Five Mainline Protestant Leaders Call President's FY06 Budget 'Unjust'
3/8/2005 11:58:00 AM
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To: National Desk
Contact: John B. Johnson of the Episcopal Church, Office of Government Relations, 800-228-0515
WASHINGTON, March 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- 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?"
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