On Friday, the Reverend Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, joined with 33 other leaders of faith denominations and organizations to urge Congress duly to enact a budget that will keep our government running into the new fiscal year. They wrote:
"Our democracy rests on principles of reason, compromise, and a commitment to the common good. To hold our governance processes and financial credibility hostage to narrow priorities is not only dangerous to the nation’s near-term financial well-being, it threatens the very foundations of our democratic process and our capacity to live united in community."
Parsons continued in a separate comment:
"It is time to stop playing politics with people's wellbeing. It is the genius of our democracy that no one political ideology should determine the agenda of a nation, nor should those relying on government programs or the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury be held hostage. It is time for everyone, citizens and elected officials, to engage in good faith in the difficult and challenging work of government."
The complete text of the letter from Religious Leaders follows:
September 27, 2013
Dear Senator/Representative:
As leaders of faith communities and organizations comprising millions of people from all walks of life across our nation, we are deeply concerned by the completely avoidable budget and financial crises we are fast approaching as a nation.
Though Congress must pass the federal budget, it belongs to every American. This common fund formed of our combined tax revenues is designed to support the shared infrastructure, well-being, and long-term ethical values of our society. As people of faith we find it morally irresponsible to blockade the process by which we provide for our nation’s shared needs in a bid to force any individual legislative priority.
It would likewise be reckless to propel the United States into financial default by refusing to raise the debt ceiling for spending that Congress has already approved. Shuttering the federal government or defaulting on the nation’s financial commitments is likely to reverse our fragile economic recovery, punish the middle class, and deeply harm our most vulnerable neighbors.
Our democracy rests on principles of reason, compromise, and a commitment to the common good. To hold our governance processes and financial credibility hostage to narrow priorities is not only dangerous to the nation’s near-term financial well-being, it threatens the very foundations of our democratic process and our capacity to live united in community.
We ask that lawmakers address their concerns through the proper legislative channels. It ill serves our nation and people to stand in the way of funding federal operations or raising the debt ceiling in an effort to block implementation of health care legislation that Congress duly enacted. We ask that congressional leadership of both parties stand strong in opposing efforts to allow the will of the few to threaten the common good.
We commit to keeping you in prayer, asking that God continue to give you wisdom as you faithfully serve our nation during this time when the country most needs your principled leadership.
Sincerely,
| Ruth Messinger President American Jewish World Service | Rev. David Beckmann President Bread for the World |
| Dr. Lester A. Myers President Center of Concern | Dr. Sharon Watkins General Minister and President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) |
| Rev. John L. McCullough President and CEO Church World Service | Dr. Jack Sullivan President Disciples Justice Action Network |
| The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church | The Rev. Mark S. Hanson Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Rev. Linda Hanna Walling Executive Director Faithful Reform in Health Care | Sr. Margaret Magee, OSF President Franciscan Action Network |
| Diane Randall Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation | Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy President Interfaith Alliance |
| Dr. Sayyid Syeed National Director Islamic Society of North America | Rabbi Steve Gutow President Jewish Council for Public Affairs |
| Sr. Janet Mock, CSJ Executive Director Leadership Conference of Women Religious | Fr. Tim Mulroy, SSC U S. Regional Director Missionary Society of St. Columban |
| Salam Al-Marayati President Muslim Public Affairs Council | Sr. Gayle Lwanga Crumbley, RGS National Coordinator National Advocacy Center of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd |
| Jack Payden-Travers Director National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund | Peg Birk Transitional General Secretary National Council of Churches |
| Nancy Kaufman Chief Executive Officer National Council of Jewish Women | Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS Executive Director NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby |
| Sr. Patricia Chappell Executive Director Pax Christi USA | Rev. Gradye Parsons Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) |
| Rev. Kip B. Banks Interim General Secretary Progressive National Baptist Convention | Rabbi David Saperstein Director Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism |
| Sr. Patricia McDermott, RSM President of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Sisters of Mercy of the Americas | Rev. Jim Wallis President Sojourners |
| Rev. Peter Morales President Unitarian Universalist Association | Rev. Dr. William F. Schulz President Unitarian Universalist Service Committee |
| Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President and Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo Executive Minister, Justice and Witness Ministries United Church of Christ | Bishop Peter D. Weaver Executive Secretary, The Council of Bishops The United Methodist Church Shan Cretin General Secretary American Friends Service Committee |