This evening the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic Affordable Health Care for America Act.  I offer this podcast reflection on an evening when the House has taken a huge step forward in addressing one of America's most fundamental moral problems - the lack of health care for millions of our people.

 Download RevCCurrieAffordableHealhCareforAmericaAct

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Below the fold you can find a written transcript of my remarks:

Nearly every religious voice in America, besides those associated with the extreme religious right, has spoken out this year in favor of health care reform. The National of Council of Churches in Christ USA, with the support of Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews and Protestants from across the theological spectrum, recently released a statement arguing that health care reform is needed "so that all of our neighbors, especially the people living in poverty, children, and the aged, can be assured of the fullness of life that is central to the holy vision of a beloved and peaceable community.” 

Now the American people await action by the U.S. Senate. Hopefully, the version adopted by the House and the one under consideration by the Senate will eventually be merged into a bill the president can sign that more clearly respects the right of women to make their own decisions regarding care. 

47 million Americans go without health insurance every day and millions more have inadequate coverage. For far too long our nation has allowed this great moral crisis to go unanswered as people have suffered and even died. Today the government of the people of the United States, through a democratic process, have taken an extraordinary step forward to rectify this terrible oversight. 

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I have visited hospitals on a regular basis and talked with parishioners scared about how they will pay their medical bills. Some debate whether or not to seek treatment based simply on the cost alone. In my work with people experiencing homelessness, I’ve seen critically ill people released from hospitals and on to the streets when they truly needed care. I’ve worked with people suffering from serious mental health problems and addiction issues turned away from treatment because they lack insurance or the waiting lists are months long. 

We cannot allow this travesty to continue. It is time now for the debate that has lasted since the presidency of Teddy Roosevelt to end. Now is the moment to enact historic reforms that have been advocated by religious communities and progressive Republicans and Democrats alike to provide health care for all our people. This great cause has not come to a conclusion tonight but a giant step forward has been taken and in doing so we honor the best traditions of our nation and the call that Jesus made to his followers to care for the “least of these in society”.

Related Link:  Letter to President Obama On The Public Option

Who are the opponents of health care reform?  People like Andrew Beacham, who at a protest today said that reform would start a new "civil war" and called President Obama a "tyrant" at a protest led by Republican congressman. The New York Times reports: 

Mr. Beacham, his hair in a ponytail, said in an interview that he believed Mr. Obama was a fascist because, he asserted, the bill would force Americans to pay for abortions and for government-provided health care. Reminded that Americans have long contributed to and benefited from Medicare and Medicaid, Mr. Beacham replied, “I would favor getting rid of both of them, and Social Security, too. They’re all going broke anyway.” 

A freelance producer of film documentaries, Mr. Beacham said he did not have health insurance. “When I need health care, I pay for it out of pocket,” he said, adding that he did not fear the possibility that an accident or illness would leave him with unaffordable bills. “I’m a Christian, so I’m not afraid of death,” he said. 

The young man said he was one of about a dozen members of an anti-abortion group called Insurrecta Nex, which he described as a local chapter of followers of the militantly anti-abortion leader Randall Terry. 

Among the other protesters were followers of anti-government activist Lyndon LaRouche, who circulated a magazine with a retouched picture of Mr. Obama in a Hitler-like mustache on the cover, and members of the Tea Party Patriots, a recently formed group of opponents to the health care bill, some of them carrying bright yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flags.

Republican leaders sure are keeping odd company these days.

Bechman's views, however, are far outside mainstream Christian thought.

But at least the GOP is consistent.  They oppose health care today just liked they opposed Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  Imagine what America would be like today without these vital programs.  

Let me offer up again the reasons I shared with Portlanders about why so many in the faith community support health care reform from remarks I gave at a rally this September:

The audio podcast of my remarks can be downloaded here:

Download CCPDXHealthCareRally082909

(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once downloaded click on the file to listen).

Now On ITunes

You can now subscribe to my podcasts on ITunes by clicking here. 

The vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act is just hours away.  It isn't too late to call your members of Congress to tell them to support this historic legislation.  You can reach your member through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.  The vote will be close.

