PEOPLE OF FAITH SPEAK OUT

Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is
the most shocking and inhumane. 

 

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 

 

From the dawn of human history God has created loving souls and blessed each with the 'imago dei' - the very image and likeness of God.  By grace God endows those in the health care professions with the means and methods of healing.  Only through a just system of health care can Jesus' promise of life abundant (John 10:10b) be visited upon all persons.

The Reverend Dr. Bob Edgar     

General Secretary     

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA [2002]    

To be without health insurance in this country means to be without access to medical care.  But health is not a luxury, nor should it be the sole possession of a privileged few.  We are all created b'tzelem elohim -- in the image of God -- and this makes each human life as precious as the next.  By 'pricing out' a portion of this country's population from health care coverage, we mock the image of God and destroy the vessels of God's work.

Rabbi Alexander Schindler             

Past President             

Union of American Hebrew Congregations [1992]          

Every person has the right to adequate health care.  This right flows from the sanctity of human life and the dignity that belongs to all persons, who are made in the image of God... Our call for health care reform is rooted in the biblical call to heal the sick and to serve 'the least of these,' the priorities of justice and the principle of the common good.  The existing patterns of health care in the United Sates do no meet the minimal standard of social justice and the common good.   

Resolution on Health Care Reform

U.S. Catholic Bishops [1993] 

The health of a society is truly measured by the quality of its concern and care for the health of its members. . . The right of every individuals to adequate health care flows from the sanctity of human life and that dignity belongs to all human beings. . . We believe that health is a fundamental human right which has as its prerequisites social justice and equality and that it should be equally available and accessible to all.

Imam Sa'dullah Khan

The Islamic Center of Southern California

Read more about

what people of faith are saying!

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS

• Biblical and Theological Perspectives (Interfaith IMPACT)
• Theological Grounding as an Ethical Imperative for Justice in Health Care (Ohio Council of Churches)
• Health, Healing and Wholeness (American Baptist Churches)

RESOLUTIONS AND POLICY STATEMENTS

• American Baptist Churches

• Catholic Health Association

• Central Conference of American Rabbis

• Church of the Brethren

• Church Women United

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Central States Synod

• Episcopal Church, USA

• Friends Committee on National Legislation

• Illinois Conference of Churches

• Interreligious Health Care Access Campaign

• Mennonite Central Committee

• National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

• National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods

• NETWORK:  A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

• Presbyterian Church USA

• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

• Union of American Hebrew Congregations

• Unitarian Universalist Association

• United Methodist Church

• United States Catholic Conference

If you are part of a faith community which has a concise theological or public policy statement focusing on universal health care, please let us know how we can make it available on this web site or link to your web site.        

Email: faithproject@uhcan.org or FAX: 216-241-8423

The Faith Project
Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN)
2800 Euclid Avenue, Suite #520 · Cleveland, OH 44115-2418
Telephone: 216-241-8422 x 15 · Fax: 216-241-8423 · Email: <faithproject@uhcan.org>