That which you do to the least of these you do to me - Jesus

ELCA NEWS SERVICE November 1, 2005

All ELCA Bishops Urge Congress to Oppose Budget Reconciliation 05-209-JB CHICAGO (ELCA) -- All 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), plus the presiding bishop, are urging members of the U.S. Congress to oppose any attempt to move forward on the budget reconciliation measures the lawmakers are now considering. Earlier the ELCA announced that 52 bishops signed a letter on the budget reconciliation process shortly after it was presented to them at the Sept. 30-Oct. 1 meeting here of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. Now it is unanimous, and the letter has been sent to members of Congress again, informing them that the ELCA bishops are united on the subject. The Nov. 1 issue of "Roll Call," the newspaper of Capitol Hill, contains a full-page ad with the letter, signed by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, and names of all of theELCA bishops, listed with the states in which they serve.

The bishops said they represent diverse regions but speak with one voice about the "fundamental responsibility of the government, as an expression of the will of the people, to protect the least of its citizens and provide for the poorest in our society." This year's federal budget resolution binds Congress to reconcile or cut mandatory or entitlement programs by $35 billion. More cuts may be considered. The U.S. Gulf Coast hurricane disaster and its consequences have added pressure to stop the reconciliation process for this year, because the programs to be cut are an important part of the much-needed disaster relief services, the bishops said in their letter. The bishops noted the cuts to mandatory spending called for in the reconciliation package "would decrease valuable assistance to millions of low-income families, children, elderly and people with disabilities." Examples of programs to be cut in the reconciliation process cited by the bishops included Food Stamps, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The "biblical record" is clear, the bishops said. "The Scriptural witness on which our faith tradition stands speaks dramatically of God's concern for and solidarity with poor and oppressed communities while speaking firmly in opposition to governments whose policies place narrow economic interests driven by greed above the common good." The bishops strongly urged each member of Congress "to reflect on your role as a government official in providing for the least in our society and (we) ask that you oppose any attempt to move forward with the budget reconciliation process." Hanson had joined with four other U.S. religious leaders Sept. 13 to urge Congress to stop the federal budget reconciliation process for 2006.---

A copy of the ELCA bishops' letter to Congress is at http://www.ELCA.org/advocacy on the ELCA Web site.