We are not politicians. We are not doctors. We are not financial analysts.
We are rabbis, priests, ministers, imams and pastors.
This does not mean that our political, medical or fiscal views should be taken any more seriously than anyone else's. We acknowledge that everyone must evaluate the complex and myriad questions that appear in the health care reform debate based upon their own judgments. Certainly our elected political leaders must weigh the problems of cost, availability and sustainability when redesigning such a large portion of our economy.
But our areas of expertise do come into play in this debate. The moral question of what kind of society we seek to build should underlie any deliberation on the question of health care reform. We surely disagree over many subjects of theology and politics, over questions of faith and dogma. But whether from the words of Torah or the Gospels of Jesus, whether from the Talmud or the Koran--our traditions all are explicit and clear on one thing: We are commanded to seek the welfare and healing of all those in our midst, especially the weak, especially the vulnerable. Our understanding of the insights of Jewish, Christian and Muslim thought on how we should navigate through the complex challenges of modern life compel us to speak out together in favor of major change that will extend the benefits of modern medicine to all our fellow citizens.
For us this is not an intellectual exercise. We work in our communities, among the sick and scared, who face not only illness but financial ruin when disease strikes. We see hard working people denied care because of pre-existing conditions. We see families with health insurance that they simply cannot afford. We see doctors and nurses whose vocation is to mend the broken, frustrated that their efforts are directed toward profits and paperwork rather than people and healing.
It is for this reason that we insist that the moral imperative of our time is clear. Anyone whose guide in public policy is conscience, anyone who argues that faith and religious tradition should direct our actions, such a person must stand for universal health care in America.
It happens that we are all also citizens of the State of Connecticut. This fact leads us to ask our Senator Joe Lieberman- what is it that you stand for? We ask you to sit down with us, a diverse group of clergy, and your constituents, and answer the most important moral questions. How can you justify your threat to block this much needed reform against the will of the majority? How is it that you can stand in the way of our fellow citizens being granted access to life saving technology? When you speak of values and conscience, what exactly do you understand to be the morality of our current system?
When concerned about questions of finance, we turn to the independent analysis of the CBO, which suggests that a "public option" will reduce long term costs and lighten the fiscal burden of the government. When interested in the effect on medicine, we trust doctors, like the AMA, who approve this approach. When considering the effect on seniors, we turn to the AARP, which also endorses reform.
But when speaking of morality and conscience, when pursing a calling to goodness and justice--on these matters we have something to offer. Our voices reflect our traditions and our understanding of what God asks of us.
Senator Lieberman, what is it that your conscience tells you?
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