People of faith and other supporters came together outside the Supreme Court on Monday for a time of song and testimony in defense of the Affordable Care Act. On Monday the Court began hearing three days of arguments on the constitutionality of the law passed in 2010, which ensures all Americans have access to affordable health care.
The gathering serves as a statement of solidarity among the faithful progressive community in response to the religious rhetoric often employed by opponents of affordable health care. Leaders from Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish traditions spoke to the scriptural mandates of taking care of the less fortunate.
“Quite simply, we believe the Supreme Court and the decision it makes is a reflection of the moral and ethical character of our people,” says James Winkler, general secretary of the General Board of the Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. “Providing comprehensive health insurance reform ensures every single person in the United States has access to needed care without regard in their ability to pay. To do otherwise is to elevate private insurance interests above the need of human beings.”
The debate over the Affordable Care Act’s constitutionality falls at the intersection of two hot-button issues in the 2012 election cycle: religious liberty and the economy.
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via Faith Leaders Rally Around Affordable Care Act as a Step in the Right Direction.