Abortion, the Church and Health Care Reform
As Congress debates health care reform the most divisive issue is not the public option or a single payer style health care system. Unfortunately, abortion has become the defining issue.
People of faith are as divided as the [...]
I wanted to make you aware of this health care vigil set to occur in downtown Portland this coming Tuesday at 5:30 pm. As you know, the Senate is debating health care reform right now. Please pass this information around to your friends, family, congregation members, and contacts. I've been' [...]
Tonight President Obama out lined his plans to send an additional 30,000 troops to stop the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. He also stated his desire to remove all U.S. forces starting in mid-2011. As the president noted in his address to the nation from West Point, [...]
Mega-church pastor Rick Warren said recently that abortion was a “holocaust” that needed to be ended. But at the same time he’s remaining largely silent as a former protégé seeks to enact a law in Uganda that would impose the death penalty against gays and lesbians.
Let Pastor Rick know before [...]
Today Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman reinstated Officer Chris Humphreys of the Portland Police Bureau to active duty after first suspending him pending an investigation into excessive use of force.
The decision only serves to underscore this simple truth: the Portland Police Bureau is not under the control of the [...]
"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too" [...]
Anna Griffin gets it right in The Oregonian:
A bit of friendly advice to the fine men and women of the Portland Police Bureau:U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy announced this weekend that he had been barred from communion by Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin because of the congressman's position on abortion.
Communion shouldn't be used as a political weapon. It's God's table. All are welcome.But Bishop Tobin's actions' [...]
Steve Duin outlines the litany of recent complaints about the Portland Police Bureau in an article for The Oregonian:
In the brutal chain of personalities and events that have licensed Portland police to turn a beanbag shotgun on a 12-year-old girl, the aloof commissioner, absentee mayor and anything-goes police chief aren't' [...]Today the Portland Police Bureau announced that Officer Christopher Humphreys had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into an incident this weekend – caught on video tape – that showed Humphreys’ shooting a 12-year old girl with a bean bag gun at a MAX stop. The girl [...]
The Senate may vote as soon as Saturday on health care reform. The New York Times reports:
WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in the Senate on Wednesday unveiled their proposal for overhauling the health care system, outlining legislation that they said would cover most of the uninsured while reducing the [...]
Someone needs to explain why CafePress.com allows death threats against the president of the United States to be sold on their website. Or why in the world this website - run by the folks selling products that clearly call for the death of the president - is allowed [...]
Religious leaders are praying that Joe Lieberman's heart softens. The LA Times reports:
...an interfaith group of clergy is lobbying him to drop his plans to filibuster any healthcare bill that contains a public option. Their strategy: prayers.During a Sunday night vigil, a crowd walked from Stamford High School, Lieberman's alma [...]
Visit the new Yes on Measures 66 & 67 website at [www.voteyesfororegon.org] .
[...]My grandfather Rock Bright with his dog "Mac." Today Rock was honored during a program at his nursing home for his service in the Navy during WWII. He helped to build ships. My mother and I are in South Carolina with him this week.
Happy Veteran's Day to all.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, suggested today in an op-ed on Politico.com that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops should lose their tax exempt status because of their advocacy for the Stupak amendment, which was added to the Affordable Health Care for [...]
This evening the U.S. House of Representatives passed the historic Affordable Health Care for America Act. I offer this podcast reflection on an evening when the House has taken a huge step forward in addressing one of America's most fundamental moral problems - the lack of' [...]
Who are the opponents of health care reform? People like Andrew Beacham, who at a protest today said that reform would start a new "civil war" and called President Obama a "tyrant" at a protest led by Republican congressman. The New York Times reports:
Mr. Beacham, his hair in a [...]
As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I support this important letter to Congress.
Open Letter from Religious Leaders to
Members of Congress Supporting
Inclusion of Abortion Services in Health Care Reform
Dear Members of Congress,
As religious leaders, we support public policies that are just and compassionate and prioritize the needs of [...]
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote this Saturday on the Affordable Health Care for America Act - our nation's first real chance to move toward universal health care.
But the outcome is uncertain. Members of the House need to be contacted immediately. You can reach your member' [...]
This afternoon a tragic and horrifying act of violence occurred at Ft. Hood in Texas. Many are dead after an individual, apparently a soldier, opened fire at the base. Media reports state the suspect, also dead, is Major Malik Nadal Hasan. He has been described as a mental health [...]
Republicans had a good night in Virginia – where the Democratic candidate ran a weak campaign – and New Jersey, where they knocked off an incumbent closely tied with Wall Street. But thanks to Sarah Palin the Democrats have one victory to cheer about: New York’s 23rd Congressional district.
