Word from Winkler — Now is the time

The following is the text of Jim Winkler’s comments during a press conference Dec. 15 at the U.S. Capitol. Other speakers were Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md.; Rabbi David Saperstein, director, Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism; and Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby.

Health care is a human right. It cannot and should not be denied in favor of profit. Luke 10:24-35, the parable of the Good Samaritan, portrays the provision of health care for all — without regard to status or ability to pay — as the duty of every neighbor and, thus, of every person.

Let’s be clear about what has taken place in recent months on Capitol Hill. Authentic health-care reform has been delayed by insurance companies seeking to protect vast profits and grotesquely inflated executive salaries.

Authentic health-care reform has been delayed by insurance companies.

Demagogues have frightened many U.S. citizens — including the so-called “teabaggers” who are demonstrating on Capitol Hill today — into believing their health care is at risk.

In a democracy, our duty to our neighbor merges with the duties that the Hebrew scriptures assign to government. The prophet Ezekiel denounced the leaders of ancient Israel whose failure of responsible government included failure to provide health care:

You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them (Ezekiel 34:4)

Our situation today is not unlike those faced by the prophet Ezekiel. And while I applaud the efforts of many members of Congress to correct the enormous failings of our health-care system, they risk facing the same prophetic judgments once visited upon the rulers of Israel.

Now is the moment of decision. Now is the time for moral courage in the face of money and power.

Now is the time for moral courage in the face of money and power.

Every day our pastors counsel people who lack health insurance and are in the midst of health crises. People are dying from lack of health-care coverage, are bankrupted by huge health-care bills, and are unable to afford coverage under private health-insurance plans. These people are our loved ones, our friends, our neighbors and our fellow human beings.

People of faith have established hospitals and medical clinics all over this land. We can and must do more, but it is our government that has the capability to provide health care for all. Doing so will extend health care to many who currently have no access. Doing so without the wastefulness of the current system will represent far better stewardship of resources.

Let us admit that in this debate faith leaders of various stripes have placed their ideological and financial agendas ahead of the needs of the American people. These faith leaders have attempted to roll back the rights of women to determine their own reproductive health. This is not acceptable.

We have been engaged in this national debate for many months. One disappointment has followed another.

In the quest for passage of final legislation, our elected leaders must not sell out the American people. Everyone should have health care.