Clergy Delegation Meets with Senator Nelson on Health Care Reform

At a critical moment in the health care debate during the August recess Interfaith Worker Justice had two appointments with Senator Nelson's Office. Change that Works Nebraska helped coordinate and set up the meetings. In Lincoln, IWJ helped organize a delegation of eight faith leaders on August 18th including clergy from the traditions of Methodism, Lutheran, Reform Judaism and the local Reachout Christian Center. We spoke with Senator Nelson’s key health advisor Joe Britton.

On August 21,, a group of 22 interfaith clergy from Lincoln and Omaha had a meeting with Senator Nelson in person to talk about the moral imperative and ethical responsibility of creating health care reform now, to ensure that the marginalized can also receive care. Many clergy pushed for the public option as the most viable form to reign in large insurance companies.

In both delegations the clergy articulated their message clearly grounding their concern in moral, ethical and theological understanding to promote justice for the least, greater access for the uninsured, regulation of insurance company prices and the importance of the public option.