WASHINGTON — As Congress debates health care reform, the issue is prominent with the Franciscan Action Network (FAN).
On Sept. 23, FAN will hold a panel discussion on the Web from 8 to 9 p.m. The “Where We Are and Where We’re Going” discussion is cosponsored by the Catholic Health Association of the United States and promises to address the content of proposed legislation and health issues from a moral perspective, and to develop a strategy to bring about reform.
The September issue of FAN’s e-letter reported, “Health care reform is one of the most critical issues on the Congressional agenda at the present time, and passage of effective reform will be a landmark legislation.”
Participants can register for the Web debate online.
In addition, FAN has issued a Health Care Reform Policy Statement and posted it on its Web site. The statement explains the necessity of health care reform. It also says FAN recognizes that the common good is well served to the degree that policy positively impacts those who struggle and are poor. It also discusses a stewardship of health.
Care for Creation Web Summit
On Oct. 15, FAN will host a Care for Creation National Web Summit from 8 to 10 p.m. Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, a Franciscan scholar; Riobart Breen, SFO, Franciscan scholar and political scientist; Dan Misleh, director of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change; and Russell Testa, FAN’s executive director, will participate in the discussion.
Included will be prayer, a reflection on the Franciscan ecological message for our times, information on how to reduce one’s ecological footprint, updates on climate change legislation and other opportunities to deepen one’s formation in the Franciscan ecological tradition.
An itinerary and information on how to participate are available on FAN’s Web site.
Save the Dates
Several justice and peace events for 2010 have been announced by Testa, HNP’s director of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation.
The Ecumenical Advocacy Days are scheduled next year for March 19 to 22. The theme, “A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees and Displaced Peoples,” will focus on the need for U.S. policies that adequately address the issues of immigration, migration, refugees and internally displaced persons.
The Province’s JPIC Local Contacts Retreat will take place May 21 to 23 at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, N.C. Testa said he encourages each HNP ministry to send a representative to this annual event.
— Wendy Healy, a Connecticut-based freelance writer, contributes frequently to HNP Today.