02-25-2008, 06:07 AM
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Today's sermon: Back Rendell on insurance
Today's sermon: Back Rendell on insurance
Quote:
This Sunday, thousands of Pennsylvania churchgoers will look up from their pews to hear pastors talk about social justice, helping the poor -- and Gov. Ed Rendell's health care plan.
While the first two topics are the stuff Sunday sermons are often made of, the sticking points of specific political proposals are usually left to the aisles of Harrisburg rather than those found under bells and steeples.
But with the governor's proposal struggling to make it to a floor vote, supporters organized by Rendell's former campaign spokesman are looking to the pulpit for help. Their hope is that pastors, who are often community leaders, will motivate their congregations to write and call lawmakers in support of Rendell's plan to insure all Pennsylvanians.
Critics say health insurance isn't a moral issue and caution that churches need to be careful not to cross the line between church and state. But supporters and the American Civil Liberties Union say faith leaders have a right to voice their opinions.
...Devlin is asking faith leaders to preach sermons in support of Rendell's insurance plan. He's sent ministers copies of bulletin inserts that read like advertisements for Rendell's plan.
''Let justice roll down,'' the bulletin inserts say, quoting Amos 5:24. ''Now is the time. Pennsylvania is the place. Shouldn't working families have access to the care they deserve? Gov. Rendell thinks so, but he needs your support.''
The inserts go on to urge parishioners to call their lawmakers and visit the Web site for Pennsylvanians United for Affordable Healthcare.
''We as faith leaders, regardless of our denomination, see health insurance for the working poor as a social justice issue. We want to be a voice to our communities, to our elected officials,'' Devlin said.
The Rev. William Lentz of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bethlehem is among those who will be preaching on the issue, although he won't give the sermon until May.
''The ministry of hospitality in the New Testament points directly to caring for the impoverished,'' Lentz said, adding he thinks the issue is important for churches to address.
Devlin said he's simply asking church leaders to educate their congregations. ''We don't want pastors to become lobbyists…but this is an urgent public issue,'' he said.
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Damn those religious right and their attempts to...
What's that?...They're backing Rendell, whose a Democrat...and Jewish?
Nevermind...It's all good NOW... 
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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd
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