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A UMNS Report
By Linda Bloom*
6:30 P.M. EDT July 14, 2011
Alfred Hardnett (right) helps Candice K. Mink with her groceries in the
food pantry at The Community Enabler Developer ministry in Anniston,
Ala.. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
View in Photo Gallery
As the U.S. Congress and President Obama wrangle over the federal budget
and debt ceiling, religious leaders are worrying about the individuals
and communities on the losing end of the battle.
It’s impossible for churches and other religious institutions to compensate
for the depth of budget cuts being proposed, said the Rev. Gradye
Parsons, stated clerk, or chief administrator, of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.).
“In the Protestant community, we’ve been in the charity business from
day one,” Parsons acknowledged. “But we cannot alone fill in the gap
that will be left if the social safety net is taken away.”
He was among a panel of leaders representing the Christian, Jewish and
Muslim faiths who spoke about their concerns over the U.S. budget
negotiations during a July 14 conference call.
The briefing was billed as “the kickoff” to an 18-month campaign by the
faith community — including daily prayer vigils near the U.S. Capitol
building during the budget negotiations — to persuade the Obama
administration and Congress to maintain a strong commitment to domestic
and international poverty programs.
Talks between the president and congressional negotiators over
increasing the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and reaching a comprehensive
deficit reduction deal have stalled.
The call’s purpose was to tell the politicians “to get down to some
serious business” as well as demand compassion and commitment “to those
who have suffered longest,” said J. Herbert Nelson, director of public
witness, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the panel moderator.
“Budgets are not simply tools to play power games,” he declared. “The budget represents the conscience of our country.”
More vulnerable
The Rev. John McCullough, a United Methodist pastor and executive
director of Church World Service, agreed that the current budget debate
is “deeply disappointing and disturbing.”
He finds it “unacceptable” that people are more economically vulnerable
than ever, even after “three generations of Americans have worked hard
to change the equation for the poor.”
Concern — not just for the poor but for the moral character of the
country — was the overriding theme of the briefing. Sayyid M. Syeed of
the Islamic Society of North America pointed out that he was being
faithful to his own tradition by talking about the devastating impact
the budget cuts could have. “We hope our leaders will understand there
is no other alternative than the budget be just and equitable,” he said.
Those working at the local level already have seen firsthand the effects
of the economic downturn on both the poor and middle class, noted
Sister Mary Hughes, a Dominican nun and president of the Leadership
Conference of Women Religious.
“We are unable to keep food pantries sufficiently stocked,” she
explained. “It is a new reality in parishes and churches that serve
those who might be described as middle class. Those who once helped to
stock those pantries now need their services.”
Rabbi Steve Gutow, president, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said
his organization is particularly concerned about proposed cuts to the
already small block grants to states for Medicaid. “We can’t allow the
poor to suffer, particularly when it comes to illness,” he said.
‘Life and death consequences’
Proposed budget cuts of as much as 30 percent to international
humanitarian aid also have “life and death consequences” for millions
around the world, McCullough pointed out.
Because such aid is less than 1percent of the budget, the cuts would
have little impact on the deficit. But, the impact from a drastic
reduction of international assistance would range from millions more
going hungry to more children dying of treatable disease to shaky
political security in economically fragile nations, he said.
Individual members of churches, temples and mosques can begin to address
the call for a fair and just budget by telling the stories of their own
economic woes, the leaders said. They also can express their faith
commitment to the poor by writing or calling their Congressional
representatives.
“It’s time for people of faith to step up and say, ‘We as Americans can
do better,’” said the Rev. Peg Chamberlin, president of the National
Council of Churches. “We must commit as a nation to a moral and
economically just budget.”
*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service multimedia reporter based in New York. Follow her at http://twitter.com/umcscribe.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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