The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls joined Franciscan Action Network (FAN) and many Franciscan religious congregations in a recent letter to Congress supporting health care reform. In part, the letter reads:

"We write to you as leadership from the Franciscan Family in the United States.  Many of the men and women whom we lead and the persons whom we serve are engaged in the ministry of health care.  In addition, thousands of Franciscans  in their daily  ministry provide a healing presence to all who struggle and are afflicted by the wounds of poverty and injustice.

We urge the 111^th Congress to pass sustainable health care reform.  We find it unacceptable that our country has over 47 million people without access to insurance, that people endure the hardship of the risk of losing insurance, and that health care is becoming increasingly more expensive and inefficient. 

18. 3% of all Catholic Hospitals in the United States are sponsored by Franciscans, not to mention the untold thousands of Franciscans who care for the sick.  We heartily support the attached statement provided by the Catholic Hospital Association of the United States of America which advocates for health care reform that promotes

•·        Human Dignity

•·        Concern for the Poor and the Vulnerable

•·        Policies that Exercise Justice

•·        Policies that Promote the Common Good

•·        Policies that Encourage Stewardship of Health Care

•·        Policies that Reflect Pluralism