Area Catholics to Cardinal Rigali: Health Care for All! - 1pm (gather across from Phila. Free Library Main Entrance) procession to SS Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral, 18th & Benjamin Franklin Park for vigil.

Area Catholics and other people of faith will vigil for health care for all on Saturday, September 19, at SS Peter & Paul Cathedral in Philadelphia. People will call on Cardinal Rigali to withdraw his opposition to real health care reform. Vigilers will gather at 1 p.m. across from the Philadelphia Free Library for a procession to the Cathedral.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has a 30-year history of  lobbying for universal health care, which the bishops have called "a fundamental issue of human dignity and life." However, Cardinal Rigali, along with a few other U.S. bishops, is joining with Right-wing Republican fringe groups determined to stop legislation that would bring health insurance to millions and millions of uninsured Americans.

The vigil will call on Cardinal Justin Rigali, head of the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, to withdraw his opposition to legislation that would create real health care reform. We call on Cardinal Rigali, instead, to stand with the millions of uninsured Americans by demanding Universal Health Care for All.

The procession to and vigil at the Cathedral will follow the Town Hall Meeting at the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901 Vine St.), where Wendell Potter, former Chief of Corporate Communications of CIGNA, will speak about the injustices of the private health insurance industry. The Town Hall Meeting will begin at 11 a.m. 

You are asked to gather at 1 p.m. in the park just across from the Library's main entrance and from there to process to the steps of the Cathedral.The Cathedral, located at 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, is the center of one of the largest Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States.

Stand for justice at the steps of the Cathedral: Support Health Care for All!  

 

 

Sponsors: Catholic Peace Fellowship, House of Grace Catholic Worker, Philadelphia Catholic Worker, St. Vincent de Paul's Peace & Justice Ministry, and Brandywine Peace Community (list still in formation)
For more information: 610-544-1818, e-mail: brandywine@juno.com