Some on Hill want to 'save' Christmas, but others fight for the poor

[sweetnpetite]

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Christmas drew near in Washington, the juncture of two seemingly unrelated public campaigns came to symbolize the frustrations of those working to combat poverty in the United States. As some in Congress pushed for a resolution objecting to efforts to ban traditional Christmas greetings, 114 faith-based activists volunteered to be arrested Dec. 14 on the Hill in a protest of how the House-passed budget treats the nation's poor. As part of a nationwide week of prayer and action, the protesters sang hymns and prayed as they blocked an entrance to the Cannon House Office Building. Their goal was to illustrate their dissatisfaction with the House version of the budget, which reduces taxes for the wealthy and cuts funding for many social service programs. "The House budget is a blatant reversal of biblical values," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, executive director of Sojourners and convener of Call to Renewal, a network of churches working to overcome poverty. "The faith community is outraged and is drawing a line in the sand against immoral national priorities."


http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/DailyNews/todays.asp

 

[JamesSD]

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Christmas drew near in Washington, the juncture of two seemingly unrelated public campaigns came to symbolize the frustrations of those working to combat poverty in the United States. As some in Congress pushed for a resolution objecting to efforts to ban traditional Christmas greetings, 114 faith-based activists volunteered to be arrested Dec. 14 on the Hill in a protest of how the House-passed budget treats the nation's poor. As part of a nationwide week of prayer and action, the protesters sang hymns and prayed as they blocked an entrance to the Cannon House Office Building. Their goal was to illustrate their dissatisfaction with the House version of the budget, which reduces taxes for the wealthy and cuts funding for many social service programs. "The House budget is a blatant reversal of biblical values," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, executive director of Sojourners and convener of Call to Renewal, a network of churches working to overcome poverty. "The faith community is outraged and is drawing a line in the sand against immoral national priorities."


http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/DailyNews/todays.asp

To me, THIS is what Christianity is all about, or at least ought to be.

 

[BlackShanglan]

To me, THIS is what Christianity is all about, or at least ought to be.

I agree. I am pleased and heartened to see good people banding together to challenge this. I am very frustrated myself with the way in which our conservative politicians' Christian values seem to evaporate any time there is money on the table, and I applaud fellow Christians willing to uphold their ideals when there is a price tag attached.