We speak as faith community leaders who believe that the moral compass of our nation is moving in a troubling direction. The legislation introduced by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Congressional Republicans guts the Affordable Care Act and defunds Planned Parenthood and goes against the will and voice of the people. These attacks on basic health care for women and families punish the weak and vulnerable and at the same time reward the rich and powerful. This is contradictory to the teachings of all faiths. As clergy and lay leaders, we stand together and state loudly and clearly that we oppose these harmful attacks that would deny women, men and young people preventive care for their basic reproductive health needs. In our state alone, more than 100,000 patients would lose their ability to access a Planned Parenthood health center for such preventive care as birth control and cancer screenings. Hundreds of thousands more would lose basic health insurance now provided throug h the ACA under this new legislation being rushed through Congress without listening to the concerns of their constituents. Representatives Reichert, McMorris-Rogers and others in Congress should move away from this merciless plan and find a compassionate alternative that meets the needs of communities here in Washington and across the country.
Prayerfully submitted by these 75 Faith Leaders,
Rev. Vincent J. Lachina
Rev. Laura Shennum
Rev. Eric Kaminetzky
Rev. Emily Melcher
Rev. Jan Shannon
Laura E. Herman, Lay Leader
Rev. Bethany Hull Somers
Rev. Barbara Gilday
Rev. Cara Tanis
Rev. Dick Cathell
Rev. Lisa Cornwell
Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen
Rev. Kristen Kuempel
Rabbi Allison Flash
Andrea Asebedo
Rabbi David Lipper
Rev. Debra L. Conklin
Rev. Kathy Hartgraves
Rev. Heidi Fish
Rev. Silvana Korgsrud
Rev. Karen Kulm
Rev. Cecilia Kingman
Rev. Shelly Fayette
Rev. Matt Aspin
Rev. David Weasley
Rev. Barbara Davenport
Rabbi Zari Weiss
Rev. Tom Tucker
Rev. Beth Purdum Eden
Rev. Cody Natland
Rev. Tamalyn Kralman
Rev. Ken Jones
Rev. Dr. Dee Eisenhauer
Rev. Dr. Tammy Stampfli
Rev. Cheryl Rohret
Rev. Seth Novak
Rev. Robin Biffle
Rev. Becky Withington
Rev. Joy Haertig
Rev. William Graves
Rev. Carol McKinley
Bishop B. Kirby Unti
Rev. Terry B. Hall
Rabbi Aaron Meyer
Rev. Nancy Gowler Johnson
Rabbi Janine Schloss
Rev. Tim Devine
Rosemary Stevens, Lay Leader
Rev. Jon Luopa
Rev. Janet Matthews
Rev. Stephen Johnson
Rabbi Bruce Kadden
Rev. Phyllis Todd
Rev. Homer Todd
Rabbi Seth Goldstein
Miriam Kerzner, Lay Leader
Rev. Dr. Miriam Stewart
Rev. Steve Coleman
Rev. Paul Beckel
Rabbi Daniel Weiner
Rev. Sharon L. Moe
Rev. Gary Shoemaker
Rev. Denise Neuschwander
Cheryl Neihaus, Lay Leader
Michael Neihaus, Lay Leader
Rev. William Poores
Rev. Sandy Cheatham
Rev. Andrea CastroLang
Rev. Tor Kristian Berg
Rev. Tim Phillips
Rev. Jamie Kepros
Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown
Rev. Kate LePard
Rev. Cindy Salo
Rev. Elaine Peresluha
