One very modest effort I learned about recently is "Circle of Protection." This is a joint effort by almost 100 national Christian leaders to address the stupid stalemate in Congress over the budget and the fiscal deficit.
From their website ( www.circleofprotection.us ) they lay out the principles of their coalition:
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.
Catholic leaders who have signed the letter to President Obama and congressional leaders include three bishops from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who are the chairs of the Committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development, International Justice and Peace, and Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. Also among Catholic signers are the presidents of Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Health Association, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, and Network.
Our Mission
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.Read their whole letter, and the programs they want to protect from idiotic sequestration, online. This effort deserves our support.
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