Religious Divide Continues on Health Care Reform and Abortion Issues

By William Wan

As the health care reform debate rages on, the topic is proving to be a defining one in the realm of religious policy. Progressive evangelicals are pushing hard to support it as a social justice issue. The Christian right, which is in the process of finding its footing in the post-Obama election world, has come out in force, trying to define the health care bills as an abortion issue.

In the latest development, Family Research Council -- a Christian, conservative group -- says they're launching a new TV ad in five states: Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Alaska, Louisiana, and Nebraska. More in this press release. The ad, featuring two seniors at the kitchen table, makes ends with this allegation about what health care reform will do: "our greatest generation denied care, our future generation denied life."

Its an assertion that the religious supporting reform would argue with vigorously.
A few weeks ago as the health care debate was just heating up, Jim Wallis, one of the most prominent evangelicals on social justice issues, talked generally about TV ads that might soon come: "You're also going to hear us talk about the importance of truth-telling," he said. "Harry and Louise can't be allowed to screw this up. Let's have an honest and clear debate about what we're talking about and what we're not talking about. Lying is not allowed here. And there will be a lot of it." The famous "Harry and Louise" television ad is widely credited with helping kill a health overhaul in the early 1990s.

In the midst of this, USA Today published an interesting op-ed by a minister trying to look at scripture for guidance on the issue. The minister, Oliver Thomas, seems to land toward the progressive's side: "Perhaps the truest thing I can say about the God of the Bible is that he is for the poor. Not just a little. God appears to be for the poor in a way that he is for no other."

By William Wan  |  July 30, 2009; 8:33 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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