wfn.org | On 'Justice Wednesday' Group Prays for Budget that Aids the Poor

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For Immediate Release
					
Contact: Leslie Tune, 202.297.2191

On 'Justice Wednesday' Religious Groups Pray for a Federal Budget that
Supports the Poor

Washington, D.C., April 28, 2005--While media and much of public attention
has been focused on the Social Security debate and whether or not Republicans
should end the filibuster, the fiscal year 2006 budget, which includes deep
cuts in funding for human services, is on the verge of passing virtually
unnoticed.

But a group of clergy and others representing the "Let Justice Roll: Faith
and Community Voices Against Poverty" coalition went from office to office
yesterday praying that Senators would approve a budget that does more to
support children, the poor, families, the elderly, veterans and persons with
disabilities.

"It appears that this budget will be approved without having generated much
attention. However, we thought it important to let Senator Frist and others
know that we are praying for them and we hope that this budget will reflect
consideration for the poor and those who are most in need in our country,"
said Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, the Director of the Washington Office for
the Presbyterian Church (USA).

In what they called "Justice Wednesday" to highlight the definition of
"justice" in biblical texts, namely concern for the poor and those most in
need; the group offered prayers in the offices of Senators Arlen Specter
(R-Pa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Gordon Smith
(R-Ore.), in addition to Senator Bill Frist's (R-Tenn.). They also had a
brief conversation in the hallway of the Dirksen building with Senator Jeff
Sessions (R-Ala.).

According to one of the prayers written by Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, the
National Council of Churches' Associate General Secretary for Justice &
Advocacy, and a participant in today's pilgrimage, "We pray you will not
allow hardened hearts or political egos to darken the moral vision of those
who have been elected to work for the common good of society. We pray that
these budget deliberations will be open and honest-with focused and fervent
attention on recognizing and easing the burdens of America's poorest
families," said the prayer that was left with Senate staffers following each
visit. 

This is not the first attempt by the "Let Justice Roll" coalition to urge
Congress to pass a federal budget that reflects the moral values of the
nation. The group released a "Vision of Hope & Justice for the FY 2006
Budget" in March and sent a letter signed by more than 40 local, state and
national organizations to the House and Senate leadership earlier this month
expressing its opposition to the budget resolution.

"Most troubling to us is how cuts in services for those in desperate need are
being used as a solution to cut the deficit while wealthy populations receive
additional tax cuts. This is immoral and reflects a fundamental imbalance in
addressing our nation's debt," said the letter. "We call on you to support
policies that reflect the moral values of our country more than the economic
comfort of the few."
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