USCCB Leaders Urge for a Circle of Protection for People who are Poor and Vulnerable

Leaders of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have played and active role in the formation of a coalition statement of evangelical, Catholic, mainline Protestant, African American and Latino Christian leaders, and are promoting the statement across the United States. They jointly state in A Circle of Protection: A Statement on Why We Need to Protect Programs for the Poor:

"In the face of historic deficits, the nation faces unavoidable choices about how to balance needs and resources and allocate burdens and sacrifices. These choices are economic, political—and moral. As Christians, we believe the moral measure of the debate is how the most poor and vulnerable people fare. We look at every budget proposal from the bottom up — how it treats those Jesus called “the least of these” (Matthew 25:45). They do not have powerful lobbies, but they have the most compelling claim on our consciences and common resources.

The Christian community has an obligation to help them be heard, to join with others to insist that programs that serve the most vulnerable in our nation and around the world are protected. We know from our experience serving hungry and homeless people that these programs meet basic human needs and protect the lives and dignity of the most vulnerable. We believe that God is calling us to pray, fast, give alms and to speak out for justice.

As Christian leaders, we are committed to fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice. We are also committed to resist budget cuts that undermine the lives, dignity, and rights of poor and vulnerable people. Therefore, we join with others to form a Circle of Protection around programs that meet the essential needs of hungry and poor people at home and abroad.

Budgets are moral documents, and how we reduce future deficits are historic and defining moral choices. As Christian leaders, we urge Congress and the administration to give moral priority to programs that protect the life and dignity of poor and vulnerable people in these difficult times, our broken economy, and our wounded world.

It is the vocation and obligation of the church to speak and act on behalf of those Jesus called “the least of these.” This is our calling, and we will strive to be faithful in carrying out this mission.”

As the Church all over the world celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, let us give witness to the Risen Christ and accept the call to continue his ministry of evangelization and redemption by protecting people in our midst and across the world who are poor and suffering; by ensuring that the direly needed effort to balance our Nation's budget is not done on the backs, or at the expense, of those among us who are most vulnerable.

To read the entire statement and learn which church groups are part of the coalition, go to: http://www.circleofprotection.us/

Jay Brown

Director, Office of Justice and Peace

Catholic Diocese of Richmond