At The Seeker, Manya Brachear and several guest columnists address the question of whether universal health care should cover spiritual care. Emily Soloff, Associate Director for Interreligious and Intergroup Relations for the American Jewish Committee, argues:
Complicating the already massive and convoluted universal health care proposals by providing more prayer and spiritual care would be a mistake, not only on separation of Church and State grounds.
Rabbi Adam Chalom, Dean of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, argues:
The goal of health care coverage is to keep people healthy. To meet that goal, we must employ methods that have been proven to work and can help everyone. Conventional medicine, talking therapy, even a few forms of so-called alternative medicine have passed these tests and are appropriate for insurance to cover, be it through a public or a private plan.
Having a positive outlook can certainly improve healing; so too can a supportive community, hope, and a purpose for living. One can find these supports in this world, from other people, and no payment is expected.
Read full posts from Soloff and Rabbi Chalom. And check out other responses from Lutheran Bishop Wayne Miller, Rev. Robert V. Thompson, and Hesham Hassaballa.