From the Panel
Does Theology Belong In Health-Care Debate?
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Below is an excerpt from "On Faith," an Internet feature sponsored by The Washington Post and Newsweek. Each week, more than 50 figures from the world of faith engage in a conversation about an aspect of religion.
This week's question: Health-care reform is an economic, political and medical issue. But On Faith panelist and evangelical leader Jim Wallis says it's also a "deeply theological issue, a biblical issue and a moral issue." Do you agree? Why or why not?
The debate about health care is already contentious enough without bringing God into it, at least the way we usually do so. I mean, we have people calling each other Nazis and Brownshirts because they happen to disagree with each other about this issue. Do we really need to invoke God, whose name when invoked in public policy debate, generally adds more heat than light to any issue? . . .
As a Jew, rooted in a system which is far more concerned with obligations than it is with rights, but always aware of both, I want to see a real conversation about the balance between health care as a human right and the obligations that should be born by all people who get that care. In Judaism, even those things which we consider God-given rights are accompanied by real obligations.
-- Brad Hirschfield, rabbi and president, National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership
Jesus didn't go around telling people that healing the sick was a moral or theological issue; he treated all people who were sick and expected his followers to do likewise. That's what all decent people need to do right now -- make sure everybody gets health care. . . .
I cannot speak for the other religious leaders who are organizing for real health-care reform, but I can speak for myself. I am tired of the lies. I'm tired of the fear-mongering. Enough of this.
As a Christian, I believe the biblical truth of the matter is that if you don't take care of the sick and the poor, you are rejecting Jesus himself. "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you? Then he will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." (Matt 25:44-45)
-- Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, professor, Chicago Theological Seminary
