United Methodists in Ohio support health care for all.

All human beings have been created in the image of God and are called to the abundant life. In the biblical story of the woman with the hemorrhage, Jesus provides an example of his healing ministry that includes the spiritual as well as our physical status of the person.

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well (Matthew 9:20-22, RSV).

We believe that our mission as the church is to continue the redemptive ministry of Christ, including teaching, preaching, and healing. Christ's healing was not peripheral but central in his ministry. The church, therefore, understands itself as called by the Lord to the holistic ministry of healing: spiritual, mental and emotional, and physical.

As the hands and feet of Christ in the world, we can be a part of his healing ministry in many ways.

http://www.westohioumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=1944

Here is a Unitarian/Universalist statement on health care.

The first religious principle at stake is compassion. We must be a strong, persistent voice that reminds our nation and our leaders that compassion is central to all major faith traditions. We must insist that health care reform protects those without political clout: children, the poor, the disabled, the elderly. To stand on the side of love is to stand with those who are on the margins.

The second principle of our faith we must affirm today is our commitment to the democratic process. We are witnessing cynical demagoguery that plays on fear in order to defend privilege. There is no place for intimidation in our public discussion. Demagogues foment fear and panic that lead to violence. As religious people we must oppose intimidation.

True democracy can only exist where each voice is heard, where debate is open and civil, where people can disagree without being threatened. Good people can and do disagree about health care policy. However, we must all join together to demand open, respectful debate.

As religious people, let us insist on two things: We must create a health care system that protects the most vulnerable, and we must insist on a democratic process that is open to all.

http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/145341.shtml

The Episcopal Public Policy Network issued a Policy Alert July 29 asking Episcopalians to contact their elected officials and urge them to pass legislation that would provide affordable health care to all Americans.

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112949_ENG_HTM.htm

On June 26, 2009, the Twenty-Seventh UCC General Synod passed a resolution calling for advocacy in support for Health Care For All, as in H. R. 676.

H. R. 676 (Improved and Expanded Medicare for All) is a bill introduced by Congressman John Conyers of Michigan to create a single-payer, publicly financed, privately delivered universal health care system. Its goal is to cover all Americans without charging co-pays or deductibles and guarantees access to the highest quality and most affordable healthcare services regardless of employment, ability to pay or pre-existing health conditions.

While the United Church of Christ is now on record as in support of this plan, and while we believe that H. R. 676 is the plan that best embrace the moral and justice imperatives to transform our broken health care system, we recognize that lawmakers are considering other plans for implementation. Therefore, the United Church of Christ will affirm its support for the inclusion of a robust public health option that includes the following principles: 1) Universal – it covers all persons; 2) Is affordable for all; 3) provides comprehensive benefits; 4) offers a choice of physicians and other health providers; 5) eliminates racial, ethnic and all other disparities for health care; and 6) waives pre-existing health conditions and does not further impose financial barriers to health care.

The United Church of Christ goes on record now in advocating for and supporting legislation to be passed by the fall of 2009 by the 111th Congress and its signing by the President of the United States which meets the above principles.

http://www.ucc.org/justice/health/

The Catholic Church has issues about abortion, euthanasia and rationing of services and is less supportive of health care reform. But it is an exception among main stream churches. I could not find any statement by the Baptist congregations.

Health care is a religious and spiritual issue. Liberal congregations such as the Methodists, United Church of Christ and Unitarian/Universalists are leading the way. Why aren't we hearing about this in the news? Jesus healed and instructed his disciples to visit the sick. That is central to the Christian religion as well as to the Unitarian tradition.

It is interesting how the media reports on the crazy ideas of the right-wing, fundamentalist Christians but is silent with regard to expressions of social conscious by mainstream religious groups. Why is that?

the Baptist Hospital was for free for people of that faith, and the Methodist Hospital was, and the Catholic Hospital was, etc. Questions of insurance and money never entered my young mind. After all, Jesus healed people for free, didn't he? Now I'm not for totally free health care; people have to make a living. But I think many Christians need to examine their views on health care -- who gets it, who pays, and how much.

Those are the big questions. Should a very few people be siphoning off a pretty large portion of the dollar spent for health care for themselves. I have no problem with doctors' salaries or pay for nurses, technicians, even pharmaceuticals. I have big problems with the huge salaries for CEOs and the exorbitant sums spent on lobbying and advertising. It is especially troubling when you think that the president of the United States, with all his cares and responsibilities is not paid anything like the CEO of United Healthcare.

Who thinks otherwise has not understood Christianity. There are very few issues which are theologically as clear cut as this one.