[Oe List ...] UCC Pastoral Letter on Health Care

[Herman Greene]

Jesus asked, which of these three do you think was a

neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?

He said, "The one who showed him mercy."

Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

-- Luke 10:36-37

 

This familiar story of the Good Samaritan in Luke's Gospel makes

a clear case for universal access to health care. Jesus reminds us

of what it means to love our neighbor; it means we stop and assist

in a caring manner that nurtures the neighbor back to health and

wholeness. Persons in need are not to be passed by, nor are they to be

left abandoned and ignored by the side of the road. Those who would

be caring neighbors cannot rest until proper care and services have

been obtained for the ones in need.

 

The United Church of Christ declares that we must serve God's intent

for humankind by being extensions of Jesus' ministry in the world.

We have a long history of providing health care through our health

and human service ministries, parish nurse programs, etc. Where the

church is involved in healing ministries, we continually seek new

ways to enable the liberation of the oppressed and reconciliation of

the alienated through acts of love and justice.

All parts of creation deserve to be healed when broken, injured,

or sick. All persons regardless of race, ethnic origin, age, gender,

religion, sexual orientation, disability, income, legal status, health

status or geographical location deserve to be tenderly touched by

concerned healers.

 

Health care is not only a basic human right but a human need. As

people of faith we believe that it is a moral imperative to transform

health care so that it is inclusive, accessible, affordable and

accountable. We call on our churches to actively work towards the

creation of a national health care system and to affirm the moral and

justice imperatives of equal access for all people.

Over 47 million people (one in six) and over 9 million children are

without health coverage and 25 million more are under-insured. The

number of Americans going without or delaying needed medical care

has increased sharply between 2003 and 2007. Every year, 18,000

people in the United States die from a lack of health insurance --

that's two people every hour.

 

People of faith are called to engage in the work of transforming our

nation's health care system into a just and compassionate system of

healing. Where political and market-driven forces have failed, the

faith community can proclaim that health care for all is the mark of

a just and compassionate society. We have the power to change the

conversation and envision a society where each person is afforded

health, wholeness, and human dignity.

 

Just one month ago, the General Synod of the United Church of

Christ adopted a Resolution entitled An Urgent Call For Advocacy

in Support of Healthcare For All, as in H.R. 676. While we as a

denomination believe that a single-payer plan is what is needed

to truly have universal coverage which is our moral and justice

imperative, we acknowledge that it will probably not be the health

care proposal of choice. However, we must support a strong public

plan option that provides meaningful access to all. The health care

proposal must include essential criteria, which are listed on the last

page under "Here's what you can do."

 

The UCC participated in the Faith Leaders Summit on Health Care,

held July 7 in Washington, D.C. There we agreed:

No longer can we afford to squander the hopes and dreams of

the American people through a much-too-costly system that

contributes to economic despair. Families and individuals must

be able to rely on affordable care in times of illness or accident

and preventative care to safeguard health and well-being. Those

who are ill need the assurance that coverage will not be canceled

by illness or employment circumstance. They should also be

afforded the dignity of selecting their own caregivers.

We insist that legislation be passed by the fall of 2009 by the 111th

Congress.

 

Don't Put a Period on Health Care:

God is Still Speaking

 

 

_____________________________________________

Herman F. Greene, Esq.

Greene Law, PLLC

2516 Winningham Drive

Chapel Hill, NC 27707

919-624-0579 (ph)

919-942-4358 (f)

Skype: hgreene-nc

hgreene at greenelawnc.com 

www.greenelawnc.com <http://www.greenelawnc.com/>  

 

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