GUIDED BY FAITH
CHA Advocacy: Faith and Reason in Action LUCAS SWANEPOEL Director of Government Relations, Catholic Health Association
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o much of today’s national discourse seems to revolve around politics; not politics in the idea of policies changed or laws created and enforced, but rather, in the sense of it being a sport — one where we cheer our “team,” whether Red or Blue, and all else has little value or meaning. It’s a sport where we see the “winner” as a validation of our sense of being, rather than as an affirmation of our contribution to making a more fair or just world. In this politically charged environment, CHA remains rooted in its mission, listens to its membership and strives to find common ground by seeking the common good in its health care advocacy work. A MISSION BEYOND OUR WALLS
consensus in a time when partisan divides often We don’t need some political expert to explain drive daily media coverage. The reality remains: the realities of today’s vastly divisive society, as Senate rules and narrow party control of each the truth is we all see them. It’s apparent to us in chamber mean bipartisan support is needed in our social media feeds, where it feels like cute order to pass most legislation. Therefore, orgapictures of dogs and cats are the only thing we nizations capable of building bridges and undercan agree on, while everything else seeks to cre- standing between political parties play a critical ate division in the name of a partisan interest. We role in enacting change for our communities. see it in our school board meetings, where once well-meaning individuWe don’t need some political expert to als who volunteered their time to explain the realities of today’s vastly make schools a better place for children to thrive have now devolved divisive society, as the truth is we all into shouting matches where dissee them. trust and conspiracies replace working together. And we see it in some CHA’s advocacy efforts are a unique voice in of our churches, sanctuaries which once brought people of all social and economic backgrounds the halls of Congress and in the various institutogether to worship; they now sometimes can feel tions of our nation’s government. This voice is like another place where faith is subservient to rooted in Jesus’ mission of love and healing. It seeks not only to lift the experience and chalone’s political views. These realities highlight a particular challenge lenges facing Catholic health care providers for our nation, and more specifically, a real quan- across the country, but also to challenge policydary to Catholic health ministries’ efforts to pro- makers and our society as a whole on how we can mote human dignity and access to affordable and build a more just and equal society. In his seminal work, Summa Theologica, St. quality health care for all. However, this challenge also provides an opportunity to build bipartisan Thomas Aquinas said that the first precept of the
HEALTH PROGRESS
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