Nebraska Faith Leaders Appeal Senator Nelson on Health Care

12/11/2009

Senator Ben Nelson
440 North 8th Street Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508
Fax: (402) 476-8753

Dear Honorable Senator Nelson:

We represent diverse communities of faith from across the state of Nebraska. As clergy and leaders within our faith traditions, we believe that every person has been created to live with dignity and wholeness. In today's world, this requires access to health care. Providing universal access to health care is a moral and spiritual imperative.

Our nation's health care system is in crisis. More than 46 million Americans have no insurance and little access to care; however, these people are more than just numbers to us. We see the impact this broken system has on the individuals and families of our faith communities every day. Like the mother and father whose two daughters both have Multiple Sclerosis; however, now the daughters are too old to be on their parents' health insurance, making coverage very difficult if not impossible due to restrictions on preexisting conditions. These struggles that we witness each day are real to us and motivate us to stand together to support making quality healthcare a reality for all people.

The suffering that results from inadequate health care permeates all aspects of life for many members of our communities. An illness or injury can often spell financial ruin even for members of Nebraska's middle class. If Nebraskan constituents do not have reliable, affordable access to an effective health care system, the stability of our communities is at stake.

Interfaith Worker Justice of Nebraska calls for systemic change that is guided by the following principles based on our religious values. We support universal access to quality health care that:

• Provides comprehensive and affordable coverage for all

• Allows choice of providers and is independent of work status

• Eliminates health care disparities because everyone is entitled to high quality care

• Includes effective cost containment

• Simplifies and streamlines administration

• Eliminates current pre-existing condition exclusions from coverage

We turn to you, knowing you also share a deep faith tradition, to stand with us. As Governor, you left a lasting and important legacy of strong public insurance programs such as Kids Connections and CHIP, which provides insurance to thousands of Nebraskans who would otherwise join the uninsured. Now we turn to you again to leave another legacy, health care for all Nebraskans. We can fix the broken health care system, we can ensure your legacy in Nebraska is continued with your vote this year to pass health reform.

Thank you for your continued work to make health care a priority for the benefit of all Nebraskans and thank you for leaving a legacy of healthy Nebraskans.

Sincerely,

Rev. Jane Florence
First United Methodist Church of Omaha

Rev. Debra McKnight
First United Methodist Church of Omaha

Muhammed Sackor, Imam
Islamic Center of Omaha

Fr. Jack McCaslin, SJ
Omaha Archdiocese

Fr. Al Utzig
Holy Cross Catholic Church

Pastor Janet Goodman-Banks
Reachout Christian Center

Dr. Roger Bergman
Creighton Peace and Justice Department

Sisters of Mercy West Midwest
Community Leadership Team

Fr. Ken Vavrina
St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church

Rev. Kate Rhode
First Unitarian Church

Fr. Paul Coelho, SJ
Creighton University

Melanie Naughton
First Central Congregational Church

Rev. Dr. Damon D. Laaker
Grace Lutheran

Rev. Larry Moffet
First United Methodist Church, Lincoln

Fr. Bert Thelen, SJ
St. John Catholic Church

Rev. Fredrick McCullough
St. John African Episcopal Methodist

Rev. Portia A. Cavitt
Clair Memorial United Methodist Church

Rev. Brian Maas
First Lutheran Church of Lincoln

Rev. Chuck Bentjen
Justice and Advocacy Ministries (ELCA)

Rev. Donald Bredthauer
First United Methodist Church of Omaha

Rev. Karla Cooper
Quinn Chapel, Lincoln

Rev. Robyn Fickes
First Christian Church

Rev. Brenda B. Hector
Bethel A.M.E. Church

Ferhat Ozturk
Niagara Foundation

Rev. Dr. Percel Hector
Bethel A.M.E. Church

Rage Mohamed
Omaha Somali-American Community

Rev. David Lux
St. Paul United Methodist

Rabbi Ilan Emanuel
South Street Temple

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