Illegals and Health Care–Who Should Be Covered?
- Sep 22, 2009 - 13
Several faith groups, insisting that health care is a human right, are saying access to the care is a "moral and spiritual imperative," particularly for those who are not American citizens.
The debate over who would qualify for any government insurance coverage spiked when S.C. Congressman Joe Wilson voiced his opinion on the matter during the president's recent address to Congress.
While the law already requires medical facilities to treat indigent patients, does the government have a moral imperative to provide insurance to everyone, including those in the country illegally?
The ERLC's Richard Land answers in this report from a recent Richard Land Live! broadcast:
Unlike most people in Washington, D.C., your ERLC staff has read H.R. 3200–the House bill to "reform" health care. Read the ERLC's rigorous review of the legislation.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Citizenship, Healthcare
comments (post your own) feed
1 On Sep 23rd, 2009, at 1:06pm, Keith Jones wrote:
Didn’t yet listen to Dr. Land, but I vigorously oppose a ‘right’ for government-funded healthcare for illegal aliens. Our Baptist Ass’n has a free health care clinic. We don’t ask if they’re legal/illegal before we treat & minister to them. But we’re supported by volunteers—workers & contributors. Gov’t programs are NOT paid by voluntary means, but by coerced taxes. It’s morally wrong to extort $$ from taxpayers for those who scoff at our laws. I don’t think the FEDERAL gov’t should be dealing with health care at all, except possibly CDC/other agencies supporting research against natural/man-made pathogenic disasters. Healthcare should be the concern of LOCAL gov’ts or at least no higher than STATE level. The problems NOW with healthcare stem from the Federal govt’s Medicare/Medicaid. They inflated costs, caused insurance to skyrocket (esp. for healthcare providers), etc. etc. etc.
2 On Sep 23rd, 2009, at 1:06pm, Humberto Munoz wrote:
Our country is getting into a horrible chaos, we as Christians should not give
any opinion about government laws or amendments. We know how God thinks,
we know how Jesus came to this world to the sick and homeless, hopeless and
sinners, he did not make any difference if it was legal or illegal but he was teaching
everybody the Word of God. How can we discriminate people who came from
different countries to work, to have bread on the table, not even God is doing that.
God bless you, bless our government and our country
3 On Sep 23rd, 2009, at 1:12pm, Keith Jones wrote:
Dr. Land makes good points in this ‘sound bite.’ I especially agree with his point about taxes being non-voluntary in nature, and his astute drawing of the point that the statement of the Catholic Bishops amounts to ‘being charitable with other people’s money.’
He didn’t say so directly, but his comment about the meaning of the Biblical passages cited as being for people of faith should lead us believers to be willing to minister to illegals…but as volunteers, not because the government says we must!
4 On Sep 23rd, 2009, at 3:07pm, Frank Johnson wrote:
Thanks for the question, Dwayne, and the reply, Dr. Land. Yes, we should be concerned for and ministering to the needs of all the people God has brought into our realm. This is the calling of the Church. We must not require the taxes of United States citizens to pay for it, however. We should give freely as individuals and churches (as able) to help the poor in any context. The best help we can give to illegal aliens is the encouragement, direction and necessity to be here legally. Then, they would qualify for whatever help citizens receive.
5 On Sep 24th, 2009, at 10:15am, Pat McGarrity wrote:
As you pointed out, income confiscation under the threat of prison, is not the same thing as freely giving your own money to accomplish the same task which any of these socialists can do if they really want to. This, like most of these give-away schemes, is really just a giant vote buying program. Now I am against vote buying - but if you are going to buy votes, you should at least have to use your own money to buy the votes rather than stealing it from me and other tax payers.
6 On Sep 24th, 2009, at 1:25pm, George Wadding wrote:
A “moral and spiritual imperative” does not justify a compulsory funding by the tax-paying citizens of the US to provide for anyone who requests healthcare while they are within our borders. Emergency care is required already, but it should be limited to the preservation of “life and limb”. The extension of “healthcare” (as many in government now define it) will result in payment for illegal residents’ abortions, gender reassignments, stomach reductions, etc, etc. Once that door is opened it can never be closed.