This was [...]
As noted in The Circuit Rider, the newsletter of Portland’s First United Methodist Church, Dr. William Connor passed away last Sunday after a battle with cancer. Oregon lost a giant that day.
Many people will spend time between now and the memorial (which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14th at [...]
MoveOn.org sent me the following plea today:
Rep. Alan Grayson has been a progressive champion and a leader in fighting for strong health care reform. Let's help him win re-election with a donation to his one-day fundraiser. Can you chip in $20?
Not a chance.
Congressman Grayson is a loud mouth whose' [...]
Joe Lieberman has announced that he will not vote to stop the filibuster of any for a health care bill that contains the public option. He justifies this position by saying that a government-run health insurance option will cost taxpayers and increase the National Debt even though the Congressional Budget [...]
We stand closer to passing meaningful health care reform than at any other time in our nation's history. Both the House and Senate are ready to vote on bills that - while not perfect - would represent real change. Tens of millions of Americans would benefit and the accomplishment would' [...]
We're pretty much ready for the hoards of child who will soon descend on our house. Frances and Katherine got their costumes back in the summer. They've been ready for months.
The Yes on 66 and 67 message on Liz's' [...]
The White House announced today that first daughters Sasha and Malia Obama have been given the H1N1 vaccine. Our daughters, Frances and Katherine, have been given the vaccine as well. In this pandemic - that is targeting children, the young and those with serious health problems - it is [...]
It isn’t every day you get mentioned in a book (at least not for me) but the pages of Bill Donahue’s “Secular Sabotage: How Liberals Are Destroying Religion and Culture in America” is the last place I wanted my name published.
Donahue is the president of the Catholic League, a [...]
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made it official today and announced that he would move a health care reform bill to the senate floor that includes a public option - with an opt-out for those states that decide through a legislative process that they wish not to participate. [...]
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears to be moving toward including a public option as part of the senate's health care reform package. The New York Times reports:
After more than a week of deliberations, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, is leaning toward including a government-run insurance plan' [...]With poll numbers showing strong support for a public option in health care reform the Speaker of the U.S. House seems to be holding firm in her support. Politico reports:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to be moving forward with the more liberal version of House health care [...]
A new book from Transition Projects here in Portland:
This book confronts homelessness by asking formerly homeless persons a simple question: Where did you sleep? Although we should not have been surprised, we found the replies alarming, jarring and discomforting.
In the spring of 2007, we asked [...]
Support for a public option as part of national health care reform is growing, according to a new poll:
As Democratic congressional leaders and White House officials work to shape health care bills that will go to the House and Senate floors, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that [...]
Our friend The Rev. Meredith Anderson is in Portland this weekend with her soon-to-be husband Mike. Here's a picture of them with Frances and Katherine. They're in Oregon for a wedding and stayed with us a couple of days. Meredith and I attended [...]
Oregon's Earl Blumenauer is profiled today in The New York Times:
WASHINGTON — Representative Earl Blumenauer should be experiencing the most fulfilling days of his more than 35 years in public service.
The liberal Democrat from Portland, Ore. — known for his bowties, his Trek bicycle and a pragmatic brand of progressivism' [...]
Bigitory and hate have a name (s):
Reps. John Shadegg (Ariz.), Paul Broun (Ga.), Trent Franks (Ariz.) and Sue Myrick (N.C.)Politico has the story:
In an unusual announcement this morning, four conservative Republicans — Reps. John Shadegg (Ariz.), Paul Broun (Ga.), Trent Franks (Ariz.) and Sue Myrick [...]What's the matter with Congressional Republicans?
For that matter, what's the matter with Mary Landrieu?
Why is Max Baucus putting the needs of insurance companies before the needs of the American people?
It's time to adopt the president's call for health insurance that covers all our people. No one should be left behind. America [...]
(CNN) -- President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
The first African-American to win the White House, Obama was praised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent" [...]
For more information on this issue visit the Brady Campaign to Reduce Gun Violence.
Related Post: God, Guns & American Violence: [...]
Encouaging news from The LA Times:
Despite months of outward ambivalence about creating a government health insurance plan, the Obama White House has launched a behind-the-scenes campaign to get divided Senate Democrats to take up some version of the idea for a final vote in the coming weeks.
President Obama has [...]
The recall effort to oust Portland Mayor Sam Adams has failed but organizers, like a bad movie sequel, are promising another effort – this time backed by big money and paid signature gatherings. There’s always been more bravado from the Recall Sam Adams organizers than accomplishments but it’s time [...]
