US religious groups launch campaign for health care reform

Religious groups in the US pushing for health care reform have launched a national campaign to counteract the very vocal opposition to President Obama’s proposals to revamp the country’s health care system.

Rev John Hay Jr, senior pastor of West Morris Street Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana has said: “This is as much a crisis of faith as it is a crisis of health care. We just believe there is a better way.”

The 40 Days for Health Reform campaign was announced in a telephone news conference on Monday, CNN reports. Rev Stevie Wakes of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Kansas City said, “As a pastor, I believe access to health care is a profoundly moral issue.”

The campaign will include TV adverts, a ‘sermon weekend’, various prayer meetings, and a ‘call-in with President Obama’ scheduled for 19 August.

The organisers reported that prayer meetings focusing on health care would take place Tuesday, and were set to take place in 45 cities across 18 states, with 4,000 expected to attend.

Rev Jim Wallis of Sojourners said, “Healing and health are fundamental religious issues.”

However, he assured that the campaign was not going to try and tackle specific policy questions. He said, “It isn't political in a partisan way. This is a fundamental moral issue ... You're going to hear the moral drumbeat of the faith community.”

Sojourners is sponsoring the campaign along with PICO National Network, Faith in Public Life, Faithful America and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.