Illinois Faith Communities “Sound the Alarm” for Health Care Justice
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(From the Campaign For Better Health Care)
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 For a Just and Compassionate Health Care System For All, March 18-20
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Chicago, IL – Rallying around the theme “Inform, Implement, Improve,†hundreds of congregations and thousands of parishioners representing all faith traditions throughout Illinois will participate in the Campaign for Better Health Care’s 2011 Sound the Alarm program this weekend. They are celebrating next week’s anniversary of the passage of federal health care reform law, and drawing attention to the more than 1.8 million uninsured Illinoisans who are still at risk until those reforms are implemented.
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As part of the weekend events, more than 400 congregations statewide will pause during worship services to pray for those in their community who are suffering from the health care crisis and for the solid implementation of the recent federal health reform in Illinois; read scripture and liturgies related to healing and justice; hold discussion groups on the role of health care as the key to economic security and opportunity for all people; sign and send Celebration Postcards to encourage Illinois politicians to implement health care reform in Illnois in a just and compassionate manner; share personal health care stories; and ring a bell or sound a horn or Shofar 18 times during their service.
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Faith leaders representing participating congregations from all traditions include Rabbi Michael R. Zedek, Senior Rabbi of Emanuel Congregation of Chicago; Sh. Kifah A. Mustapha, Imam and the Associate Director of the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, IL, Chairman of the Illinois Council of Imams and Scholars (ICIS), and President for the Shura of Islamic Family Counselors of America (SIFCA); and Rev. Larry L. Greenfield, Chair of the Faith Caucus, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago, and Theologian-in-Residence/Editor at Protestants for the Common Good.Â
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Rev. Greenfield spoke of the economic impact of the health care crisis on members of his faith community. “Equal access to health care is not only a socio-economic issue, but also a moral issue whose impact is felt strongly within our communities and congregations. We recognize that implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Illinois is the opportunity to create a just & equitable health care system on both the state and national level, and the moral imperative of doing that. Together, we call upon our elected officials of Illinois to accept the moral imperative of providing health care security for all,†he said.
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“The recent legislation for health care reform is historic, but it is only a beginning,†said Rabbi Zedek. “The Campaign for Better Health Care’s Faith Caucus has led the effort for expanding health care for every person with health care needs. The poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the elderly suffer first, the longest, and the most intense in a health crisis. Sound the Alarm is a way for local faith communities to confront the injustices and inequalities in our health care system.â€
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Iman Mustapha added, “More and more, people are unable to afford necessary health care. They struggle to save their homes and to pay for food, and the stress of not having health care adds to their everyday burden. I look forward to seeing how health care reform will benefit those of our neighbors who are struggling right now. This national reform law is not perfect, but is a very strong first step. It sets a sturdy foundation from which we will move forward.â€
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Laura Leon, Faith Director for the Campaign for Better Health Care remarked, “People of faith are at the heart of our country’s health care past and present. Because we affirm that health and health care are integral to the wholeness of body and spirit, we will strive to emphasize the moral imperative of implementing the ACA so that this historic win works for all without cuts in benefits to those that need them most. Just as awareness of moral need stirred other great social movements – the end of slavery, protection of child and adult workers, and environmentalism – awareness of the moral need for health care reform can bring people together to begin the work for another social transformation. People of faith need to act on this moral imperative.†  She can be contacted for further information about Sound the Alarm or the Faith Caucus at (312) 913-9449 or lleon@cbhconline.org.
