On any given day, the news can break your heart, make you laugh or anger you. The news can also make you ponder the big questions: right versus wrong, good versus evil, hopeful versus hopeless.

The Herald-Leader Faith Blog Network is a group of Central Kentucky folks who like to ponder those big questions. We are providing a forum to read their commentary and interact with them at Kentucky.com.

We're launching a new feature: Question of Faith.

Throughout the week, we will pose a question to our Faith Network that is taken from the news. They can then help readers consider the news from a faith-based perspective. To whet your appetite, we're publishing excerpts from their answers to the most recent question. We'll periodically feature questions and answers in Life + Faith.

Question: Is health care a moral imperative?

Mark Johnson, Central Baptist Church, Lexington: Is concern for my neighbor a moral imperative?

If you are truly concerned for your neighbor, how can you not also be concerned about your neighbor's health?

Evangelist Roger Bruner, Mill Street Church of Christ, London: The burden falls upon me first, not the church nor the government. They do not have the burden of feeding my family; I am to work and provide for them. Everyone has responsibility in this regard.

The Rev. Chuck Queen, Immanuel Baptist Church, Frankfort: For any practicing Christian, this is a no-brainer: Of course health care is a moral imperative. Jesus made it crystal clear that love of neighbor is essential to being his follower (Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 10:25-37).

Jesus, throughout his ministry, gave special consideration to the impoverished, marginalized, oppressed and excluded.

The Rev. Cynthia Cain, Unitarian Universalist Church, Lexington, and the Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass: Tomorrow I go into the hospital for a long-anticipated surgery. ... There is no doubt in my mind that, unrelieved, my condition would continue to decline and lead to far diminished capacity and early demise. But if I did not have access to health care, I would have to accept that set of circumstances, as many folks do. My own two adult sons do not have health care, and I often lie awake nights wondering what will happen to them, and us, if they are seriously ill or severely hurt.

Bob Evely, Grace Evangel Fellowship, Wilmore: Within the body of Christ, our obligation is to love. ... From the perspective of the church, we do have a responsibility to look after others.

But from the political realm, ... there is no moral imperative.

Government plays a role of providing the peace and of providing things that individuals cannot provide themselves. Unfortunately, government has gone far beyond that role.

The Rev. David Head, Rosemont Baptist Church: An imperative is something that is seen as absolutely necessary so most everyone would agree that health care is, in fact, an imperative.

To call health care a "moral" imperative presses the discussion into a different category. ...

Any policy of care for the sick must also be balanced with a healthy understanding of personal responsibility, work and even citizenship.

Mickey Anders, South Elkhorn Christian Church: If we are to follow the clear example of Jesus, then health care is indeed a moral imperative.

It seemed to be one of the major concerns of Jesus. He healed people everywhere he went. ... God cares about hurting and sick people, and so must we.

The Rev. Mary Seeger Weese, Midway Presbyterian Church: I worked as a waitress and a librarian for a year. I had no insurance, no cash reserves.

There are hundreds of thousands of people out there working every day like that. ... I don't hear the Bible saying we should do the right thing only when it's easy or cheap or won't raise our taxes. ...

In God's Kingdom, it's not about me and myself and "I got mine." It's about love that fills us and flows out of us. ... The more we invest in 'us,' the more we will be prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Rev. D. Anthony Everett, associate director for African American Ministries, Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church: The faith community must be advocates for the impoverished on this issue. Health care is a moral imperative. Our communities, from Kentucky to El Salvador to Mumbai to Soweto must lead the direction on this issue, globally and locally.

Colette Hensley, Crestwood Christian Church, Lexington: Before making any statements about health care, I believe one should be informed. ... As a Disciple of Christ, our history encourages us to disagree agreeably. ...

I hope that we will have leaders and citizens who listen to one another and work together.