What is the Faith Caucus?

All faith traditions challenge us to engage in healing, to act with justice, and to treat one another with compassion. But our health care delivery system distributes services unjustly, rations care inequitably, and offers compassion only to those who can afford it.

The Faith Caucus, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other traditions, pulls from across the state of Illinois to assert the moral imperative of health care for all. We recognize that equal access to health care is not only a socio-economic issue, but also a moral issue whose impact is felt strongly within our communities and congregations.

Together the Faith Caucus has been bringing the moral crisis of health care disparity to policymakers through educational awareness events, thoughtful discussion, and prayer.

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Health Care Justice Faith Caucus
Vision Statement

As leaders from diverse faith traditions, we recognize that to approach a responsible society that truly values human life, quality health care must be both affordable and accessible to every person in the State of Illinois, and the United States. We believe accessible, affordable, quality health care is a basic human right for all people, deeply rooted in our religious values.

Together, we call upon our elected officials of Illinois to accept the moral imperative of providing health care security for all. Our faith traditions command us to act with mercy, compassion, and justice toward those who are in need. Our pursuit of healing and wholeness for the disenfranchised takes many forms, not solely for spiritual health but also physical, mental and emotional health. When thousands die prematurely because they lack access to needed health care, older adults are forced to choose between prescription drugs and food, and every family is one catastrophic illness away from financial disaster, it is evident that morality is absent from our health care system. As our society looks increasingly to faith institutions for relief, we humbly remind policy makers that charity is not a substitute for justice. Health care security is a righteous and necessary component that deserves constant attention from the Illinois General Assembly.

We commit to creating an environment in which morality, justice and compassion are at the heart of all dialogue focusing on the transformation of our health care system. Through grassroots effort, we pledge to educate and involve congregations, build bridges across faith and societal divides, and share our commitment to social justice, in our endeavor to bring about legislative change in the current health care system at the local, state and national levels.

For more information about how you can get involved in partnerships and stewardships, contact Jonathan VanderBrug via email at jvanderbrug@cbhconline.org, or by phone at (312) 913-9449.