The Politics of Healthcare

The Susan B. Komen Foundation announced it will no longer support Planned Parenthood with grant money for breast cancer screening/mammograms for women without health insurance to cover these exams. Apparently, there has been political pressure on the Komen Foundation board to stop funding Planned Parenthood because of a misrepresentation by the conservative forces in American politics that wants us to believe that Planned Parenthood is all about abortions. Reality check from me...
In 1992, I returned to the U.S. after 2 years of parish ministry in Ontario, Canada, where my daughters and I were fortunate enough to receive medical services under the universal healthcare provisions of the province of Ontario. In Vermont, where I was under employed as a pastor, my two school-aged daughters received Vermont medicaid for children. I, however, had no health insurance, and no access to affordable healthcare coverage. So, I turned to Planned Parenthood of the Upper Valley for my health services. They were thorough, efficient, and accepted whatever I could pay. I never felt humiliated by Planned Parenthood due to my inability to pay fully for services, or because I had no insurance. However, when I had to take my daughters for healthcare services under the Medicaid plan, I was frequently treated rudely by healthcare providers, and I learned first hand what it is like to be a part of the American underclass. Since then, and I'm sure, before I utilized Planned Parenthood healthcare services, they have been demonized as abortionists. This is an example of how extreme political views get emphasized in the American media without substantiation, that may lead to a further reduction in access to needed healthcare services to under served, uninsured women in America.
As I reflect on this situation now, older, wiser, and just as passionate, as a Christian leader I feel that the spirituality of women remains an area of concern. We must never let a dominant, patriarchal power structure, diminish the fact that we too are made in the image and likeness of God, and have a right to equal access to healthcare, and to full control over our bodies. God never intended for women to be manipulated and controlled by anyone. We are meant to reflect on our healthcare choices based on our spiritual grounding and personal religious beliefs. It is not the role of government to deny a woman access to any healthcare procedure. Rather it is the government's role to protect a women's access to all healthcare services.
In the current decision by the Komen Foundation, it appears that Planned Parenthood is being punished for providing free or reduced breast cancer screening services to needy women simply because they also offer pregnancy termination services to less than 3% of it's clientele. Who is really being punished? Poor women without insurance, and most of those women are non-white.
This is not simply a political issue, which is why I chose to write about it. This situation is a commentary of the American spiritual identity crisis. What is the meaning and purpose of government? How do we identify who is needy/worthy of access to free or reduced cost healthcare services? And for those who are Christian identified, it is still relevant to ask "What would Jesus do?" Something tells me he would promote healthcare access for all.

(submitted by Rev.Dalene Fuller Rogers whose views and opinions do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Organ Mt. Institute for Spiritual Growth)