Pastors lobby for poor in heated deficit talks

WASHINGTON (RNS) More than 4,000 pastors told Congress that churches
would not be able to fill the gap facing social service providers if
deep cuts are made to the federal budget to bring the deficit under
control.

Christian leaders from across the country, led by Sojourners founder
Jim Wallis, sent an open letter to lawmakers on Wednesday (July 13)
pushing back on the assumption that churches and faith-based
organizations will be able to pick up where government programs drop
off.

The letter praised Medicare, Medicaid and the Women, Infants and
Children program by name, insisting that they are "serving the people we
serve."

"In every one of our congregations we have programs that help those
in need with jobs, clothing, food, or counseling" the letter said.

"Still, we can't meet the crushing needs by ourselves. (Faith-based)
nutrition programs only make up 6 percent of total feeding programs in
the country while the government makes up 94 percent."

Wallis told reporters he's frustrated by the tone of budget
conversations in Washington, and accused lawmakers of saying "nothing
about people, real people, who are going to really suffer and pay the
price of bad decisions in (Washington D.C.)."

Wallis also spoke about several issues he believes
disproportionately affect America's poor and offered harsh words for
America's tax system, saying, "The tax code in America is sinful."

The letter is part of a larger campaign organized by Sojourners, a
Washington-based anti-poverty group, that includes a full-page ad in
Wednesday's edition of Politico urging lawmakers to consider the moral
implications of budget decisions.

On Thursday, an interfaith coalition is set to launch a similar
18-month campaign for the poor, which will include daily prayer vigils
at the Capitol. The coalition chided lawmakers for cuts to the poor
while "while shielding the wealthiest from any additional sacrifice."