Faithful Reform in Health Care

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NEW! 2010 EDITION

NOW AVAILABLE!

Seeking Justice
in Health Care

A Guide for Advocates
in Faith Communities

A 76-page resource to help people of faith understand U.S. health care and its reform through the lens of faith values. Available in print and web versions.

ABOUT THE GUIDE
CONTENTS
VIEW SAMPLER

Just $25
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Watch a video
of faith leaders speaking
about health care reform

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Please make a donation - small or large - and join others who are working to raise a faith-inspired vision for health care. Your support NOW will increase the coalition's presence in the work for REAL health care reform THIS YEAR! Help us all be the change agents we are meant to be. Your donation WILL make a difference!

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The Heart in Health Care Reform

A project to help people of faith move beyond cable news interpretations of health care reform to intentional reflection and conversation based on the faith-inspired values that give meaning to the lives we share together.

Throughout the process to enact health care reform in the United States, the Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition consistently elevated a moral vision for our health care future. As we move through the implementation and regulatory process, we continue to measure progress against "A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care" (see below). Coalition members will elevate the compassionate realities of reform, and identify where injustice in health care continues to diminish the common good.

Resources will be developed and posted on this website, including analysis, talking points, PowerPoints, adult study outlines, and more. Check back regularly for new resources and updates!

Current resources:

A Moral Vision for Our Health Care Future: (updated 7/31/10)
Reflections on "A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care" and Health Care Reform
Download 6-page PDF document

PowerPoint Presentation: "The Heart in Health Care Reform" (updated 8/17/10)
View PowerPoint PDF of PowerPoint slides

NEW! Adult Study Packet: Flexible 1-or-2 session resource to accompany "The Heart in Health Care Reform" PowerPoint
Preview Order - $10 (free for donors since July 2009)

Process and Politics of Health Care Reform: Why is health care reform so difficult (from a moral perspective)?
View PowerPoint PDF of PowerPoint slides

Fact Sheets:

The Impact of Health Care Reform on Communities of Faith and Their Leaders
Download PDF (updated April 21, 2010)

"A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care"

"A Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care" served as the foundation for dialogue among people of faith throughout our nation's effort to make health care reform a reality. Developed by the Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition, it was delivered to President Obama and Members of Congress on several occasions with the names of hundreds of organizations and thousands of individual signatures representing every state. This Vision Statement will continue to guide faith community engagement in future efforts around federal and state health care reform. View the cover letter, the Vision Statement, and the list of signers.

As people of faith, we envision a society where each person
is afforded health, wholeness, and human dignity.

That vision embraces a system of health care that is
inclusive... accessible... affordable... and accountable.

Vision ~ Inclusive: Health care is a shared responsibility that is grounded in our common humanity. In the bonds of our human family, we are created to be equal. We are guided by a divine will to treat each person with dignity and to live together as an inclusive community. Affirming our commitment to the common good, we acknowledge our enduring responsibility to care for one another. As we recognize that society is whole only when we care for the most vulnerable among us, we are led to discern the human right to health care and wholeness. Therefore, we are called to act with compassion by sharing our abundant health care resources with everyone.

Vision ~ Affordable: Health care must contribute to the common good by being affordable for individuals, families and society as a whole. We believe that in the sacred act of creation we are endowed with the talents, wisdom and abundant resources necessary to meet the needs of one another, including the health care needs of all. Therefore, in our calling to be faithful stewards, we understand our responsibility to use our health care resources effectively, to administer them efficiently, and to distribute them with equity.

Vision ~ Accessible: All persons should have access to health services that provide necessary care and contribute to wellness. We believe humanity is sacred and that all persons should benefit from those actions which contribute to our health and wholeness. Therefore, we are called to act with justice and love, to ensure that all of us have access to the health care we need in order to live out the fullness of our potential both as individuals and as contributing members of our society. We must work together to identify and overcome all barriers to and disparities in such care.

Vision ~ Accountable: Our health care system must be accountable, offering a quality, equitable and sustainable means of keeping us healthy as individuals and as a community. We believe that as spiritual and sacred vessels, we are responsible for the care of our bodies to the best of our ability and for the care of one another regardless of individual circumstances. Therefore, individuals, families, governments, businesses, and the faith community are called to work in partnership for a system that ensures fully-informed, timely, quality and safe care that treats body, mind and spirit.

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This Vision Statement was sent to Congress January 13, 2010, with nearly 200 organizational and over 4000 individual signers. View the cover letter, the Vision Statement, and the list of signers.

Note: Signatures are no longer being collected. However, all faith groups working on health care reform should feel free to use it in their local and state-based organizing. Just keep Faithful Reform in Health care in the loop about its use!

Print the Vision Statement (color) Print the Vision Statement (b&w)