that in the sacred act of creation we are granted with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? And dare we forget that they constituted a government to promote the common good and secure the blessings of liberty?  Indeed, the ideals, the freedoms — and the responsibilities — crafted by those leaders are not to be taken lightly.

Interfaith Week of Prayer Wrap-Up

~ Rev. Linda Hanna Walling, Faithful Reform in Health Care

Thank you! You are wonderful!

In the last few weeks you have begun to show the passion and power among people of faith in support of a better health care future for all of us. Collectively, the numerous efforts have elevated the need to look at health care reform through the lens of our faith-inspired values. Our lawmakers and opinion leaders are listening!

Bipartisan Health Care Reform?

~ Jill Zimmerman

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a breakfast meeting with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) as part of the annual Families USA National Grassroots Meeting: Health Action 2009.

After an interesting and informative town hall style discussion, the meeting ended and everyone moved to leave the room. I suppose I moved more quickly than others, and somehow I ended up walking out the door in lockstep with Senator Grassley.