Bishops exhort Congress: no ‘disproportionate cuts’ to anti-poverty programs

July 28, 2011

The chairmen of two committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are urging the House of Representatives not to make “disproportionate cuts” to anti-poverty programs.

Released in advance of a critical vote in the House of Representatives, the bishops' statement is clearly designed to encourage opposition to a Republican plan for budget cuts. The USCCB statement suggests "raising adequate revenues"--presumably by tax increases--as a way of preserving entitlement programs.

“We acknowledge the difficult challenges that the Congress, Administration and government at all levels face to get our financial house in order: fulfilling the demands of justice and moral obligations to future generations; controlling future debt and deficits; and protecting the lives and dignity of those who are poor and vulnerable,” Bishop Stephen Blaire and Bishop Howard Hubbard said in a July 26 letter.

“A just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons,” they continued. “It requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and retirement programs fairly.”

The prelates, who chair the US bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and Committee on International Justice and Peace, added:

We fear the human and social costs of substantial cuts to programs that serve families working to escape poverty, especially food and nutrition, child development and education, and affordable housing.

We also fear the costs of undermining international assistance which is an essential tool to promote human life and dignity, advance solidarity with poorer nations, and enhance global security. Such assistance supports a wide range of life-saving programs, including: drugs to combat diseases; assistance to poor farmers and orphans; food aid for starving people; aid to victims of natural disasters; and help to refugees fleeing for their lives. The House proposal will require massive cuts in all these areas. We support continuing reform of programs that serve poor people to make them even more effective.

Following the release of the bishops’ letter, the USCCB’s Office of Government Relations urged Catholics to lobby against such cuts. “Unfortunately, very few advocate the priority claim of poor and vulnerable people, which makes our voices so much more important and prophetic,” the office’s action alert stated.

 

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Further information:

• Bishops to House: Budget Cannot Rely on Disproportionate Cuts in Services to Poor Persons, Requires Shared Sacrifice by All (USCCB)
• Full text of bishops’ letter (USCCB)
• Protect our Poor and Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters (USCCB)