The Mainline Religious Community Speaks Out Against Bush's Budget

The Mainline Religious Community Speaks Out

The Episcopal Church, USA
Evangelical Lutheran church in America
Presbyterian church (u.s.a.)
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH110 Maryland Avenue, NE
Suite 309
Washington, D.C. 20002
202-547-7300
202-547-4457 (Fax)

Joint Statement

We are preachers, and so, in explaining our opposition to
the 2006 Federal Budget that President Bush has sent to Congress, it
seems only fitting that we should begin with Scripture.

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who
feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named
Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels
to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades,
where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames"

The passage comes from 16th chapter of the Gospel according to Luke,
and it contains a warning that should deeply trouble those of us who
live in a wealthy nation. As the story continues, the rich man implores Abraham to raise Lazarus from the dead and send him to the
house of his brothers so that they may be spared his torment.

"They have Moses and the prophets," Abraham replies. "They should
listen to them." The rich man says, "No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent." And Abraham
answers, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

In telling this story, Jesus makes clear that perpetrating economic
injustice is among the gravest of sins. Yet self-interest is so deeply
ingrained in each one of us, he says, that we will not renounce it,
even should someone rise from the dead. Jesus was right about that. It
was he who rose from the dead to save us from greed and myriad other
sins. Yet those who have much continue feasting, even as those who have little remain at their gates.
Like many Americans, we read our daily newspaper through the lens of
faith, and when we see injustice, it is our duty to say so.

The 2006 Federal Budget that President Bush has sent to Capitol Hill
is unjust. It has much for the rich man and little for Lazarus.
According to the White House's own numbers, this budget would move 300,000 people off food stamps in the next five years. It would cut the funds that allow 300,000 children to receive day care. It would reduce funding for Medicaid by $45 billion over the next ten years, and this at a time when 45 million Americans-the highest level on record-are already without health insurance.

These cuts would be alarming in any circumstances, but in the context
of the 2006 budget, they are especially troubling. For even as it
reduces aid to those in poverty, this budget showers presents on the
rich. If passed in its current form, it would make permanent tax cuts
that have bestowed nearly three-quarters of the "relief" on one-fifth
of the county. If passed in its current form, it would include whopping new cuts that would benefit, almost exclusively, those with
household incomes of more than $200,000 per year. If passed in its
current form, it would take Jesus' teaching on economic justice and
stands it on its head.

Some contend that these cuts will stimulate the economy and improve
life for all Americans, but we believe that stocking the rich man's
larder is a peculiar strategy for getting Lazarus more food. Not only
does this policy rest on dubious economic assumptions, but it asks the
poor to pay the cost for a prosperity in which they may never share.

Some contend that works of mercy are not the business of the government but of private citizens. But in what other area of our
national life do we formulate policies uninformed by our deepest values?

Some contend that with the proper support faith-based charities will
step forward to fill the gap created by the government's retreat. But
this flies in the face of the lessons that we, as religious leaders,
have learned first hand. Our churches operate thousands of charities
from the parochial to the international. Believe us when we tell you
that neither we, nor our Evangelical brothers and sisters, nor our
friends of other faiths have anywhere near the resources to turn back
the rising tide of poverty in this country. We know that programs,
whether governmental or non-profit, can change people's lives for the
better. New situations challenge us to respond to new conditions and
to support those who are in transition out of poverty.
Sadly, the 2006 budget will send more people searching for food in
cupboards that, quite frequently, are bare.

Our churches will continue their ameliorative ministries. But it is not enough for us as a Church or a society to be merciful. We must remember the admonition of the prophet Micah. "And what does the
Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah's choice of verbs is instructive. We are not to love justice or preach justice, we are to do justice-to act,
and, when necessary, to struggle.

We urge the members of our churches, of other churches and other
faiths, and all whose conscience compels them to do justice to join us
in opposing this budget. Write to your representatives. Write to your local newspaper. Join the organizations working to obtain justice for
the 36 million Americans living below the poverty line, the 45 million
without health insurance and the unknown millions struggling to keep
their families from slipping into these ever increasing ranks.
Together, let us pledge ourselves to creating a nation in
which economic policies are infused with the spirit of the man
who began his public ministry almost 2,000 years ago by proclaiming that God had anointed him "to bring good news to the poor."

Signed by:
The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, USA
The Right Reverend Mark Hanson
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American
The Reverend Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.)
The Reverend John H. Thomas
General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
Mr. James Winkler
General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, United
Methodist Church
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Press Release
The Episcopal Church, USA
Evangelical Lutheran church in America
Presbyterian church (u.s.a.)
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH110 Maryland Avenue, NE
Suite 309
Washington, D.C. 20002
202-547-7300
202-547-4457 (Fax)


FIVE Mainline Protestant Leaders Call President's fy'06
Budget UNJUST"

WASHINGTON, DC: Leaders of five mainline Protestant
denominations representing over 20 million followers in the United States today called President Bush's 2006 federal budget "unjust."

Speaking together at a press conference in Washington, DC, leaders of
the Episcopal Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and United
Methodist Church invoked Luke's Gospel story of a poor man named
Lazarus laying at the gate of a rich man who ignores the poor man's
needs. When the two men die, Lazarus goes to heaven, and the rich man
to hell.

"In telling this story, Jesus makes clear that perpetrating economic
injustice is among the gravest of sins," the leaders said in a joint
statement.

"Like many Americans, we read our daily newspaper through the lens of
faith, and when we see injustice, it is our duty to say so," they
added. "The 2006 Federal Budget that President Bush has sent to Capitol Hill is unjust. It has much for the rich man and little for
Lazarus."

The statement was signed by: the Most Reverend Frank Griswold,
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, the Right Reverend Mark
Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Reverend Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the
General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of
Christ General Minister and President John H. Thomas, and James Winkler, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church

In separate statements, the church leaders pointed out areas of
particular concern. Bishop Frank Griswold said that three questions
should be asked about the budget: "Is the budget compassionate? Does
the budget strive to serve the human family, both at home and around
the world? Does the budget serve the common good?"

Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick quoted the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by saying it, "Calls on Congressional
Representatives to insist on a government that follows ethical values of justice for the poor, welfare for children, hospitality to the
stranger, and assistance to the disadvantaged."

Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
pointed out that faith-based ministry "is not new" for Christian
charities. He added: "The President's proposed cuts are to the very
programs, especially the net $45 billion cut to Medicaid, that support many Lutheran social ministry organizations and the services they provide If these cuts are implemented a significant number
of these providers may become vulnerable since they operate on very
small margins. The real damage, however, is done to the people who
desperately need the services provided by LSA."

Rev. John Thomas of the United Church of Christ said: "There is no
more important moral value in this country than supporting families,
especially those who are poor. The President's budget is anything but
good news for the poor."

United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society General
Secretary James Winkler added: "How are we as a nation - the richest
nation in the world - caring for our children? The United Methodist
Council of Bishops reminds us, "The technical resources are available
to protect children from the most common diseases, to provide them with the necessities of food, shelter, clothing, and health care. What is lacking are the vision and the moral will."

The leaders concluded their joint statement saying: "We urge the
members of our churches, of other churches and other faiths, and all
whose conscience compels them to do justice to join us in opposing this budget. And we invite them to work with us on economic policies infused with the spirit of the man who began his public ministry
almost 2,000 years ago by proclaiming that God had anointed him "to
bring good news to the poor."

Advance copies of the joint statement are available by
contacting John B. Johnson at 202-548-3384. To view a copy of the media advisory for this event go to
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=43829

That's one of my favorite stories personally from the Bible (there are so many good ones to use for everything I think).