wfn.org | [ENS] Out of Deep Waters: Gulf Coast bishops write Congress about

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

Monday, November 14, 2005

Out of Deep Waters: Gulf Coast bishops write Congress about hurricane
relief Letter urges justice and decisions that respect the dignity of all

ENS111405-01

[Office of Government Relations] The U.S. Congress is considering
more than 150 bills related to the damage wrought during this year's
hurricane season.

The bishops of three Gulf Coast dioceses most affected by the damage
wrote November 9 to all members of the U.S. House and Senate outlining
the values they hope would be considered as the 109th Congress considers
hurricane related legislation.

Bishops Philip M. Duncan II (Diocese of Central Gulf Coast) Duncan
Gray III (Diocese of Mississippi), and Charles E. Jenkins (Diocese of
Louisiana), working with the Episcopal Church's Office of Government
Relations in Washington D.C., said those values "come out of our faith
promise to strive for justice and protect the dignity of every human
being and are fundamental to Christ's admonition that we serve the least
among us."

The full text of their letter follows:

November 9, 2005

Dear Members of Congress:

We write as three bishops of The Episcopal Church whose dioceses suffered
enormous devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our concerns are
ones shared by all in our church as we call upon the Congress to help
us address not only the aftermath of the hurricanes, but also what our
Presiding Bishop has called "the first devastation, before the havoc
wreaked by wind or water, is in fact the poverty."

We understand that there are now over 150 bills before Congress related
to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We do not have the resources to comment
on each of them, but we do feel that there are values which should be
considered as they are addressed - values that come out of our faith
promise to strive for justice and protect the dignity of every human
being and are fundamental to Christ's admonition that we serve the least
among us. In our own dioceses, we are seeking to discern our way forward
using resources both traditional - prayer - and innovative - strategic
planning. As you move forward with your legislative agenda, we hope you
will consider these guidelines and examples of their significance:

As we rebuild we must remain mindful that the effects of poverty,
racism and difference in class exist not only in the areas that were
devastated by the hurricanes but in nearly every community in the United
States. Therefore funds to help the victims of the hurricanes must not
come at the expense of others who are poor. As a nation we have a shared
responsibility to provide the essentials of nutrition, shelter, health
care, and education for our most vulnerable residents. Justice is not
served if in order to meet the needs of hurricane survivors, Congress
cuts programs that serve the least of these, such as the Earned Income
Tax Credit, child care and child welfare services.

Congress should support short- and long-term relief and reconstruction
by allowing increased flexibility for programs to accommodate the
many unusual circumstances resulting from the hurricanes. This would
include: allowing access to health care through Medicaid; relaxing
residence requirements for existing programs; giving legal immigrants
assistance from programs for which they are not normally eligible;
allowing temporary relief from the new bankruptcy reform legislation;
and assistance with education.

Congress should not take steps that are counterproductive to the
long-term reconstruction and rebuilding of healthy communities. We need
incentives that will encourage the return of residents and the interest
of new ones. We already know that inattention to our environment was a
significant factor in the damage to our area. We applaud the President's
decision to reverse his suspension of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage
requirements in our region; but we remain opposed to his granting of
exemptions from Affirmative Action Program (AAP) requirements for new
federal contracts handling Hurricane Katrina relief and legislation that
would waive environmental regulations.

We have been deeply moved by the generosity and compassion from those
at home and throughout the world in the wake of the hurricanes. Yet we
know that our own resources - whether individuals, parishes, dioceses,
Episcopal Relief and Development or other providers - nor the many
religious and non-profit organization now working in the Gulf Region can
do what needs to be done without full partnership with government. The
federal government has and should continue to support the charitable
social programs of faith-based groups where all are served and all are
eligible for employment. Our own parishes, schools, and camps continue
to serve those dislocated by the hurricanes.

We are grateful for the monies already allocated by Congress, but we all
recognize that this rebuilding must be a long-term commitment by all
of us.  We know, for instance, that in Florida there are those still
living in FEMA trailers a year after the hurricanes of 2004. We are
hopeful that Congress will pass the Affordable Housing Fund as part of
the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act but without provisions that would
undermine participation in the democratic process. We are pledged to
long-term development and to rebuilding in ways that address fundamental
problems of poverty about which we have all reached a new understanding.

In the baptismal promise that we Episcopalians repeat throughout our
lives, we state that "we will strive for justice and . respect the dignity
of every human being." In the aftermath of these devastating hurricanes,
we urge you in your deliberations to address not only the immediate
needs but the underlying injustices that added so greatly to this tragedy.

Sincerely,

The Rt. Rev. Philip M. Duncan II, Diocese of Central Gulf Coast The
Rt. Rev. Duncan Gray III, Diocese of Mississippi The Rt. Rev. Charles
E. Jenkins, Diocese of Louisiana

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