IRD PRESS RELEASE
The Institute on Religion and Democracy
September 27, 2013
Contact: Jeff Walton office – 202-682-4131 | cell – 202-413-5639 | jwalton@TheIRD.org
Food Stamps Spark War of Words by Church Officials
“Neither the Gospel nor the poor are well served by church officials who think the height of Christian charity is merely for government to write larger checks.” – IRD President Mark Tooley
Washington, DC-Congressional fighting over the reauthorization of government assistance commonly known as “food stamps” is provoking language worthy of a religious war. Some church officials are arguing that the only faithful option for Christians is to preserve the existing growth trajectory of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Dire prophecies by some church agencies that “devastating cuts” will “increase suffering” respond to a bill from the House of Representatives to restrict SNAP’s growth.
The “Circle of Protection” has assembled evangelicals, old line Protestants and Catholics to oppose limits on food stamp growth.
On September 19 the House of Representatives approved reducing SNAP increases over the next 10 years in a program that costs nearly $80 billion annually. Food stamp recipients have increased by 70 percent since 2008, with 47 million Americans, or about 15 percent of the nation, now getting food stamps.
IRD President Mark Tooley commented:
“While IRD takes no position on programs like SNAP, we do challenge church officials who speak as if the only way to live out Christian compassion is by endorsing unrestrained growth of government programs.
“These denominational agencies discount Christians who have a variety of views on agriculture and food assistance policy. Church officials should be reluctant to endorse specific public policy proposals on issues of prudential judgment where Christians can disagree.
“Church opponents of restricting food stamp growth never quote St. Paul’s admonition: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’ The biblical view of compassion understands humans as moral beings, not just victims, who need not just assistance when afflicted, but also encouragement towards labor, and discouragement away from dependency.
“Welfare State religionists seem never to admit any ceiling to proper social spending and to fear any proposed limits to government programs as attacks on the poor. The ostensibly devastating ‘cuts’ to food stamps reportedly will only allow growth of 57 percent. Does Gospel fidelity require doubling or tripling the spending instead? And why stop there?
“In the view of many of these church officials, Jesus purportedly favors government’s constantly increasing control. Does He not affirm any brakes on state power or have no concern for unending welfare’s impact on the souls of individuals, communities, and nations? Are these church food stamp enthusiasts never willing to consider alternatives to chronic dependency?”
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