Ed Keener: People of all faiths should believe in health care for everyone

July 2008 marks a nationwide call for Health Care for America NOW! by a remarkable coalition of advocates.

The faith community and people of goodwill, labor, everyday working folks, the American public, health care professionals, the groups and individuals who make up Idaho Community Action Network, the Interfaith Alliance, and United Vision for Idaho widely announce a nationwide movement to make important changes in our health care coverage system - namely guaranteeing health care coverage for all; making health care coverage affordable to people and to businesses; being sure benefits are good; meeting your health needs; building on what works well in the current system.

Among the highest callings that we have as human beings is to care for, intervene on behalf of, make room for and invite in strangers, widows, orphans, those with few resources, and those in need of shelter, food and health care. For those of us who practice a faith, we must know deep in our souls that our creator is not pleased with our systems of inequality and inadequacy in health services.

For people of goodwill, it must be painfully obvious our current health care systems are failing millions of children, women and men. People of faith surely understand that our creator is not pleased that many in our society have more than enough health care options while even a greater number have none. Our creator is not pleased with our health-depriving systems which leave out millions of folks with chronic illness, who suffer early death, whose only health care happens in an hospital emergency room. This has become a test of our true faith in the holy provider and in our moral values. Will we as people of faith and of goodwill create health care for each and every person now? Will we together rise to the need that is before us and to the aid of our vulnerable sisters, brothers, daughters, sons and grandparents? Their health care needs will not wait another generation to solve.

Quality, affordable health care for all, especially vulnerable ones, should be a pledge Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, spiritualists and believers in a higher power can embrace, endorse and work for. We who are campaigning for affordable health care for all ask, "Which side are you on, people of faith and goodwill? Which side are you on, large and small businesses in the Treasure Valley? Which side are you on, everyday working folk? Which side are you on, health care professionals? Which side are you on, health insurance industry? Which side are you on, state and local legislators, Mr. Governor, and community movers and shakers?"

Let us come together in this high calling of providing health care for each and every human being in our country, especially our most vulnerable, fragile ones. We can make health care affordable, provide needed coverage and put the health of people before profits. In our past, when coming together as a nation, we have made remarkable achievements. Providing affordable health care for all is our challenge now. Coming together we can say, "We are on the side of health care for Americans NOW!"

For more information, visit healthcareforamericanow.org.

Ed Keener is board president of the Interfaith Alliance and board president of Interfaith Sanctuary Homeless Services.