America's nuns would like to
have a word with Republican governors about their responsibility to constituents.
The leader of a group that represents most American nuns is calling on Republican governors to accept the healthcare reform law's Medicaid expansion, which would provide insurance coverage to a larger share of the poor.
Sister Pat Farrell, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, joined a group of 102 other faith leaders in co-signing a statement Monday that urges support for a larger Medicaid program.
"Depriving struggling families of healthcare is wholly incompatible with the teachings of our faiths and the ideals of our nation," the statement reads.
"We call on governors who are considering refusing or have already refused to accept the Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid to put the well-being of their constituents ahead of their political ideology and accept the Medicaid funding."
The Supreme Court's June ruling that upheld the Affordable Care Act gave states the option of refusing the Medicaid expansion included in the law, and
at least 10 Republican governors have announced their intention to refuse the additional funding. Because their pro-life commitment ends somewhere around birth.