If you're concerned about gun violence in America this news from The Washington Post will lift your spirits:
A new report from a national coalition of mayors urges President Obama to adopt dozens of reforms to help curb gun violence, including steps to crack down on problems at gun shows' [...]The votes today by the Senate Finance Committee to reject a public option as part of health care reform go against public opinion and against the best interests of Americans. 47 million of our fellow citizens go without health insurance and millions more have inadequate coverage. The Baucus proposal [...]
The Senate Finance Commitee is set to vote on the public option tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 28th). This will be a critical vote and all the committee members need to be contacted now. Members include:
MAX BAUCUS, MTStatement by The Rev. Chuck Currie On Oregon Report Showing 18,000 Homeless Kids In Public Schools
Today the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced that “Oregon’s homeless student population for the 2008-09 school year was 18,059, an increase of nearly 14 percent from last school year.” The increase represents a moral failing [...]
This evening we took our trusty dog Hazel to our neighborhood park for the Summer's End Dog Fest.
Here's the scoop on the event from Film Action Oregon, the primary sponsor:
The goal of the first annual Summer's End Dog Fest is to bring together Portland's dog lovers and [...]
Today was my final Sunday as the interim minister at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ. Our Scripture reading during worship was Luke 4:16-19. My sermon, which you can download the podcast of below, dealt with how our denomination might live out the ministry [...]
Wack job conservatives - led by FOX News' Glenn Beck and a Republican-run PAC - are rallying on the National Mall today to protest, well, everything. They're armed with Confederate flags and this sign:
Are hate and fear all the Republicans have left to offer America?
[...]Tonight the president made a spirited argument before Congress on the need for health care reform. Perhaps his best and most important line in the speech came near the middle:
...I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can’t find affordable coverage, we will provide you with [...]
Our family is in Palo Alto this week for the memorial service for Carolyn Smith, Liz's step mother, the twin's grandmother, and my mother-in-law. Carolyn passed away on Saturday morning. Here's the obituary that ran today in The San Francisco Chronicle:
CAROLYN OLEMAN SMITH Carolyn Oleman Smith, musician, attorney,' [...]
The president of the United States of America is going to talk with students this week in a special address. Our nation’s fringe lunatic right-wing is fighting mad and charging the address is part of some massive socialist plot on the part of the White House. They should [...]
Portlanders packed downtown's Terry Schrunk Plaza this morning for the "Health Care Can't Wait!" rally.
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger spoke first and then introduced the rest of the speakers - which included nurses, business owners and labor leaders.
It was a great [...]
This Saturday – August 29th from 10 am until 11 am – there will be a major health care rally in downtown Portland. As you know, Congress will return soon from their August recess to consider health care reform. Opponents of reform have been well [...]
Catch me tonight on KOIN ([www.koinlocal6.com]) and KPTV ([www.kptv.com]) talking about Senator Kennedy’s passing.
You can also listen to my interview this moring with KINK here:
Download KINKInterviewReSenKennedy
(click with the RIGHT mouse button on the hyperlink and choose “Save Target As” and save to your desktop or other folder – once [...]
Senator Edward Kennedy was a champion of the poorest Americans – fighting for stronger schools, universal health care, and affordable housing. His death leaves a great void in American politics. Few have used their power to work for the “least of these” as he did. His faith clearly was [...]
Catch me tonight on [www.blogtalkradio.com] talking about health care and faith. 8 pm Pacific.
Update: You can now download the show or listen to it on demand at:
[...]Update: It was annouced this morning (August 26, 2009) that Senator Kennedy died. A terrible loss for the nation. My prayers are with his family. Senator Kennedy was a gift to America.
On the most important moral issues of our time – Vietnam and Iraq, health care, public [...]
Where does President Obama stand now on including a public option as part of health care reform? It's unclear. CNN has the latest:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House sought to reassure jittery supporters Monday that President Obama is not abandoning the fight for a public health insurance option.
The assurance' [...]
The debate over health care reform continues to rage. 47 million Americans have no health insurance and millions more have inadequate coverage. Before Congress now are proposals that would extend coverage - letting people keep their own doctors and insurance plan - but also creating a much needed public [...]
Today the United States Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor to a seat on the United States Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor, nominated by President Obama, was one of the most qualified people to be nominated to the nation's highest court in the last one hundred years. Her nomination' [...]
The tragic mass shooting in Pittsburgh last night further illustrates the need for gun control in the United States. Allegheny Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt said in a press conference today that the bullets clips which held 30 bullets purchased by George Sodini to use in his semi-automatic weapons [...]
