ELCA Presiding Bishop Urges Defeat of 'Budget Reconciliation Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. (ELCA) - The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the leaders of four other mainline church denominations called on the U.S. House of Representatives to defeat the fiscal year 2006 Budget Reconciliation package, which, the church leaders said, cuts safety net programs for the poor.
In a Jan. 29 letter to House members the leaders said, "We write to each of you now to urge you to listen to both your hearts and your constituents, and oppose once and for all the FY '06 Budget Reconciliation Spending Reduction package when it comes before the House on February 1."
Joining Hanson were the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop, Episcopal Church; the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the general assembly, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); the Rev. John H. Thomas, general minister and president, United Church of Christ; and James Winkler, general secretary, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church.
"At each step of the complicated budget process we called on Congress to reject cuts to programs that serve the working poor, children and the elderly as unjust, particularly at a time when both the hurricanes and the U.S. Census Report on poverty brought vividly before us the need to renew our commitment to 'the least of these' among us," the leaders said.
While noting they were grateful the Food Stamp Program was spared from cuts in the final legislation, the leaders criticized cuts to other programs benefiting the poor, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and student loans.
"You now have an opportunity to redeem the image of Congress in the eyes of the nation by rejecting cuts to those who suffer in sickness, live in hunger, struggle in poverty, live in the cold and seek brighter futures through education," they said.