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Health care reform has faith groups speaking out, upAug 01, 2009 (The Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When congregants come to his office to talk about his sermons, the Rev. Kurt Walker knows he's hit a button. Two weeks after a sermon highlighting the need for his congregation -- and all Americans -- to take an active interest in President Obama's health care reform proposal, a member of Walker's church came in to talk to him about it. "I didn't talk about a particular health care reform plan, I just basically said there's no doubt about it from the statistics that something's got to change," said Walker, pastor of Zion Presbyterian Church in Coggon. Walker's sermon is just one example of how faith groups across denominational lines are voicing their concern with or support of the president's health care plan. Many faith leaders see the discussion more as an ethics and values conversation than a political one. "I think it is important for faith communities to be involved in this process, the process of developing policies where nationalized health is concerned," said the Rev. Tom Capo, pastor of Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 Third Ave. SE, in Cedar Rapids. "Our voices should be heard. I think it's important for all of us to get involved and let our legislators know what we are thinking -- if we don't voice what we want then we're going to get what we get." At issue with some faith groups in particular is whether government or taxpayer money will fund abortions, an issue that may test relationships Obama has built with some organizations and church groups. Moderate, pro-life evangelicals across the country have expressed their displeasure in the possibility of mandated coverage for abortions while prochoice advocates say the issue isn't as "black and white" as it may seem. "The church has always been the moral compass of the nation, and care for human lives is definitely a moral is sue," said the Rev. Eric Schumacher, pastor of Northbrook Baptist Church, 1700 Boyson Rd. NE, in Cedar Rapids. "As we look at how we treat the sanctity of human life we need to believe people are made in the image of God, we need to be speaking out on those issues. There's an ethical dilemma involved when taxpayer dollars are going to fund abortion." There are other medical treatments and requirements that raise ethical questions as well, Schumacher said. He is concerned about the government taking an active role in end-of-life issues, deciding who gets what treatment. "When you take health care out of the hands of individuals, the government is then going to have to ask who deserves what treatments, what lives are worth what money, and that's scary," Schumacher said. He said those issues seem to be overshadowed by abortion discussions, but that more conversations need to take place on end-of-life concerns. "I've heard a few people bring them up to me, they're concerned about what the government will or will not approve for them," he said. For Capo, there are other issues to consider in each situation, he said. "I don't know if the government is going to pay for abortions or not, but if it's a medical procedure where the mother's life is in danger, are we going to perform that abortion to save that mother's life?" he said. "I don't think it's a black and white issue, but more about how it is going to affect that person's life." In the end, though, faith groups should be an active voice in the debate about health care reform -- regardless of where they stand, he said. Walker agrees. His sermon didn't address either side of the plan or about politics in general, he said, but more of the responsibility of Christians to be involved. "As followers of Christ I said we need to show compassion," he said. "This is a topic that can be rather divisive and there are messages being put out there designed to divide us on a topic on which we should all be coming together." "We are a country of abundance and for folks to not be able to access quality, affordable health care, it's a travesty," he said. "You're compelled as a Christian to show compassion and care for others." Being passive and believing that because you are insured doesn't guarantee a safe future, Walker said. He turns to Social Security, retirement plans and 401(k) programs as examples. "I pointed out that those of us that morning probably has some kind of health care, but if we think we're safe, we're not," Walker said. "We experienced not too long ago what it was like for our retirement plans, costs of fuel, and costs of commodities to change. The same dynamics that are at work for certain entities and their profit margins are going to be at work here." -- Contact the writer: (319) 398-8288 or molly. [email protected] "It is important for faith communities to be involved in this process, the process of developing policies where nationalized health is concerned." -The Rev. Tom Capo, Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist To see more of The Gazette, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gazetteonline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |