USCCB, CRS issue ‘action alert’ to preserve foreign aid for the poor
December 05, 2012
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services have issued an “action alert” urging Catholics to contact President Barack Obama and members of Congress in support of foreign aid to the poor.
“While our nation’s fiscal challenges are significant, poverty-focused international assistance makes up less than 1% of the U.S. federal budget,” according to the action alert. “This little bit of funding saves millions of lives around the world. Cutting this assistance will not balance the federal budget, but it will cost lives.”
“I urge you to work with your colleagues in a bipartisan way to consider everything to resolve our fiscal crisis including increased revenue, fair and just entitlement reform, as well as cuts in unnecessary military and other spending,” the alert continues. “I urge you to protect poverty-focused international relief and development assistance in FY 2013 appropriations and fiscal cliff negotiations.”
“Moreover, I ask you to avoid sequestration,” the alert continues. “Sequestration of international poverty-focused relief and development accounts would cost lives overseas. For example, as many as 276,000 people would not have access to HIV treatments, while 3.3 million people will have reduced access to life-saving food aid. Real gains in development would be reversed; as many as 656,000 fewer children would have access to a quality primary education annually.”
“Thank you for your consideration of this urgent life and death issue.”
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Posted by: wsw33410 -
Dec. 06, 2012 10:28 PM ET USA
The USCCB and CRS play on Obama team. I will not support any politically motivated agenda that they try to promote. The bishops must focus on Life, Marriage, Faith and Education - before asking us for any help on the political and social issues. This is our - LAITY - only weapon: No Money for that liberal agenda!
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Posted by: -
Dec. 06, 2012 6:51 PM ET USA
Need I remind you that our bishops enjoy magisterial authority? Pope Benedict has also reminded wealthy nations of their responsibility to the poor of other nations. Where is your allegiance to the Church? Such dissension smacks of the heresy of Americanism.
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Posted by: unum -
Dec. 06, 2012 9:13 AM ET USA
The political action of the Catholic bishops and their agencies is misleading the faithful. The advocacy of the USCCB for continued unchecked spending by the government endangers the way of life of all U.S. citizens, which includes the poor. USCCB calls for spending should be a part of calls for responsible governance of our nation in order to be moral. Instead, the bishops' continue to call for unchecked spending in support of the liberal progressive agenda.
