National Jesuit News » Debt Crisis http://www.jesuit.org/blog Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:00:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Jesuits Join With Other Religious Leaders to Protect Programs for Poor During the Debt Crisis Debate http://www.jesuit.org/blog/index.php/2011/08/jesuits-join-with-other-religious-leaders-to-protect-programs-for-poor-during-the-debt-crisis-debate/ http://www.jesuit.org/blog/index.php/2011/08/jesuits-join-with-other-religious-leaders-to-protect-programs-for-poor-during-the-debt-crisis-debate/#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:29:42 +0000 NJN Editor http://www.jesuit.org/blog/?p=3487 Late last night, President Obama and the leaders of Congress hammered out a down-to-the-wire deal to raise the federal debt limit, finally breaking a partisan impasse that had driven the nation to the brink of a government default.The deal could clear Congress as soon as tonight — only 24 hours before Treasury officials said they would begin running short of cash to pay the nation’s bills.

Jesuit Father Thomas Smolich, president of the Jesuit Conference of the United States, recently added his signature to an ecumenical and interfaith “Circle of Protection” Statement urging the Federal Government to protect programs for the poor. The statement was signed by more than 50 leaders of Christian denominations, organizations and religious orders across the country and marked the strongest and most unified Christian voice in the budget debate. In it, these leaders asked Congress and President Obama to remember that the most vulnerable who are served by government programs should not bear the brunt of the budget-cutting burden.

The Jesuits continue to urge people to reach out to their elected officials today to reiterate that Congress should give moral priority to programs that protect the life and dignity of poor and vulnerable people in these difficult economic times.

 

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