Religious Leaders Urge Congress to Abandon Budget Cuts
Christian leaders across the nation are outraged by the proposed 2006 budget reconciliation bill that would cut $50 billion in domestic spending during a period when America faces rising poverty and the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Christian leaders across the nation are outraged by the proposed 2006 budget reconciliation bill that would cut $50 billion in domestic spending during a period when America faces rising poverty and the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"This is not the time for the budget reconciliation process to create greater hardships for those who are already experiencing great suffering," stated a letter, signed by leaders of the National Council of Churches, addressed to Congress.
The House delayed Thursday's vote on federal budget cuts, which were to increase by $15 billion over five years, to next week as Republican leaders sought to bridge gaps between its conservative and moderate members.
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Conservative members called for additional spending cuts that would reduce childcare benefits, Medicaid, student loans and other social programs that are benefiting hundreds of thousands of working families.
"As leaders of America's major faith communities, we write to you at a moment of great moral urgency for our nation when hundreds of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens are at risk," said the letter. "We urge you to work for, not against, the common good of all of America’s citizens and not just a privileged few."
Leaders across the religious spectrum have made continuous committed efforts to address the world's poor and the inevitable rise in global poverty. The proposal of increasing cuts in federal benefits programs thus further banded religious groups together in a call to action to protect America's poor.
"Congress and the President must come together and focus on poverty that exists across the nation, and not exacerbate poverty [by passing] a budget that further impoverishes one group of poor people in order to help those impoverished or further impoverished by the hurricanes," said Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Church, according to a released statement.
Griswold urged Congress to abandon the budget reconciliation process and issued an "Action Alert," calling Episcopalians to contact their Senators and Representatives to put a stop to the increased cuts.
With America facing the devastation of the recent hurricanes and the exposed reality of the existing poverty in the nation, Christian leaders have called the budget cuts "inconceivable."
"It is inconceivable — in the wake of the devastating impact of the recent natural disasters — that Congress would propose $50 billion in cuts," said the letter.
Christian leaders celebrated a victory when Senate panels dropped the Food Stamp Program on Wednesday from the trimming of federal spending.
Food stamps are still at risk of being cut, however, as the House enters the vote next week.
"The United States budget is a reflection of who we are and what our priorities are as a nation," stated the NCC leaders. "We urge you to put aside partisan politics and pass a federal budget that reflects the moral priorities of the wide majority of Americans."
Signers of the letter include:
Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Jr.
National Council of Churches USA
Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar
National Council of Churches USA
The Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey
Alliance of Baptists
His Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Friend Retha McCutchen
Friends United Meeting
Friend Thomas H. Jeavons
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
His Grace Bishop Dimitrios
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Rev. Michael E. Livingston
International Council of Community Churches
His Grace Metropolitan Zachariah Nicholovos
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
The Rev. David L. Wickmann
Moravian Church in America
Rev. William Shaw
National Baptist Convention USA
Dr. Melvin Wade
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
The Most Reverend Robert M. Nemkovich
Polish National Catholic Church of America
The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Rev. Dr. Major L. Jemison
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Rev. Tyrone Pitts
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Ms. Christine Laintner
Swedenborgian Church
The Rev. John H. Thomas
United Church of Christ
Mr. James Winkler
General Board of Church and Society
United Methodist Church
