National Conference Call with President Barack Obama and the American Faith Community
An estimated 140,000 of people of faith, including thousands from the PICO network, gathered on August 19 for a historical national conference call on health care reform with President Barack Obama and the American faith community. Since the call, an additional 160,000 people have listened to the call online.
Listen to the call here
"Today's call showed the unity across so many different faith traditions around the fundamental goal of making quality health care affordable to all American families," said Rev. Cory Sparks, from the PICO affiliate in Lafayette, Louisiana, Congregations Organizing People for Equality. On today's tonight's call Rev. Sparks explained what reform would mean for families with and without health coverage.
President Obama, who spoke on the call for approximately 10 minutes, affirmed his commitment to health reform that will make insurance available to the more than 46 million Americans who lack it, while allowing those who have coverage to keep what they have. President Obama encouraged faith leaders on the call to continue working for reform. "This is a battle of hope over fear", declared the President, "When people of faith have been able to demonstrate hope over fear, we have been able to accomplish a great deal." The President stated that it is absolutely critical that we are on the side of promoting the well being of all Americans, "One of our core ethical and moral obligations is that we look out for each other - I am my brother's and sister's keeper. When it comes to healthcare in our country, we are failing to do this."
"Health care is really a life or death issue for many families like mine," said Karla Carranza, of the PICO affiliate in Denver, Colorado, Metro Organizations for People. "I was happy that the President showed respect for how important our voices are in the health care debate." On the call, Karla told how she and her mother are going without needed medical care because they recently lost their health coverage. She also had the honor of welcoming the President to the call.
Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Director for the Obama Administration, answered questions about issues of pressing concern to religious voters. She said the White House is committed to making sure there are affordability protections in the final legislation, and reaffirmed the Administration's commitment to leave in place current rules that protect the conscience of religious hospitals and health care providers and prohibit federal funding for abortion. Ms. Barnes also reminded participants that healthcare costs are the biggest driver of our national deficit and debt. She explained, "The President supports a healthcare plan that is fully paid for, will not add a penny to the national debt, and is a more effective and efficient system. Health reform is at the crux of being a faithful steward of our country."
The national call provided people of faith with specific ways of making their voices heard on health care, including taking a pledge to take action over the next forty days, so Members of Congress return to Washington, DC after Labor Day ready to pass health care legislation.
"As Catholics we see health care as a moral issue in which we carry on the healing ministry of Jesus," said Msgr. Bob Amundsen, of the PICO affiliate in Denver, Colorado, Metro Organizations for People (MOP), "The call gave us a chance to talk concretely about what we are doing in our parish to promote health reform that respects life and conscience, and what MOP is doing across the state of Colorado to build support for reform. We cannot let this opportunity slip past us." On the call, Msgr. Amundsen shared what his parish and MOP have done to hold public meetings with Members of Congress and educate people about reform.
The call was one part of an unprecedented grassroots faith-based movement by PICO and other religious organizations to make quality health care affordable to all American families. The call was co-hosted by PICO along with more than 30 national religious denominations and organizations representing millions of people of faith from the Evangelical, Catholic, Main-line Protestant, Jewish and Muslim traditions.
"Religious congregations are safe places where people can have reasoned and informed conversation about an issue that so many people feel so passionate about." said Rev. Jennifer Thomas, of the PICO affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri, Communities Creating Opportunity. On the call with President Obama, she described how her church had helped organize other Evangelical Lutheran churches in her regional synod of Missouri and Kansas to speak out in favor of health care reform.
Other PICO clergy and lay leaders speaking on the call with President Obama included: Rev. Heyward Wiggins, Camden Churches Organized for People,; Linda Fillipini, Communities for Civic Action in Melbourne, FL; and Rev. Charles Smith, PICO Louisiana-Baton Rouge, LA.
Through large public meetings with Members of Congress, prayer vigils and rallies in more than 45 cities reaching the offices of 100+ Senators and Representatives, five trips to Washington, DC by large groups of clergy and families during 2009, and paid radio and TV ads, PICO and allied faith and consumer groups have been demonstrating the broad public support for reform. PICO clergy and lay leaders plan to return to Washington, DC in September to continue pressing Congress to move forward with health reform, including a strong Affordability Standard that protects families from crushing health care costs.
PICO is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse or support candidates. PICO strongly encourages people of faith to study the teachings and policy positions of their particular religious denominations and traditions.
For more please information visit www.coverallfamilies.org and www.piconetwork.org.
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