A broad coalition of faith leaders and advocates, and Democratic leaders in the House, gathered on Thursday, October 9, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in the shadow of the nation’s Capitol for an urgent Interfaith Rally and Vigil for Health Justice. Together, we called on Congress to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that ends the government shutdown and extends the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace’s enhanced premium tax credits (PTC).

The vigil wove together prayer, prophetic testimony, and public action–and urged lawmakers to place compassion, justice, and the common good above political brinkmanship. Speakers rooted their comments in the shared moral teachings of their traditions and declared fervently that healthcare is a moral right. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders bore public witness that healthcare is not a privilege for the wealthy, but rather a sacred right for all.

Democratic Members of the House who support this position joined NETWORK and our faith partners for the event. Participants included Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Jim McGovern (MA-02). Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley also joined the rally.

Healthcare coverage for millions of Americans across ages, faiths, races, income levels, and geographic locations is at risk due to historic price increases caused by passage of the Big, Bad Budget law (H.R.1) this summer. The average price for ACA Marketplace premiums will more than double on January 1, 2026 if the enhanced PTCs expire, impacting 24 million Americans. It is estimated that nearly 5 million will drop out of ACA coverage immediately simply because they cannot afford it without the enhanced premium subsidies. A loss of health coverage is a death sentence for the sick and vulnerable.

In the Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te of the Holy Father Leo XIV on Love for the Poor, published on October 9, 2025, Pope Leo XIV sums up a millennium of Catholic Social Teaching in one sentence: “Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor.” He also echoes the late Pope Francis’ call that “we must continue, then, to denounce the “dictatorship of an economy that kills.”

“We need to be increasingly committed to resolving the structural causes of poverty. This is a pressing need that “cannot be delayed, not only for the pragmatic reason of its urgency for the good order of society, but because society needs to be cured of a sickness which is weakening and frustrating it, and which can only lead to new crises.” ~Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi te

As the government shutdown continues, we are mindful of the fierce urgency to both open our government and to resolve the health crisis before the November 1 deadline. People of good faith can reach an agreement if there is political will to do so. We will continue to call on Congress and the White House to begin negotiations immediately and to pass a bipartisan solution that keeps our government operating and provides affordable health care.

You can view and download pictures from this prophetic witness in our Flickr photo album.