Neglect of poor in US budget bill immoral, says leading evangelical
-19/11/05
Social ju
Neglect of poor in US budget bill immoral, says leading evangelical
-19/11/05
Social justice campaigner and Christian leader Jim Wallis has launched a swingeing attack on the ìimmoralityî of some US politicians after their failure to support vulnerable communities in a budget bill.
In spite of enormous pressure from churches and welfare groups, the US House of Representatives yesterday narrowly passed a budget proposal (217-215) that, if enacted, would make severe cuts to our nation’s most vital anti-poverty programmes ñ such as food stamps, Medicaid, and child care.
Analysts say the margin was small because of the phone calls, e-mails and letters to newspapers and Representatives from a broad range of concerned citizens.
In the coming weeks, the budget will face a House-Senate negotiation, followed by separate votes in each chamber.
ìWe will continue to raise our voices to demand justice for the poorest among usî say Sojourners and the Faithful America coalition, part of the growing progressive religious voice in the USA.
Responding to the House Budget Reconciliation Billís failure to recognise the needs of the poorest, even after the swingeing criticisms in the wake of the devastation of New Orleans, evangelical social activist Jim Wallis quoted the Hebrew prophet Isaiah: ìWoe to you legislators of infamous laws … who refuse justice to the unfortunate, who cheat the poor among my people of their rights, who make widows their prey and rob the orphans.î
The founder of Sojourners and convener of Call to Renewal declared: ìIt is a moral disgrace to take food from the mouths of hungry children to increase the luxuries of those feasting at a table overflowing with plenty. This is not what America is about, not what the season of Thanksgiving is about, not what loving our neighbour is about, and not what family values are about.î
Wallis continued: ìThere is no moral path our legislators can take to defend a reckless, mean-spirited budget reconciliation bill that diminishes our compassion, as Jesus said, ëfor the least of these.í It is morally unconscionable to hide behind arguments for fiscal responsibility and government efficiency. It is dishonest to stake proud claims to deficit reduction when tax cuts for the wealthy that increase the deficit are the next order of business. It is one more example of an absence of morality in our current political leadership.î
He concluded that it was time for faith communities and people of conscience to ìdraw a line in the sandî against economic immorality.
[Available from Ekklesia: two books by Jim Wallis – God’s Politics, Why the American Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It; and Faith Works, Lessons on Spirituality and Social Action]
Neglect of poor in US budget bill immoral, says leading evangelical
-19/11/05
Social justice campaigner and Christian leader Jim Wallis has launched a swingeing attack on the ‘immorality’ of some US politicians after their failure to support vulnerable communities in a budget bill.
In spite of enormous pressure from churches and welfare groups, the US House of Representatives yesterday narrowly passed a budget proposal (217-215) that, if enacted, would make severe cuts to our nation’s most vital anti-poverty programmes – such as food stamps, Medicaid, and child care.
Analysts say the margin was small because of the phone calls, e-mails and letters to newspapers and Representatives from a broad range of concerned citizens.
In the coming weeks, the budget will face a House-Senate negotiation, followed by separate votes in each chamber.
‘We will continue to raise our voices to demand justice for the poorest among us’ say Sojourners and the Faithful America coalition, part of the growing progressive religious voice in the USA.
Responding to the House Budget Reconciliation Bill’s failure to recognise the needs of the poorest, even after the swingeing criticisms in the wake of the devastation of New Orleans, evangelical social activist Jim Wallis quoted the Hebrew prophet Isaiah: ‘Woe to you legislators of infamous laws … who refuse justice to the unfortunate, who cheat the poor among my people of their rights, who make widows their prey and rob the orphans.’
The founder of Sojourners and convener of Call to Renewal declared: ‘It is a moral disgrace to take food from the mouths of hungry children to increase the luxuries of those feasting at a table overflowing with plenty. This is not what America is about, not what the season of Thanksgiving is about, not what loving our neighbour is about, and not what family values are about.’
Wallis continued: ‘There is no moral path our legislators can take to defend a reckless, mean-spirited budget reconciliation bill that diminishes our compassion, as Jesus said, ëfor the least of these.’ It is morally unconscionable to hide behind arguments for fiscal responsibility and government efficiency. It is dishonest to stake proud claims to deficit reduction when tax cuts for the wealthy that increase the deficit are the next order of business. It is one more example of an absence of morality in our current political leadership.’
He concluded that it was time for faith communities and people of conscience to ‘draw a line in the sand’ against economic immorality.
[Available from Ekklesia: two books by Jim Wallis – God’s Politics, Why the American Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It; and Faith Works, Lessons on Spirituality and Social Action]