wfn.org | NCC Expresses Dismay at Budget passage in house

["NCC News" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

NCC General Secretary expresses dismay
at House passage of 2006 federal budget

Washington, December 19, 2005 -- The general secretary of the National
Council of Churches USA has expressed disappointment and dismay about the
passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of the 2006 federal budget.

The Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar said the budget "is immoral and hurts those who it
should be helping."

The House version of the budget cuts almost $40 billion over five years in
legislation described by church leaders and other persons of faith as
victimizing medical and education programs for the poor.

"Rather than being fiscally responsible, members of the House have been
morally reprehensible by cutting programs that help those most in need while
giving tax cuts to the wealthiest among us," Edgar said.

Edgar's full statement follows:

We are disappointed and dismayed that the House of Representatives voted to
pass the 2006 fiscal year budget -- a budget that is immoral and hurts those
who it should be helping. As members of the House of Representatives go home
to celebrate the holidays with their families, they do so having done a great
disservice to the millions of families they are supposed to serve. Rather
than being fiscally responsible, members of the House have been morally
reprehensible by cutting programs that help those most in need while giving
tax cuts to the wealthiest among us. Having been born into poverty, I can
only imagine that Jesus would be horrified by this budget. 

The story of Jesus' birth recounts the treasured gifts that the wise men
brought to Mary and Joseph -- gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Today,
by passing this abysmal budget, the House has delivered hunger, hardship and
suffering to millions of American families. The Book of James addresses this
issue of favoring the rich over the poor: "But you have dishonored the poor .
. . You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the
scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you show
partiality (to the rich), you commit sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors." (James 2:6a; 8-9)

We will continue to pray that the Senate will respond differently -- that
they will have the courage to make a difference in the lives of children, the
elderly, veterans, and low-income families by voting against this budget that
will undoubtedly have a devastating impact on their lives. 

Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar
General Secretary
National Council of Churches USA

The National Council of Churches USA is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican,
Orthodox, historic African American and peace communions representing 45
million Christians in 100,000 local congregations in the United States.

Contact NCC News: Leslie Tune, 202-544-2350, ltune@ncccusa.org, or Philip E.
Jenks, 212-870-2252, pjenks@ncccusa.org