Lest you think me lacking in compassion, I have for over four years championed in my church an effort to provide food & clothing for those in our area regardless of their status; as well encouraging contributions to the SBC World Hunger Fund.
7 On Sep 25th, 2009, at 6:15pm, Mary wrote:
Taking care of the indigent is one thing, but having people break our laws, then expect us to share the
cost of providing for them & their families is too much to expect. As I wrote to Dr Land, maybe the churches and other non-profits would give up their tax exempt status to pay for these people. Isn’t that
a fair question? Some of our churches, even in this bad economy, are paying extra to eliminate their church debt, while many of the members are just trying to keep up the payments on their mortgage, etc.
8 On Oct 3rd, 2009, at 3:21am, Simret Enhareb wrote:
ERLC’s Andrew R. Lewis wrote the following 7/31/2007
“While the Bible primarily speaks to individual Christians and churches about caring for the downtrodden, there is also a role for government to aid them. God clearly requires that a portion of His money & man’s abilities be used to assist the poor.”
By that same token, as we refer to Jesus’ parables of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:34-37, Jesus tells us to “Go and do likewise” i.e. take care of the sick and provide for their care and recovery. Therefore God clearly requires us to take care of the sick as he does the poor. Based on Lewis’s statement it stands to reason that while the Bible primarily speaks to individual Christians and churches, taxes should also be paid to the government to help in its God-given responsibility to help the poor as well as the sick. The most effective and affordable way is to provide health insurance for EVERYone.
9 On Oct 3rd, 2009, at 3:54am, Simret Enhareb wrote:
I don’t understand Dr. Land’s logic. He’s fine w/ illegal immigrants having access to emergency rooms but not access to healthcare? Wouldn’t it stand to reason that if they have access to affordable health insurance, they would go to a primary doctor for routine check ups or treat illnesses before extreme measures are needed? This would significantly reduce the overall cost of care let alone cut down on emergency room being overcrowded. Logic dictates that if you are fine with hospitals taking care of everyone regardless of legal status, you should be fine w/health insurance insuring everyone regardless of legal status –yes even Gov’t run insurance. BTW let’s not fool ourselves; our taxes are already paying for their care one way or another so we should simply try to figure out a way to reduce the cost of it all. Gov’t run insurance for ALL is the only feasable way to do so.
10 On Oct 4th, 2009, at 3:54pm, Simret Enhareb wrote:
I felt compelled to coment on Dr. Land’s statement where he says “Taxes are confiscations of income on the threat of imprisonment…”. This is a most unenthusiastic definition of taxes if I ever heard one, and a deeply sad one coming from a leader in the Christian community. Even ERLC’s citizenship link under Topics states that as citizens we have certain rights and responsibilities. I’m sure most would consider paying taxes a responsibility NOT a confiscation of income. Let’s not forget Jesus famous words regarding taxes: “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. Mat. 22:21” While we’re on the topic of giving – let’s not forget HOW we are to give: “Give to the one who asks you, & do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Mat.5:42.” AND “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2Cor. 9:7”
11 On Oct 7th, 2009, at 11:00pm, Richard Humphries wrote:
I am sure you remember that the Bible says to treat strangers and aliens like your neighbor or your brother.
12 On Oct 8th, 2009, at 11:34am, Mary Mortimer wrote:
We Christians MUST give to those in need, but when
we are compelled, by the government, to give when
we are in need and know others that we can & do help-
that’s another topic. Taxing without representation
is the name of the game in Washington today. Do they
represent Christian values? NO! They are taking all
our liberties and neutralizing all religion into one
world religion. Jesus predicted that & it’s here.
13 On Oct 8th, 2009, at 3:40pm, Matt wrote:
RE: Richard, post # 11
Agreed, the Bible does give that instruction… to individuals.
It is a different matter entirely for a government to force it upon it’s citizens.
Clearly, a sensible solution to immigration reform can be found somewhere b/t the extremes (amnesty on the left and kick-em-all-out from the far right). But a practical solution has yet to emanate from inside the Beltway.