Several hundred clergy and lay leaders from diverse faith communities across Connecticut will meet with invited candidates for federal and state office on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 19, from 3 to 5 p.m. The location is Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall, 19 S. Canal Street in Plainville. The sponsor of the meeting is United Action of Connecticut, a 5-year-old, interfaith, congregation-based community organization that works to train leaders, strengthen institutions and move people into effective public action for the common good.

Participants are expected from every congressional district and many state legislative districts. Both major presidential campaigns have been invited, as well as Governor Rell and U.S. Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Lieberman. The Connecticut convening is one of 30 such "Faith and Democracy" events being held across the nation between now and Tuesday, Nov. 4 by interfaith community organizations such as UACT, which is affiliated with the Gamaliel Foundation. Gamaliel is the faith-based organizing network which trained Senator Barack Obama as a community organizer during the 1980s.

The focus on Oct. 19 will be on two moral issues of high priority to UACT's member faith communities: guaranteed access to high-quality, affordable health care for everyone; and comprehensive immigration reform.

Churches, synagogues and mosques have long espoused such common faith values as comforting the sick and welcoming the stranger, in addition to being good stewards. During uncertain economic times, UACT believes that it is morally imperative to reform our inefficient and expensive health care system and inadequate and broken immigration laws with the goal to realign these systems with shared democratic and community values.

UACT believes that the best time to address the very serious shortcomings in health care and immigration policy is during 2009, when a new president, Congress and state legislature will be in place. Interested faith communities, other organizations and individuals are invited to participate on Oct. 19, but are asked to register, due to limited seating.

For reservations or further information, contact Jay Klemundt, (860) 882-3849 or e-mail uact4change@hotmail.com.

Comments :