For 60 years, Medicaid has provided essential health coverage for millions of Americans, ensuring that low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities and children receive the care they need. Yet, policymakers in Washington are considering hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to this essential program. Such a deeply flawed proposal must be rejected – not just because of its devastating impact on public health but because it ignores a fundamental moral truth: health care is not a privilege; it is a human right. As a woman of faith who has devoted her life to caring for the sick, the poor and the most vulnerable among us, I stand firmly in support of preserving and strengthening Medicaid for those who need it most.
As we seek to address the challenges in our health care system, dismantling Medicaid – one of the strongest safety nets for our nation’s most vulnerable – is not reform; it is reckless. This issue is especially urgent for those of us serving in faith-based health care. The Judeo-Christian tradition teaches that each person is created in the image of God and that human dignity must be protected.
Health care is not a privilege for the fortunate – it is a fundamental human right. Jesus’ teachings affirm that every person is made in the image of God and that we have a moral obligation to uphold the dignity of each human life. Our faith as Christians compels us to recognize the uniqueness and worth of every human life, and health care is essential to human flourishing. Dismantling Medicaid would turn our backs on this sacred responsibility. As the late Pope Francis affirmed, “Health is not a luxury; it is for all.”
Weakening Medicaid would undermine these values and risk leaving millions without access to essential health coverage. As Catholics, we believe in the value of work and its contribution to providing a person dignity. However, Medicaid work reporting requirements have been clearly shown to create artificial barriers to care, generating paperwork and bureaucracy while doing little to support people looking for work. These requirements also fail to recognize that most people on Medicaid already work and it ignores the realities of low-wage work, caregiving responsibilities and health limitations.
Medicaid expansion has been linked to improved financial well-being for low-income families, mothers and babies, reduced medical debt and helping people stay financially stable. A healthier population leads to a stronger workforce and a more productive economy – proof that Medicaid is not just a safety net but a smart investment in our nation’s future. This is why 76% of Americans view this essential health coverage favorably.
The sisters who founded our congregation 152 years ago turned their Kentucky and Tennessee convents into field hospitals for the care of soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. For 80 years, Springfield Dominican Sisters administered hospitals and health care centers in Texas, Colorado, Arkansas and Mississippi. Today, more than 20 of our sisters now serve, or have served in the past as nurses, therapists, chaplains, ethicists and administrators in health care settings in the United States and Peru.
Because of our long commitment to health care ministry, we know that Medicaid is one of the most effective tools to fulfill the mission to serve all, especially those who are impoverished and marginalized. Weakening Medicaid would betray the values we hold dear.
We urge Congress and the Trump administration to affirm this commitment by protecting and strengthening Medicaid, not dismantling it.
The health of our people reflects our nation’s moral priorities. If we value dignity, justice and compassion, then we must protect Medicaid – because when Medicaid is strong, America is strong.
Springfield Dominican Sister Rose Marie Riley is prioress of the Sacred Heart Convent, where she is responsible for overseeing the health care of the retired sisters. She has more than a decade of health care administration experience, including St. Monica Home in Springfield and St. Mary’s – Rogers Memorial in Rogers, Arkansas.
This article appears in May 22-28, 2025.
I will assume that nuns do not lie but unfortunately do fall prey to media and Democrat lies. The proposed reforms to Medicaid and food stamps would, horror of all horrors, require able-bodied single men to have a job.
This will return to the Clinton era reforms that led to balance budgets for two fiscal years in the late 90s. It also ensures the financial stability of these programs so that money is available to help those who are truly in need rather than just lazy men happy to take government money so they can play Minecraft in their basement.
If you think health care is a “right”, that means you think doctors and nurses are your slaves.
Nobody has a “right” to someone else’s services.
The democrats: Everything I want is a human right and everything I don’t want is a hate crime.
I spent 6 years in Well Child Clinics in Iowa in the late 80s to early 90s. Approximately 38-40 years ago. I did dental screenings to evaluate a familys qualification for some money, emphasis on some, from the State of Iowa for a child or children from a family to receive payment from the State of IA for dental care. They had to have no dental insurance and have enough family income to NOT qualify for Medicaid. I found that by the time a child had an examination, x-rays, a cleaning, and (should I say it in our current political climate) a fluoride treatment, that most of the allotted money was used, and any treatment of dental disease (cavities) was not covered. And most of the time, both parents were working. They still needed help with providing food for their families, so many received WIC, based on the ages of their children, and definitely food stamps. Most of the enrolled families showed up faithfully, for the interview with the family services nutritionist at prescribed intervals, to keep getting WIC and food stamps; and many families brought their children to the sliding fee scale clinic for well child exams and vaccinations, because they felt the exams and care were better than from their regular GPs. So here we are, 40 years later, and we still have the hard working poor. But now, we want to take away the safety net for the families who have both parents working, and minimum wages, especially in Iowa, are still $7.25/hr. Its a tragedy and an embarrassment to all US citizens. Im begging you all to think and empathize. There are just a handful of people who arent working and trying. Do unto others, please. Nancy Gehlsen