It shouldn’t surprise me, but it still does. Republicans use religion, especially Christianity, as a way to suggest they are being upright and moral while what they do undermines many of the basic moral principles of the Christian faith they claim to follow. This was in full force with the House Republicans when they prayed that the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would be passed in the House. As they knew they did not need to pray, that they already had enough votes to pass the bill, the prayer was an act to make it seem like they were open to God and God’s ways and that it was God who made sure the bill was passed. It was all a show, and sadly, many Christians have been taken in by it instead of looking to the bill and seeing how it goes against God’s will. For the bill, and the principles behind is, stand in stark contrast to God’s preferential option for the poor; instead, it, and those behind the bill, promote what can only be said to be a preferential option for the rich. The bill not only will make the poor and needy pay more so that the rich and powerful can receive extra tax breaks, the bill will leave more poor and needy because they will be denied basic goods and services needed for their survival. Even non-profits which help the poor are threatened by the bill.
When the bill is examined, it is clear that the House Republicans support a bill which not only will drastically increase the deficit so that the ultra-rich not only get richer, but give them more governmental protections (by not only removing safety regulations, but the means the poor have to deal with employers who would mercilessly exploit them). The bill cuts many basic functions of government because the House Republicans, and their supporters, think working for the common good is not the function of government but charity – demonstrating the way they do not know what government is about. The bill not only can be seen as another blow in the Republican war against the poor, but also, a strike against the people of the United States in general as it tries to undermine the separation of powers by denying the judicial branch proper judicial review.
The way Republicans and their bill treat the poor has led many to call the bill a reverse Robin Hood bill; in effect, it promotes the goals of Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, saying they represented what government should do. Those who have no money and need help will not get it, indeed, they are told they must pay the government even more of what they do not have. Those who are able to remain on Medicaid will be told they have to pay a fee every time they receive medical care, which means, since they do not have the money, they will avoid preventative care and when they do go to a doctor, it will be during emergency situations which not only could have been prevented, but will prove to be more mostly for the government than if routine preventative care was supported. This is one of many reasons why the bill is said to lead to increase the federal deficit, because Republicans seem to not understand that many of the costs they want to initially reject prove to be less costly for the government and the people than waiting until things get worse and the harm is not only far greater, but the price tag is far greater as well.
Those who have student loans will find that if they lose their job, and make no money as they look for work, the income based repayment plan the bill puts in place will still require a minimum payment every month (and not 0 as it always has been when someone does not have the income to pay); they will also be told that lack of work no longer will qualify for deference. Republicans act like the unemployed can easily get hired, no matter their mental or physical condition, and no matter their age; the reality is different – many people have physical, mental and social reasons why they cannot do certain jobs, and when they are older, they find it difficult (if not impossible) to get hired. Thus, when workers lose their job, or others, who have not had a job for some time (such as divorcees who took care of their children while their spouse worked), will find it difficult to get a job and despite how much they try, they will be told they are lazy and worthless and do not deserve help. Talk about rejecting basic human dignity!
Republicans pretend they are being reasonable, but when their policies are examined, it is clear, they are not; their policies are destroying the job market, from the way they are having mass layoffs from governmental work, to the way various industries have to fire countless workers thanks to tariffs, supply chain issues, and the promotion of AI and robots have changed the work environment. It will only get worse as the bill’s policies will lead to the destruction of the health care industry, with many hospitals and doctor’s offices closing, as Medicaid and Medicare are what keeps them open. Then we will see far greater numbers of people competing for less and less jobs. What will happen? It is easy to see. More and more of the population will become poor, told they are worthless and deserve to suffer, and over time, they will lose whatever financial resources they had, become homeless, and then find the government has made it impossible to live as a homeless person as what they need to do to survive has become criminalized. In the end, countless numbers of people will needlessly die.
I cannot understand how any Republican can say they are following Christian morality and God’s ways when they are destroying the basic functions of the government in order to help the rich get richer. Jesus made it clear that the rich who exploit people in that manner, the rich who hurt the poor, are attacking him and will face him in the last judgment. He will ask them why they made him suffer in such a way. He said many who have called him Lord, who did all kinds of things in his name, will be told they denied him and will have to face the consequences of their evil actions. He literally said, “woe to the rich.” How can Republicans all get together and pray for a bill which is cruel, which has countless elements to it which gut basic services of the government, which give way to the rich what they want, and think they serve Jesus in doing this? They are serving Mammon and Jesus said no one can serve God and Mammon.
I continue to be saddened by the Christian response to what is going on in the United States, and the radical shift the government is taking. Some tell me to stop being concerned about politics. Some tell me to stop asking the government to engage acts of charity. They think they are justified in telling me both by saying that is what Scripture indicates. Have they read Scripture? Scripture doesn’t say government is not to promote the common good and to ignore the rights and needs of the poor. Far from it! Government is meant to promote the common good, and those involved in it are judged and condemned by God constantly when they use their power to undermine basic principles of justice, especially justice for the poor, the needy, the orphan, the widow, and the migrant. When a society embraces such injustices, such as seen with Sodom and Gomorrah, they are judged and condemned by God for sins which cry up to heaven. Many prophets warned the rulers in Israel what would happen if they failed to promote social justice as God expected them to do, and when they ignored the prophets (that they would be invaded and suffer all kinds of great indignities) The prophets were also told not to be so political, not to judge and condemn the state, and false prophets rose up saying God will protect the people of Israel. The people who tell me to be silent remind me of those false prophets. I will not be silent. I will continue speaking out. I will follow what Christ taught, what the prophets announced, what Scripture indicates: the preferential option for the poor, and the need for the state, and not just people, to protect the common good. Justice demands it.
* This Is Part LXI Of My Personal (Informal) Reflections And Speculations Series
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