The 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act—March 23—is a time to reflect on the significant legacy of Catholic sisters in helping people in the United States get access to quality, affordable health care. The Rev. Jen Butler, founder of Faith in Public Life, reflects on the legacy of Sister Catherine Pinkerton, C.S.J., who worked as a lobbyist at NETWORK for 24 years. Going back into the 1990s, Sister Catherine worked diligently to lay the groundwork for health care reform, which was finally realized when President Barack Obama signed this landmark law in 2010. But the work is far from done in the United States to ensure what Catholic social teaching calls for: a just, equitable, affordable health care system for everyone. NETWORK board chair Rachelle Reyes Wenger shares her perspective working as a health care system administrator on the issues that remain, especially disparities along racial and economic lines.

You can learn more about our guests and health care in the United States in these links.

A profile of Sister Catherine Pinkerton: https://networklobby.org/catherine-pinkertons-sister-spirt-legacy/

More on the Rev. Jen Butler, founder of Faith in Public Life: https://www.faithinpubliclife.org/profiles/rev-jennifer-butler/

NETWORK's statement from the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act: https://networklobby.org/news/20110322healthcare/

More on Rachelle Reyes Wenger, NETWORK board chair: https://networklobby.org/board_members/rachellereyeswenger/

Background on the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act: https://networklobby.org/04142021momnibus/

Just Politics is sponsored by St. Jude League Community Development. https://stjudeleague.org/