Open Letter from Religious Leaders to
Members of Congress Supporting
Inclusion of Abortion Services in Health Care Reform

Dear Members of Congress,

As religious leaders, we support public policies that are just and compassionate and prioritize the needs of those who are poor and marginalized in our society. Therefore we are opposed to attempts - many made in the name of religion and morality - to exclude abortion services from health care reform. While our reasons for supporting the inclusion of abortion services in health care are diverse, they are grounded in the teachings of our faith traditions and our commitment to social justice.

The majority of faith groups in America have affirmed that abortion is a decision of conscience that should be safeguarded by government. Further, these faith traditions affirm that health care services, including abortion, must be available to all, regardless of income. If coverage for abortion is eliminated from health care reform, the poor and communities of color will bear the consequences. Already, a low-income woman is four times as likely to have an unintended pregnancy and five times as likely to have an unintended birth as her higher income counterpart. Lack of access to abortion services perpetuates inequality and compromises the future of women, their families and their communities.

In this religiously pluralistic nation, our health care system should be inclusive and respectful of diverse religious beliefs and decisions regarding childbearing. One in three American women has an abortion by age 45, making it one of the most common medical procedures in the nation. Ignoring this truth belies the rhetoric of comprehensive, accessible health care.

A health care system that serves all persons with dignity and equality will include comprehensive reproductive health services. We call on Congress to preserve the current standard of reproductive health care and ensure that millions of uninsured and underinsured women will have access to these services. 
Thank you for your consideration.

Rev. Dr. Carlton W. Veazey [National Baptist Convention USA]
President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Washington DC

Jessica Abrahams
American Jewish Congress 
Chair
Commission on Women's Empowerment
New York NY

Louis Altman
President
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Northbrook IL

Katharine Archibald
Executive Director
American Ethical Union
New York, NY

Rev. Verne Arens*
Sr. Pastor, Little River United Church of Christ, 
Annandale VA

Rev. Darline Balm-Demmel
United Methodist Church
Cedar Falls IA

Rabbi Lia Bass
Congregation Etz Hayim
Arlington VA

Darcy Baxter
Seminarian, Unitarian Universalist
San Francisco CA

Rabbi Linda Bertenthal 
Managing Congregational Representative
Union for Reform Judaism
Encino CA

Colleen Bowers, RN 
PARO – Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options
Council of Governors, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Baltimore MD

Rev. Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock
Director
Faith Voices for the Common Good
Oakland CA

Rev. Sandra Brown
Lutheran Women's Caucus 
Philadelphia PA

Reverend Nikolaos G. Brown
Lead Pastor And Founder
Alpha & Omega Worship Center
South River NJ

Rev. Cynthia S. Bumb
Pastor
Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ
St. Louis MO

Linda Lu Burciaga
President
Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation
Boston MA

Rev. Cheryl L. Burke
Associate Conference Minister 
Michigan Conference
United Church of Christ
East Lansing MI

Rev. Steve Clapp [Church of the Brethren]
President
Christian Community, Inc.
Fort Wayne IN

Rev. Jim Conn, 
United Methodist Church, California-Pacific Conference
Pasadena CA

M. Bonnie Cousens
Executive Director
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Farmington Hills MI

Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
General Minister & President
Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA

Adeline deCastro
Co-Chair 
Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY

The Rev. Ann Van Dervoort
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Franklin TN

Rev.,Dr. John R. deVelder, D.Min.,
Director, Pastoral Care Department
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
New Brunswick NJ

Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus
President
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Homewood IL

Rev. Dr. Terence Ellen
Executive Director
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice of the 
Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia Region
Pikesville MD

Jan Eller
Administrator
Womaen's Caucus of the Church of the Brethren
Portland OR

Julie Erickson
Director of Public Policy
Presbytery of Baltimore
41 State Circle
Annapolis MD

Felicity Figueroa
Outreach Chair
Irvine United Congregational Church 
Irvine CA

Ann Goldman
Executive Director
Women's League for Conservative Judaism
New York NY

F. William Gray
Co-Chair 
Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY

The Reverend Debra W. Haffner
Executive Director
Religious Institute
Westport CT

Amy Harlib
Humanitarian Activist
New York NY

Martha Hatt
Congregational Elder 
Disciples of Christ 
Enid OK

Rev. Dr. David M. Hindman*
Director/Campus Minister 
Wesley Foundation at The College of William and Mary
Williamsburg VA

Mary E. Hunt, Ph.D.
Co-director
WATER - Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual 
Silver Spring MD

Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, BCC
Managing Editor, PlainViews, an e-newsletter
for chaplains and other spiritual care providers
New York NY

Rabbi Steven Jacobs
Founder, Progressive Faith Foundation
Board of Directors, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Los Angeles CA

Rabbi Miriam Jerris
Society for Humanistic Judaism
Farmington Hills MI

Harvey Joyner
Pastor
First Congregational Christian United Church of Christ
Chesterfield VA

Rev. Kathryn Johnson
Executive Director
Methodist Federation for Social Action 
Washington DC

Frances Kissling
Visiting scholar 
Center for Bioethics 
University of Pennsylvania
Washington DC

Carolyn Kunin
Director
Department on Programming and Advocacy
Women of Reform Judaism
New York NY

Rev. Peter Laarman
Executive Director
Progressive Christians Uniting
Los Angeles CA

Rev. Dr. Ken Brooker Langston
Director
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
Annapolis MD

Rev. Ann Larson
Pastor 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Essex Junction, VT

Deborah M. Lauter 
Director Civil Rights 
Anti-Defamation League
Washington DC

Rev. Dr. Bill Levering 
Senior Pastor
First Reformed Church
Schenectady NY

Rabbi David C. Levy* 
Temple Shalom
Succasunna NJ

Shelley Lindauer
Executive Director
Women of Reform Judaism
New York NY

H. Scott Matheney
Chaplain and Dean of Religious Life 
Elmhurst College 
Chicago IL

Rev. Timothy McDonald, III
First Iconium Baptist Church
Atlanta GA

Rev. Deborah Mero
Unitarian Universalist Minister
Co-Convener Religious Leadership Council
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
West Chester PA

Ms. Valerie A. Metzler
"Messenger" representative
Sunday School teacher and Choir member
28th Street Church of the Brethren 
Altoona PA

The Rev. Suzanne Meyer
Minister 
Unitarian Church 
Cheyenne WY

Rev Barbara Eaton Molfese
RCRC Religious Leadership Council
Lafayette CO

Rev. Peter Morales
President
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Boston MA

Rabbi Shoshana Nyer
Associate Rabbi/Educator
Temple B'nai Shalom
Woman's Rabbinic Network Representative to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Council of Governors
Fairfax Station VA,

Jon O'Brien
President
Catholics for Choice 
Washington DC

Rev. Aaron R. Payson
Unitarian Universalist Minister 
Board of Directors, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Worcester MA

Dr. Alton B. Pollard, III
Dean
Howard University School of Divinity*
Washington DC

Rev. Lois Powell
Justice & Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ
Cleveland OH

The Rev. Don Prange
St. James United Church of Christ
Lovettsville VA

Donna Quinn
Co-Director
National Coalition of American Nuns
Chicago, IL

The Very Reverend Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale
President and Dean 
Episcopal Divinity School 
Cambridge MA

Nancy Ratzan 
President
National Council of Jewish Women 
Miami FL

Jerri Rodewald 
Co-Chair 
Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Louisville, KY

Rev. Dr. Pete Sabey, MFT
Principal Therapist
Interfaith Counseling Service, Davis and Claremont
Claremont CA

Christine Sacino, Esq.
Catholic and Masters in Theological Studies student 
Jesuit School of Theology 
Berkeley CA

Rabbi Julie Schonfeld
Executive Vice President
The Rabbinical Assembly
New York NY

Rosanne M. Selfon
President
Women of Reform Judaism 
New York NY

David A. Smith
Professor of Sociology
University of California, Irvine
Irvine United Congregational Church
Chair, Advocates for Peace and Justice Ministry 
Irvine CA

Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ
Cleveland OH

Rev. Pamala Thomas
Reverend and Transpersonal Counselor - Gateway to Light
Santa Monica CA

Loribeth Weinstein
Executive Director
Jewish Women International 
Washington DC

Ms Tena Willemsma
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America 
Winchester VA

Mary Jo Wittry
President
American Ethical Union
New York, NY

Nancy Hunt Wirth 
President
Disciples for Choice
Tulsa OK

Rabbi Jeffrey A. Wohlberg
President
The Rabbinical Assembly
New York NY

Rabbi Shawn Zevit
Director of Outreach and Tikkun Olam
Congregational Consultant
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jenkintown PA

*for identification purposes only

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote this Saturday on the Affordable Health Care for America Act - our nation's first real chance to move toward universal health care.

