Last night’s faith community call to action on health care with President Obama attracted an overwhelming turnout — true testament to the energy and passion the faith community feels for this critical moral issue.
If you missed it, you can listen to the call here:
In stark contrast to the violence and shouting that’s been coming out of town halls across the country, the faith community has been making its case for health care reform in a passionate, but civil tone.
Here’s We Believe Ohio’s press conference this morning:
And here checkout highlights from LA Voice PICO prayer rally for healthcare, powerful stuff!
This morning Rabbi Jonah Pesner, founding director of the Union of Reform Judaism’s Just Congregations, appeared along with Rev. Derrick Harkins to discuss healthcare reform on CNN’s “Faces of Faith.” (Rev. Harkins is senior pastor of 19th St. Baptist Church in DC, as well as an FPL board member and a board member of World Relief.) Both discussed not only the theological grounding for their support for reform, but experiences in their own congregation that demonstrate the need for it. Have a look:
Look out for more media appearances by faith leaders working for health care reform this week. And please go to faithforhealth.org to rsvp for 40 Minutes for Health Reform — the national call-in and audio webcast with religious leaders and President Obama on Wednesday at 5 pm Eastern, which is sponsored by a diverse coalition of 30 faith groups.
40 Days for Health Reform is well under way, and as next Wednesday’s national call-in and audio webcast with religious leaders and President Obama approaches, faith leaders are making a moral case for health reform on cable news and radio. (You can take part Wednesday’s live discussion with the President — visit faithforhealth.org to rsvp.) These leaders — like millions of people across the country — are motivated by their faith to ensure Congress passes legislation that makes quality health care affordable for all American families.
Yesterday, Rev. Derrick Harkins appeared on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” opposite Bishop Harry Jackson to discuss the faith community’s work to enact healthcare reform and offer some theological grounding for the effort.
Moments later, Rev. Adam Hamilton went on Lou Dobbs (as did the seemingly ubiquitous Bishop Jackson) to talk about the same topic. Right off the bat, Lou misrepresented Rev. Hamilton’s position, but Adam successfully made the case for reform anyway.
Earlier in the afternoon, Sojourners’ Jim Wallis and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good’s John Gehring took part in a similar discussion on “To The Point,” a widely syndicated radio news talk show based in Los Angeles. Audio is available here.
As the faith community’s effort to pass healthcare reform continues, look for more religious leaders making the case on tv and radio broadcasts. On Sunday morning, CNN’s Faces of Faith will feature Christian and Jewish leaders who are working to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible for all, and more such segments will surely follow!
As Dan mentioned on Monday, we have some exciting news (and a major workload, which is why the blog has been quiet this week)! At 5 PM EST on Wednesday, August 19th, we’ll be on the phone with thousands of people of faith, local and national religious leaders, and… special guest President Obama!
So mark your calendars and get ready for an empowering and exciting call. Every single one of our voices is going to be critically important to the push to get health reform legislation passed and ensure that all American families have access to affordable, quality health care choices.
Find out more about the national call-in here–in – which is cosponsored by more than 25 faith groups — at faithforhealth.org. And please do join us for this unprecedented event– Wednesday at 5 pm Eastern!
P.S. We’ve been getting lots of media coverage of our “40 Days for Health Reform” campaign. Check out some of my favorites so far: CNN, CBS, Indianapolis Star/Gannett News Service, Associated Baptist Press and Religion News Service.