Lefty Church Leaders Denounces Trump’s Budget as “Immoral”

on July 3, 2017

President Trump released his 2018 budget reform proposal in May, cultivating controversial debate in the public square. President Trump’s budget demands grave cuts in spending totaling $1 trillion from social programs such as Medicaid, SNAPs (food stamp program), education programs, farming subsides, etc. The administration is confident these spending reductions will increase economic growth. Meanwhile, opponents condemn the administration’s proposed $54 billion increase in military spending at the expense the aforementioned social programs.

The Circle of Protection participated in a press conference to express their serious concerns with the 2018 budget proposal. The group represents a variety of different traditions of Christianity that “come together around the biblical mandate to protect poor and vulnerable people.” The sole mission of the group is to analyze proposed budgets and help protect the programs that help the poor. They issued a written statement:

The Trump Administration’s budget proposal has now been presented to Congress, we believe budgets are moral documents; they reveal our values and show our priorities, whether for families, churches, organizations, or government. We have deep moral concerns about the way this budget would impact those we are called to protect.

Many of the church leaders affiliated with the Christian group believe “the biblical prophets teach us that our security depends in part on upholding justice for people in poverty.” Thus, for them it is not a political issue, but a faith issue. Throughout the press conference, each leader emphasized the importance of budgets being moral documents. The Reverend Bishop Frank J Dewane argued budgets promote what is “necessary to lead a truly human life which includes food, clothing, healthcare, work, education, and more.”

Dr. Shannon Watkins boldly claimed “Jesus would not have liked much about this budget. This budget makes American children go hungry.” She cited the 25% cut in SNAPs which other faith leaders capitalized on during the conference. The Reverend Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune also did not hold back from expressing her opinions, hailing the budget proposal as “mean, callous, cruel, and devastating” and asserting that it “legislates evil.”

Ten Christian leaders total voiced their serious concerns on the ill effects of the budget cuts on the poor. While their intentions may be compassionate, these church leaders seemed to suggest that government is the main source of help for these impoverish communities, not the Church. They assumed that the government plays a vital role in providing assistance to the less fortunate and only debated the extent of government aide.

Love thy neighbor is central to Jesus’ teachings. The Circle of Protection leaders’ message of love is validated through Scripture, but their proposed means of helping the poor is simplistic, based on their conclusions presented during the press conference.

One leader, Lieutenant Ron Busroe, argued that the churches could not afford to help the country’s impoverish population. Instead, the government has to supply virtually all the necessary resources to alleviate their needs. He stated, “If every church would step up to close the 2.5 trillion dollar gap, every church would have to give away 714,000 dollars a year.” Not to imply that Busroe does not believe the Church should help the impoverished, but he seems to suggest that is not the primary role of the Church.

Jesus demands His followers to care for others. Government is a means for doing so but the Church is central. The federal budget is not the “moral document” that should guide the Church’s approach to poverty; the moral document Christian leaders should be following is Scripture. Scripture does not tell us to look to government for help in times of need, but to each other.

  1. Comment by John on July 3, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    One of the reasons our federal and state budgets are out of control is the fact that churches are no longer taking care of the needy. Perhaps we should start cutting the large staffs and the pay of so called church leaders and start putting that money towards helping the poor. Personally, I believe so called church leaders are much more interested in playing politics (with the protection of the cloth) than in leading their flocks. While I still attend church every Sunday and participate in all the functions, I have decided that no current church leader I know is worthy of our respect. Stay out of politics and putting your face in the press (like those church leaders Jesus talked about) and get to work doing what the laity pays you for…preaching, teaching, visiting, and helping to feed, cloth, and otherwise serve the poor.

  2. Comment by David Harrington on July 3, 2017 at 8:01 pm

    Amen. Could not state any clearer. Thanks

  3. Comment by Kevin S. on July 4, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Beginning with Wallis’ $200k salary.

  4. Comment by Jerry on July 8, 2017 at 12:04 am

    Agree with the previous comments. Would also add that the Trump budget does not cut Medicaid spending. Rather it is controlled growth of about 17% over 10 years. Obamacare spending would have been much higher, so liberals are calling it a cut! The biggest savings in Medicaid will come from removing able bodied people from the rolls. The net result is there will be more money for the truly needy women and children that need and deserve help!

  5. Comment by Penny Bagby on July 8, 2017 at 1:06 am

    Jesus did not ever ask his disciples to help him start a government program to feed the poor or give them medical treatment. He did not say that Caesar was ultimately responsible. The number one responsibility of our government is the protection of our nation. We are to render unto Caesar and unto God — Caesar will direct the armies and the church in God’s name should take care of the rest. If all the members of God’s global church gave 10% we would have more than enough to take care of the needy with no help from the government at all.

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