But the outcome is uncertain.  Members of the House need to be contacted immediately. You can reach your member through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Opponents of refrom are calling on protestors to "scare" House members into voting against the legislation, according to Politico. 

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Related Link:  Letter to President Obama On The Public Option

This afternoon a tragic and horrifying act of violence occurred at Ft. Hood in Texas. Many are dead after an individual, apparently a soldier, opened fire at the base. Media reports state the suspect, also dead, is Major Malik Nadal Hasan. He has been described as a mental health professional. 

Already bigoted websites such as Jihad Watch are speculating, without evidence, that this was an act of religious terrorism. 

We have no idea why this happened and even if there were religious motivations involved you cannot legitimately indict an entire religion based on one or even a series of acts. 

The Christian faith is a peaceful faith and Jesus preached non-violence but for many centuries acts of violence have been carried out in religiously-inspired crusades in the name of Christ.  

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I can promise that history does not make the Christian faith a violent religion. Sadly, all religions have their extremist and fundamentalists elements. 

In any case, we should not speculate at such any early stage without solid information. 

Our prayers should be with all those at Ft. Hood with the full knowledge that Christians, Jews and Muslims serve our nation in the armed forces - at Ft. Hood and elsewhere - with dignity and honor.

Let us resolve in the midst of violence and fear to offer hope.  As Scripture tells us, blessed are the peacemakers.

Republicans had a good night in Virginia – where the Democratic candidate ran a weak campaign – and New Jersey, where they knocked off an incumbent closely tied with Wall Street. But thanks to Sarah Palin the Democrats have one victory to cheer about: New York’s 23rd Congressional district. 

This was a House seat that by all accounts should have been kept by the Republicans (the incumbent Republican resigned to become Army Secretary). It was what you call a safe seat. 

Local Republicans put up local moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava as their candidate. 

Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and other top-tier Republican leaders balked and threw their support behind Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, a man who didn't even live in the district. 

In turn, Scozzafava dropped out and endorsed Democrat Bill Owens, saying that he was closer to the moderate and independent nature of the district. 

Tonight Bill Owens stands as the congressman-elect from the NY 23rd. 

Scozzafava was a fiscal conservative but a social liberal. That’s the kind of Republican that generally win office in New York (see Giuliani, Rudy). But Palin and her crowd, including nearly all of the 2012 Republican presidential candidates who fell over themselves endorsing Hoffman after the former Alaska governor had given her blessing; seemed a lot less interested in winning than they did in having an ideologically pure candidate. 

The message to liberal and moderate Republicans: your party doesn’t want you anymore. 

Palin is simply the gift that keeps on giving.  Keep up the good work.  Tonight Nancy Pelosi has one more vote for health care to count on.

As noted in The Circuit Rider, the newsletter of Portland’s First United Methodist Church, Dr. William Connor passed away last Sunday after a battle with cancer. Oregon lost a giant that day. 

Many people will spend time between now and the memorial (which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14th at 2pm at FUMC) chronicling his successful and much honored medical carrier. His biography on the Oregon Health Sciences University website, where he long served as a Professor of Medicine, states: 

Dr. Connor`s special interest is in atherosclerosis, nutrition and lipid metabolism. He received his medical degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1950. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at San Joaquin General Hospital in Stockton, Ca., Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City, and at the University of Iowa. Dr. Connor completed his fellowships in Internal Medicine at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City, and in Pathology at Oxford University. (Photo credit: OHSU.) 

My experience with Bill Connor, however, was not in the medical world but through our shared faith. Bill and Sonja Connor, M.S., R.D., (Bill’s wife) were both members of First United Methodist Church during my tenure there as the director of community outreach. 

I had enormous interaction with both Sonja and Bill and grew over time to both respect and love them for their work, for the strong personal commitment they together made to building up the Kingdom of God, and for the ways they touched so many people through their professional lives. Liz and I were honored that it the midst of such busy lives Bill and Sonja were able to attend our wedding. 

Dr. Connor was a tireless advocate for social justice rooted in the Gospel teachings of Jesus. Together with Sonja (now the board chair of the Goose Hollow Family Shelter), he worked to alleviate homelessness and poverty by supporting both social service agencies and public policy proposals meant to help change the conditions that allow poverty and homelessness to grow in the first place. 

