St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, Nevada

The Conventual Franciscans are well known for their hands-on approach to improving their communities, nations, and the world as a whole. Those working at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, Nevada are also filled with the energy to pursue positive change. It is not surprising then that recently St. Thomas Aquinas – with Friar Thomas Czeck as rector - encouraged its congregants to contact their representatives in Congress with their points of view on the current healthcare policy debate.

The Reno skyline

The friars along with the rest of the Roman Catholic clergy in the United States have taken a very definitive stance on the healthcare issue. Firstly, healthcare must be universal and by virtue of that also affordable. The healthcare system also has to respect life, which starts at conception. Religious and ethical values need to play a fundamental role in healthcare too.

We must all voice our ideas about the healthcare debate in America

It will still take some time for America’s healthcare debate to come to some sort of resolution. In the meantime we must make sure that our voices are heard so that they stand a chance to sway this debate in a direction that we know is good.