Why Public Health Care is a Christian Duty

Loyola University is a Jesuit University, the order that produced Pope Francis.

https://www.onfaith.co/onfaith/2009/07/15/heal-the-sick-why-public-health-care-is-a-christian-duty/5040

By Aana Marie Vigen
Professor of Christian Social Ethics, Loyola University Chicago

Does expanding public health care equal “socialism?” Some say “yes,” but I say it is simply the Christian thing to do. Of course, it is not exclusively Christian–people of every (and no) faith tradition also see caring for the sick as essential to their religion/philosophy. I applaud secular ethical arguments in favor of public health care: it will benefit (not sink) the U.S. economically, socially, and politically, and it is part of our civic obligation.

But it is also a Christian obligation. I am a “cradle-to-grave” Lutheran. I teach bioethics at a Jesuit University, which provides excellent health care coverage. My spiritual and moral values are shaped by vibrant Christian worship, bible camps, and seminary. But I must have missed something because I can’t understand why Protestants and Catholics alike aren’t marching in the streets demanding comprehensive health care reform. Thousands denounced President Obama’s invitation to Notre Dame. Yet, I don’t perceive as many publicly supporting his efforts to extend care to every child, adult, and family.

I understand why Christians of good faith find themselves on both sides of abortion debates, but health care reform? That should be a no-brainer! If we are a people shaped by our respect for life and the dignity of the human person, how can we not be at the front lines of health care reform? Even more, why do many of us oppose a public option for health care?

The Gospels overflow with stories of Jesus caring for people in need–not only the fortunate few, but whole gatherings of people–hungry masses, gaggles of children, and scores of the infirm. In one instance, Jesus healed too many to count (Luke 4:40). If we take Jesus seriously, then our obligations to the naked, hungry, beaten, suffering, and vulnerable are hard to deny. This is not new or revolutionary–Christians have understood this duty for centuries; it’s why the first hospitals in the West were founded by religious communities and why so many doctors and nurses were also priests, monks, nuns, ministers, or lay members.

SNIP