Bishops to congress: “The proposed cuts to programs…fail a basic moral test.”

“The Catholic bishops of the United States recognize the serious deficits our country faces, and we acknowledge that Congress must make difficult decisions about how to allocate burdens and sacrifices and balance resources and needs. However, deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility efforts must protect and not undermine the needs of poor and vulnerable people. The proposed cuts to programs in the budget reconciliation fail this basic moral test. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states it is the proper role of government to ‘make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on’ (no. 1908).

Poor and vulnerable people do not have powerful lobbyists to advocate their interests, but they have the most compelling needs.As you pursue responsible deficit reduction, the Catholic bishops join other faith leaders and people of good will urging you to protect the lives and dignity of poor and vulnerable families by putting a circle of protection around these essential programs and to refrain from cuttingprograms that serve them.”

— USCCB letter to House of Representatives on the budget, 8 May 2012.

Read it here.

For additional context, check the USCCB website.