Nebraska Clergy Tell Ben Nelson: Back The Health Bill

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Religious leaders from Sen. Ben Nelson's home state of Nebraska -- including leaders from the United Methodist Church, to which he belongs -- are urging the senator to give up his opposition to the Democrats' health care bill and vote to move it forward.

Nelson is possibly the only Democrat holding up a vote on the bill. He said this week he cannot support the bill primarily because of its abortion language; Nelson was slow to announce his outright opposition because he was waiting to hear anti-abortion rights groups' assessments of the bill.

Now a group of more than two dozen clergy and faith leaders have signed a letter to Nelson, asking him to support the compromise abortion language proposed by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.).

"We believe such a compromise is necessary to avoid an impasse that could threaten the future of one of our nation's most important legislative and moral priorities," they write. The signatories include Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist and Jewish leaders.

Three of the clergy calling for passage of the health care bill penned an op-ed in the Omaha World-Herald, writing that "providing universal health care access is a moral and spiritual imperative... We turn to U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, knowing he stands with us as a person of faith."

Meanwhile, the United Methodist Church, to which Nelson belongs, sent an e-mail to its Nebraska members asking them urge Nelson to vote for the bill. The e-mail includes a script for members to use in a fax or phone call to the senator which says, "As a fellow United Methodist, I'd like you to know that our denomination's position is that health care is a basic human right."

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Rdt4 December 19, 2009 3:09 PM EST: Whatever else, an abortion is an atrocity that terminates the life of innocent Human Beings. I appreciate that there are Men and Women in Congress who are doing what they can to help keep me from being an accessory to Murder by not allowing my paid taxes go towards paying for abortion.
Life is a Person's most fundamental right, and abortion (the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a Fetus/Embryo, resulting in or caused by its death) denies helpless, innocent Human Beings the fundamental right to life.
There have been 40+million abortions a year worldwide for years, that's more innocent lives terminated by abortion than any other atrocity (according to my resources, an encyclopedia.)
I pray for change that will acknowledge a Prenatal Child as the helpless, innocent Human Bein that it is, worthy of all the protections of the 14th Amendment, the Right to Life.; Reply to this comment

by stn_sage December 19, 2009 12:05 PM EST

These clergymen should be telling him to start looking for another job because when his term is over, he's going to have to get a new one!

He's not fit to be in Congress!

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by cbs_tom December 19, 2009 1:41 PM EST: But atleast he stands by his convictions and doesn't sell out.


by democracy1 December 19, 2009 11:20 AM EST: Apparently they got through to him as he is now saying that he will support the bill.; Reply to this comment

by realcom December 19, 2009 7:52 AM EST

If the Catholic Church or any Church wants to have input in the legislative process then let them PAY TAXES. First the bishops block the bill now they want the bill after it has been watered down PAY TAXES for the right to comment. If churchs and charitable organizations used their funds as intended the income would be off set by expense. PAYING TAXES would only hurt them if they try to hord, stock pile or invest funds. They shouldn't be doing that any way. The great religous organization have caused this bill to be almost worthless . Who owns most of the NON PRROFIT (ya right) hospitals??

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by hhard December 19, 2009 11:35 AM EST: Hello? They do pay taxes. Individually, every person who lobbied Nelson on this is a taxpayer. Just because a taxpayer works for a nonprofit/religious organization does not mean that they should forfeit their right to comment on political matters. As a minister myself, why should my back be broken paying taxes, just to have you tell me that I don't get the same right to free speech because my meager salary comes from a church? As for churches paying taxes, that's fine if you want to eliminate the separation of church and state. Frankly, I think we have a good system. It has worked for over two centuries and you provide no compelling reason why we should change it now.


by reveal4 December 19, 2009 12:22 AM EST: Turns out Senator Nelson, along with being richly rewarded in campaign donations from big health insurance and pharma was also a former insurance executive.; Reply to this comment


by pjfgm December 18, 2009 11:29 PM EST: The other Democratic senators should be ashamed to put all this on the shoulders of one of their colleagues. If Ben Nelson forces a more rational bill to be passed, they will be thanking him for helping them keep them in office.; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 December 18, 2009 10:44 PM EST: It IS about politics at this stage, Nelson is appealing to a group that will help him get reelected so what the rest of the country wants does not matter. The Senate procedures are designed to protect from the "tyranny of the majority" but they were not set up to prevent the tyranny of the minority, or in this case ONE person.; Reply to this comment


by bc-1948 December 18, 2009 10:30 PM EST: Just a selfish senator trying to get more gravy for his state - in exchange for his vote. Abortion language isn't the problem, just his tool to get more things for his state.; Reply to this comment


by sewardneguy December 18, 2009 9:36 PM EST: You need to forget, the conservatives from nebraska elected him..he represents them...NOT the democrat party. You are correct..he is toast, unless he votes to stop this bill. He will be lucky to show his face back in Nebraska if he doesn't stop this bill; Reply to this comment


by reveal4 December 18, 2009 9:07 PM EST: Senator Nelson ALSO...ALSO...ALSO...opposes Medicaid expansion to 130% of poverty level and offering coverage nationwide to childless adults. Senator Nelson also opposes a new long term care insurance program. Senator Nelson has 3 objections to the reform bill. http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/an-obama-team-vets-ben-nelsons-wish-list/; Reply to this comment