World News
Diverse faith coalition begins '40 Days for Health Reform' effort
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A coalition that includes Catholics, mainline Protestants, evangelicals, Muslims and Jews pledged Aug. 10 to spend the next 40 days mobilizing the faith community to tell Congress that comprehensive health reform legislation must be passed this fall. The effort includes a national television ad, a series of prayer vigils and rallies around the country, an Aug. 19 conference call with President Barack Obama and faith leaders, a national health care Sabbath weekend Aug. 28-30 and other events after Congress returns to work in September. It is designed in part to counteract the protests that have disrupted some health reform-related gatherings around the country. "Shouting people down ... is not the American way," said Katie Paris, program and communications director of Faith in Public Life, during an Aug. 10 conference call with media to announce the "40 Days for Health Reform" initiative. "We won't let this issue get hijacked," she added. "We want to put real people back into the center of the discussions."
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