Health-care reform spurs 3 rallies

[Joanne98]

A coalition of area church leaders echoed a nationwide faith-based call Wednesday for government leaders to take care of the poor first as they go about reforming the country's health-care system.

Representatives from 17 different religious organizations in Utah joined 40 such groups around the country who are rallying and praying this week for justice and equal health care for all.

President Barack Obama and Congress could go a long way toward having the prayer answered by expanding qualifications for Medicaid, the joint state/federal insurance plan for the poor, to everyone under the federal poverty level regardless of age, ability or parental status, members of the Utah Coalition of Religious Communities said.

The coalition-led prayer was one of three rallies around health-care reform Wednesday. The other two are opposed to the proposed reforms, however, with one protesting ABC News for airing a prime time special with Obama. The president has warned changes are needed because the ripple effect of not reforming health care and the medical insurance industry will not only fuel the soaring cost of care but could bankrupt Medicaid and Medicare.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705312768,00.html

What happened to the "Christians"? I thought they hated the poor.