From Politico.com:
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) knows his bikes and bow ties. He co-chairs the Bike Caucus, which now has an impressive 160 members, and as a die-hard bow-tie wearer, he recently told Newsweek’s George Will via Twitter: “Bring your bow tie, your neckwear choice may be one area we may [...]
Frances (far left) and Katherine (far right) joined Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski as he signed a bill this morning expanding health care to 80,000 children. Children First for Oregon notes that the legislation signed today will "provide health care coverage to 95 percent of" [...]
On Facebook? Join the new group:
Religious Voices For A Strong Public Option In Health Care Reform
[...]The president announced today the winners of the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor. Among those named was The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a true prophet who has never shied away from speaking truth to power. From the White House news release:
Reverend Lowery has been a leader in the' [...]
57 progressive House members stood up today against the Blue Dog attempt to weaken a public option in health care reform. President Obama, however, praised the agreement between the Blue Dogs and the Speaker that would undermine the president's stated goal of universal coverage.
Here is what members of the
On Twitter at [twitter.com] .
On Facebook at [www.facebook.com] .
Linked at [www.linkedin.com] .
On MyUCC at [community.ucc.org] .
Church life at [www.parkroseucc.org] .
And the one place you'll find links to at all: On the web at [www.chuckcurrie.com] .
' [...]U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership have reached a compromise with conservative Blue Dog democrats over health care that would "significantly weaken the public option favored by liberals by delinking reimbursement rates to Medicare," according to Politico.com and CNN.
Translation: Democrats are once again failing to govern [...]
For the people of Parkrose Community United Church of Christ the theme of “change” has become a constant companion. The neighborhood around the church, built in 1913, is changing rapidly. Like all mainline churches, there are historic changes faced by the congregation as we now live in a truly [...]
Health care reform is needed now.
Statement from Religious Leaders On Health Care Reform
A MATTER OF HEALTH...A MATTER OF WHOLENESS
Today health care reform has become an urgent priority, with many Americans fearful about the health care they now hold and more than 45 million lacking coverage altogether. Rising unemployment, underemployment [...]
This important message from J. Richard Cohen came today from the Southern Poverty Law Center:
Lou Dobbs is at it again.
We've told you about how the CNN host has used his platform to spread hateful propaganda that demonizes Latinos.
Now, Dobbs is supporting the bizarre claims of so-called "birthers"' [...]
Today I called U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and urged them to vote against an amendment to the Defense authorization bill that would gut gun control laws in many states. The Brady Campaign reports:
Very dangerous legislation that would force states to allow dangerous individuals to carry [...]
As Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor is grilled by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee on abortion and gun control it is worth noting that Judge Sotomayor has drawn support from religious leaders who support the right of women to make their own health care decisions and from advocates [...]
I am proud of the Portland City Council today for re-naming a street just blocks from my home for Cesar E. Chavez. I cannot wait for the signs to go up when I will walk my daughters up the street and tell them the story of why Portland honors [...]
Loaded Orygun notes that MoveOn.org is holding a rally this Thursday (July 12th 9th) at Noon in front of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's Portland office (1220 SW 3rd, Suite 585) to advocate for a public option in health care reform. The General Synod of the United Church of Christ recently called' [...]
This morning at Parkrose Community United Church of Christ our Scripture readings included Isaiah 2:4 and Matt 5:38-41.
My sermon was a reflection on gun violence in America.
Use the below link to download the podcast of the sermon for your iPod or personal computer:
(click with the RIGHT [...]
I just watched Sarah Palin’s news conference. Governor Palin said that four years ago (really it was two and a half) that she promised voters effectiveness in government to Alaska voters. And then she resigned. That might have been the most effective act undertaken during her failed administration. What [...]
Missouri State Rep. Cynthia Davis is against free summer lunches for kids. "Can’t they get a job during the summer?" asksthe politician / Bible book store owner.
The editorial board of the St. Louis Dispatch reports:
State Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O’Fallon, is staking out a [...]
Come listen to my Sunday, July 5th sermon on “God, Guns & American Violence: Turning Weapons Into Ploughshares," Click here for all the info.
" [...]Farrah Fawcett died today. She was my first celebrity crush. When I was a kid a poster of the star of Charlie's Angels was mounted on the wall above my bed. I'd lost track of my celebrity crush over all these years but still remember her how she fought the bad' [...]
Politico (via) CNN has this quote from Friend Of Mark Sanford Tom Davis:
People be will watching for his sincerity. I think there's an incredible capacity in the American people for forgiveness. What they will not forgive is hypocrisy. And, so, I think the next few days are going to' [...]
chuck.currie@gmail.com (Chuck Currie, M.Div.)
