Religious leaders from around the country have been vocal in their advice to elected leaders concerning the national budget and the needs of the poor. Before the historic votes earlier this month, the U.S. bishops reiterated their call that any decisions of a budgetary nature, short or long term, must include the needs of the poor and vulnerable people of our nation. They wrote to each member in the Senate asking them to protect human life and dignity as they make budgetary decisions that will touch the lives of all our citizens. These letters were signed by Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the Committee of International Justice and Peace.
Our bishops reminded lawmakers that “a just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons.”
“It requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending and addressing the long term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly,” they added. They did not offer specific budgetary proposals but spoke in general terms and advocated such needs as “affordable, life-affirming health care” for all Americans. They also expressed concern about the human and social costs of substantial cuts to food and nutrition, child development, education and affordable housing.
Nearly a dozen leaders from other faith communities called upon the Administration and Congress to protect funding for the nation’s most vulnerable last month. In fact, some of them were even arrested inside the Capitol Building. Among those arrested were the Rev. Michael Livingston, former president of the National Council of Churches (NCC), and Jordan Blevins, director of peace witness for the Church of the Brethren and the NCC. “Congress is paralyzed by toxic partisan politics while people suffer,” said Livingston. “Our elected officials are protecting corporations and wealthy individuals while shredding the safety net for millions of the most vulnerable people in our nation and abroad. Our faith won’t allow us to passively watch this travesty unfold. We’ve written letters, talked with and prayed for our elected officials and prayed together daily in interreligious community. Today, we ‘offer our bodies as a living sacrifice’ to say to Congress, ‘Raise revenue, protect the vulnerable and those living in poverty,” they added.
Those arrested also included Jim Walker, General Secretary NCC; Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Shalom Center in Philadelphia; Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director, Faith and Public Life, NCC; Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, director of Public Witness, Presbyterian Church USA; Sandy Sorenson, director of Washington Office, United Church of Christ and Rev. Bob Edgar, President of Common Cause, former general secretary of the NCC.
“We are citizens first and foremost of the realm of God,” said Rev. Blevins, “sometimes living into that reality puts us at odds with what is happening in our country. This is one of those times, when steps Congress is taking contradicts our call as followers of Jesus Christ, we must take action.” The religious leaders sang “Spirit of the Living God” and “We shall overcome” as they knelt and prayed in the Capital rotunda.
Christian, Jewish and Muslim institutions and faith-based organizations united by shared beliefs to lift up the nation’s most vulnerable are mobilizing across the country to impact the national budget dialogue by demonstrating that America is a better nation when we follow our faiths’ imperative to promote the general welfare of all our citizens. Rev. Nelson from the Presbyterian Church USA explained, “Due to the inability of the Congress to work together, the good of the people across the nation are being compromised by the self interest of our political leaders. Too many congresspersons of all parties are trapped in a space where commitment to the common good is diminished for the sake of personal gain and the seduction of power. In this process, the American people and others around the world are left to suffer. Faith leaders cannot stand by and watch while the mandate of the Gospel to love our neighbors is violated in the halls of Congress.”
May people of faith and good will continue to champion the rights and human dignity of the poor and vulnerable in our nation.
Father Joseph D. Wallace is coordinator, Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs, Diocese of Camden.
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