Bill and Sonja Connor were two of the strongest voices in favor of First United Methodist Church declaring itself to be a “Reconciling Congregation” – which means to become welcoming of gays and lesbians. When Basic Rights Oregon presented the congregation in 2000 with a “Profiles in Courage Award” for the church’s commitment to gay and lesbian equality it was Dr. Connor who went to the gala dinner to accept the recognition.

As the chair of the congregation's Church and Society Committee, Dr. Connor pushed First United Methodist Church to take early stands against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

With Oregon legend Mark O. Hatfield, Oregon’s one time governor and longtime Republican U.S. Senator, and former Republican Oregon Secretary of State Norma Paulus, Dr. Connor launched initiatives to rid Oregon of the death penalty. As a physician and as a Christian, Bill always fought hard against a legal punishment he saw as cruel and fraught with flaws. 

Bill showed a particular kindness in 2005 when I was diagnosed with a rare tumor. He took charge of my medical care, made the appointments I would need with specialists and the surgeon, and was there in the ICU when I woke up after surgery. Because of the team of medical professionals he surrounded me with my recovery was never in doubt. 

The twins and I were fortunate to see Bill just three weeks before he passed away. He was, as always, concerned more about the world than about himself. 

On this Sunday, All Saints Day, it is worth stopping to pause and remember all William Connor’s contributions. Please keep the family, friends, co-workers, and congregation he leaves behind in your prayers.

News Link: Doctor who changed how Americans understand the link of disease and diet dies

MoveOn.org sent me the following plea today: 

Rep. Alan Grayson has been a progressive champion and a leader in fighting for strong health care reform. Let's help him win re-election with a donation to his one-day fundraiser. Can you chip in $20? 

Not a chance. 

Congressman Grayson is a loud mouth whose harsh rhetoric fuels the natural distain so many Americans have for the political process. Good politicians are those who lift up a positive vision for the future. Bad politicians – no matter their political leanings – are those who seek simply to tear people down. 

Many have said that Alan Grayson is the Democratic answer to Joe Wilson, the S.C. Republican who yelled “You Lie!” at the president during his health care speech to Congress. Those folks are right. And America would be better off without people like Grayson and Wilson in Congress. 

Sorry, Moveon.org. You’re not getting any money from me.

Joe Lieberman has announced that he will not vote to stop the filibuster of any for a health care bill that contains the public option. He justifies this position by saying that a government-run health insurance option will cost taxpayers and increase the National Debt even though the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) forecasts $100 billion in savings thanks to the public option. He further claims that his position is what is best for his constituents, even though polling in Connecticut shows that among likely voters 68 percent favor a public option, while only 21 percent oppose it.

Now is the time for Senate Democratic leadership -- Senators Reid, Schumer, and Durbin -- to stop making excuses for Joe Lieberman. Harry Reid has shown great leadership in writing a health care bill that includes the public option. But Joe Lieberman is not "with us" on everything but the war. Joe Lieberman's position is against Senate Democrats, against his constituents in Connecticut and against the will of the American public.

Actions must have consequences. Any senator who filibusters the public option does not deserve a chairmanship and should be removed from his or her post.

Click here to sign the petition.

We stand closer to passing meaningful health care reform than at any other time in our nation's history.  Both the House and Senate are ready to vote on bills that - while not perfect - would represent real change.  Tens of millions of Americans would benefit and the accomplishment would stand alongside the great achievements of the New Deal and the Great Society.  

That's why today I wrote U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) to congratulate him on his role in moving this legislation forward.

Some progressives will find fault with the House and Senate versions of reform and will argue, for example, that we need a single payer system or nothing at all.  Truth be told, I wanted a single payer system myself (as President Obama had advocated for in the past) but the political reality is that the reforms backed by the president today stand the best chance of advancing the cause of universal health care and if we miss this chance it may be a generation or longer before we have another.  We cannot fail.

In the Christian tradition, we are called to heal the sick.  I urge all people of faith - regardless of politics - to join in common cause with people across America in the coming weeks and months to get the House and Senate bills passed so that sometime soon, perhaps even before Christmas, the president of the United States has a strong reform package on his desk that provides hope to millions of our brothers and sisters.   

Related Link:  Letter to President Obama On The Public Option