Praying for Lieberman: Will That Change His Mind on Health Care?

Joseph Lieberman is an observant Jew, but the senator from Connecticut apparently didn't want to check out the candlelight prayer vigil in front of his Stamford home Sunday evening -- and who could blame him?

The crowd of 500 people had gathered outside of Lieberman's condo holding candles and singing "This Little Light of Mine" because they were incensed at Lieberman's threat the join a Republican filibuster against any health care bill that includes a public option. The protesters represented a cross-section of faiths, including Unitarians, African-American Baptists, Muslims, and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who recently announced his candidacy for governor.

But the rabbis in attendance seemed to be the most outspoken, according to local news reports.

"You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbors," Rabbi Stephen Fuchs said quoting Scripture. "It is with a heavy heart that I proclaim to you, Senator Lieberman, that that is exactly what you seem to be doing at this time."

Ouch.

Rabbi Ron Fish of Congregation Beth El in Norwalk said he normally avoids political discussions but said Lieberman's stand against health care reform left him no choice.

"I feel passionately about the subject of health care," he explained. "I've avoided entering too closely into the conversation because I fear that when we clergy speak in political terms, we quite often do a disservice to politics and religion. But when Senator Lieberman spoke about his conscience impelling him to stop even a vote on this . . . crucial instance of hope, my conscience could not allow me to be silent."

"The moral imperative for our time is clear. Anyone whose guide in public policy is conscience, anyone who argues that faith and religious traditions should direct our actions, such a person must stand for universal health care in America," Fish said, reading from a letter signed by more than 70 other clergy. "It happens we are all also citizens of Connecticut. That fact leads us to ask you, Senator Lieberman, what is it that you stand for?"

Pow.

"We come today demanding there be justice. Let justice rain down like an unstoppable stream; health care for black, for white, health care for Latino, health care for all," prayed Rev. Scott Marks, of New Growth Praise Center in New Haven.

Zing.

Even some of Lieberman's neighbors in the condo complex joined in the prayer session or watched from their balconies. When leaders of the assemblage tried to deliver a basket of prayer petitions to the doorman at Lieberman's home, a policeman stationed there said they could not take it and they could not leave it. It wasn't clear whether Lieberman was even home. In the end, one of the senator's neighbors, Shirley Binin, took the basket and said she would deliver it to Lieberman.

Then, as the protesters marched off, they chanted, "We'll be back, we'll be back."

Who knows if he got the message?