A circle of protection for the poor

There's a new statement circulating and gaining thousands of signatures by religious leaders. This time it's being signed by people who are disquieted by the government's willingness to balance budgets on the backs of the poor.

"As Christians, we believe the moral measure of the debate is how the most poor and vulnerable people fare. We look at every budget proposal from the bottom up—how it treats those Jesus called ‘the least of these’ (Matthew 25:45). They do not have powerful lobbies, but they have the most compelling claim on our consciences and common resources. The Christian community has an obligation to help them be heard, to join with others to insist that programs that serve the most vulnerable in our nation and around the world are protected. We know from our experience serving hungry and homeless people that these programs meet basic human needs and protect the lives and dignity of the most vulnerable. We believe that God is calling us to pray, fast, give alms and to speak out for justice.

As Christian leaders, we are committed to fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice. We are also committed to resist budget cuts that undermine the lives, dignity, and rights of poor and vulnerable people. Therefore, we join with others to form a Circle of Protection around programs that meet the essential needs of hungry and poor people at home and abroad."

Read the full statement and see the list of signatories here. If you're interested in signing, there are details about how to do that here.

Hat tip to Religious Left Law.

Posted by Nicholas Knisely on April 30, 2011 5:00 PM | |
Comments (4)

Does anyone know why +Katharine Jefferts Schori and/or The Episcopal Church is not represented here? I'm disappointed.

Posted by Rosemary Elizabeth Beales [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 30, 2011 8:46 PM

To Rosemary who is looking for some sort of representation of the Episcopal Church, I suggest she look at the masthead: The Episcopal Cafe is representative of the Episcopal Church. So am I, baptized, confirmed, active and pledging!

Posted by Christi Hill [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 1, 2011 10:51 PM

Re: the first part of Christi's comment, it bears repeating occasionally that the Episcopal Café is not part of nor affiliated with the Episcopal Church, though I think all its volunteer news-gatherers and analysts are Episcopalians. (And I certainly thank God for their work!)

Posted by Lisa Fox [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 2, 2011 11:26 AM

I find it more than a little hurtful and insulting that with Jim Wallis it's either his way or the highway.

What if you'd like to have lower taxes so you can afford to invest more, to make more money so you can tithe more? What if you'd like lower spending because you feel individual Americans make better decisions on how to take care of one another than faceless bureaucrats hundreds if not thousands of miles away from the entitlement recipients?

I have a deep concern for my fellow man - I just don't know how socialism and leftist policies help him.

Yours in Christ,
Sean M. McDermott

Posted by Sean McDermott [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 5, 2011 1:10 AM

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