Health Care Reform Dissected for
Multifaith Religious Leaders

“Health care reform is between a rock and a hard place. The current system is ineffective, frustrating, not inclusive, and too expensive. But as a nation we seem to lack the moral vision and political will to change it.”

That was how HealthCare Chaplaincy President and CEO the Rev. Dr. Walter J. Smith, S.J. described the state of the nation’s health care to a recent gathering of New York City religious leaders at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. The program was presented by A Partnership of Faith in New York City, and attended by multifaith congregational leaders.

Why do we resist changing health care? Father Smith says, “The conservative stance is that individuals are better off working out their own health care coverage and costs. The liberal stance is that the federal government needs to assert itself and both organize and oversee health care. Neither offers a complete answer.”

Father Smith noted among the issues influencing the debate are two realities: “Americans are deeply cynical about the Government’s ability to do anything right. Also, health care is our nation’s largest industry, accounting for 14 million jobs, and it’s going to get bigger.”

Is health care reform necessary? Will it make a difference? “Yes to both questions,” says Father Smith: “The system is costly, redundant, and full of fraud, waste and abuse. An estimated 45.7 million Americans still don’t have access to it. If properly reformed, all of us will have the quality health care we need and deserve and will be able to pay for it.”

From a faith perspective, Father Smith spoke of health care reform from within its ethical and religious imperative. He says, “Values like the common good, compassion, shared responsibility, advocacy for the vulnerable, and a more careful stewardship of our abundant health resources must remain the driving motive of our national resolve to insure quality and affordable care for all Americans.”

The Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church and President of the Healing of the Nations Foundation was one of the attendees at this Partnership of Faith gathering. He remarked, “I now see things so much more clearly on this issue thanks to Father Smith’s in-depth review. It has helped me formulate better how I think about it in moral terms. As the talk progressed I kept seeing bits of light breaking through the darkness and brightly illumining the whole landscape. What a priceless gift.”

Father Smith provided each of the attendees with a compiled document of relevant issues and perspectives – Health Care Reform: A Compendium of Key Issues for Religious Leaders. Dr. Forbes recommended that HealthCare Chaplaincy consider sharing this comprehensive resource more widely. You can find it through our website here.

“Do you know Sister Elaine?”

That’s the question people often ask when a HealthCare Chaplaincy staff member mentions where they work. It happened in conversation while on jury duty.

It happened the other day at a congregants meeting at a Manhattan synagogue.

This is not surprising since Sister Elaine Goodell, P.B.V.M, staff chaplain at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, has counseled thousands of people during her 24 year career there.

Sister Elaine is one of the twelve patient care honorees that our partner institutions have selected to recognize for their selfless service at the 2009 Wholeness of Life Awards Dinner on Tuesday, November 10th at Cipriani 42nd Street.

The Wholeness of Life Awards Dinner is an annual gathering of friends of HealthCare Chaplaincy. The purpose of the dinner is to recognize and celebrate the dedication and accomplishments of those who embody the Chaplaincy's pledge to care for the whole person—spirit, mind, and body. The Dinner will also celebrate the Lifetime Achievements of HealthCare Chaplaincy trustees Kathleen M. Foley, M.D. and David B. Case, M.D. as well as Jean B. Case, M.D., David’s wife and partner in medicine. Each is especially deserving of this award.

HealthCare Chaplaincy President and CEO, The Rev. Dr. Walter J. Smith, S.J. will be accepting the Wholeness of Life Award on behalf of HealthCare Chaplaincy and its chaplains and staff, in recognition of service to patients, academic and research contributions to spiritual care, and leadership in the field of professional chaplaincy. Please join us on November 10th. For more information regarding the Wholeness of Life Awards Dinner, please contact Kirsten Kupferschmidt at 212.644.1111, ext. 135 or kkupferschmidt@healthcarechaplaincy.org