Health Care Reform as A Moral/Religious Imperative

Given that most of the other developed nations of the world provide more or less universal health care coverage to their citizens through public and blended systems, it is striking that the USA which is generally considered far more religious than for instance nations in Western Europe, has to date failed to have a national plan to provide some form of universal coverage to all citizens. Even more ironic, some of the principle opponents to a national program or even meaningful reform are members of the GOP base which purports to be made up of Christians. How these alleged Christians reconcile their supposed belief in the Gospel message with their often selfish attitude of not wanting to pay for anyone's care or health care coverage is baffling. But then, in my opinion, many of these "Christians" within the GOP base are anything but true Christians and often treat others with less respect and charity than the most hard core atheist. James Wallis (pictured above) has a column in the Washington Post that looks at this huge disconnect. Here are some highlights:

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The soul of America is sick because our health insurance industry is sick. The creation of a better health care system that guarantees full access to affordable quality health care for every American family, all of God's children in this country, would be the moral achievement that could repair, and even heal, our damaged national soul. Health care is a deeply moral and religious issue. Here is why.

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Healing is central to all our religious traditions. It is at the heart of the vocation of people of faith. The stories of Jesus healing people in the Gospels, of restoring people to physical wholeness and full participation in their community, always signaled the Kingdom of God.

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In America, 46 million are uninsured, many more are underinsured. Many of them are working families who live in fear of getting sick or injured. Some delay seeking medical attention at the risk of their own health or using emergency room services instead of primary care physicians. An estimated 18,000 people a year die unnecessarily from lacking basic health insurance, many from low income families. These realities do not reflect a valuation of our neighbor as created in the image of God and that is why this is not just a political issue, it is a moral issue. . .

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What does that mean? It means that the faith community has a unique and important role to play -- to define and raise the moral issues right beneath the policy debate. . . . A good and moral society does not leave people out because they are poor.

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Our job, like the prophet Amos, is to call for "justice to roll down like waters;" it's the politician's job to work out the plumbing. We have the opportunity to speak for the interests of the common good and those who would not otherwise have a voice. And this time the religious community will be watching, praying, and acting, as the nation takes on the challenge of reforming our sick health-care system.

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Watching who opposes health care reform within Christian denominations and the far right will be very telling as to who the true Christians are as opposed to selfish hypocrites.