Episcopal Church Rallies for Health Care Reform

Washington prayer vigil rallies Senate support for affordable health care reform

(From Episcopal Life On Line)

By Lynette Wilson, November 19, 2009

[Episcopal News Service] Shortly before Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held a press conference Nov. 19 to celebrate the long-awaited health reform legislation unveiled Nov. 18, pastors and lay leaders from states with senators whose votes are seen as crucial to the outcome of reform gathered outside the Capitol Building to pray for continued progress on legislation to extend affordable coverage to families.

"Today we mark another key moment in this historic debate for families," said Rev. Claudia Hollinger, a deacon at St. Jude's Episcopal Church and clergy leader with Flint Area Congregations Together in Flint, Michigan. "The legislation that Senator Reid announced would extend coverage to 31 million, ban insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and help small businesses deal with rising health care costs, all while reducing the deficit by $127 billion. The bill is not perfect and we still have work to do to make coverage affordable to all families, but it is an important step forward."

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