Budget as a Moral Document: Unified Message Impacts Congressional Debate

What happened?

For the better part of a decade, faith leaders have developed one of the most impactful messages for the common good in recent memory: The federal budget is a moral document, and recent proposed budgets have not been indicative of the nation’s values and priorities. This message came to public prominence in 2005, as Congress advanced a 2006 budget that would slash programs that support the most vulnerable in our society.

On December 6, 2005, the heads of the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church issued a joint statement that denounced the proposed budget for cutting funding of education, health, and social services. These organizations and groups like the Religious Action Center of Reformed Judaism, the NETWORK Catholic social justice lobby, Faithful America and many others worked through public advocacy and direct legislator lobbying to alleviate the harshest budget cuts. Rev. Jim Wallis and his Sojourners' movement promoted the same message with an active publicity campaign and a well-planned and highly publicized nonviolent protest during the complex budget approval process.

The united faith-based movement was able to convince members of Congress to restore some desperately needed funding to the federal budget. After meeting with religious leaders, Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Alabama, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, unveiled a plan that did not include the President’s proposed $575 million cut to funding for food stamps. He said, “We listened and we reacted.� Wallis responded, “It’s a small victory but a real one.� Political leaders, like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, adopted the faith community's moral budget message. Pelosi cited the churches’ joint statement on the floor of the House of Representatives and agreed that the budget was, “morally irresponsible.� Though the approved budget still contained many cuts to programs for those in need, the notion of budgets as moral documents has permeated the faith community and subsequently the legislative debate. These efforts have ensured that future budgets will be considered with a moral conscience and responsibility to eliminate poverty.

What methods did faith leaders use?

Extensive collaboration between various church leaders and organizations allowed the movement to attract a greater following and speak with a united voice. Numerous partner organizations and denominational offices made online resources available to anyone wanting to learn more about budgets as moral documents. The Sojourners website includes informational resources about budgets as a moral document, talking points, and a page in which people need only enter their name and home address to send a pre-written email to their legislators encouraging moral budgeting. Since the budget approval process is extensive and ongoing, it was important that the mobilization effort also be ongoing.

The most visible aspect of Rev. Wallis’ efforts was a protest of 300 religious leaders on U.S. Capitol grounds on December 14, 2005. Protestors recited chants of “Stop the cuts!� and read from Biblical text. Reporters were present as more than 100 clergy were arested for engaging in an act of peaceful civil disobedience -- refusing to vacate the federal property. In order to engage in a peaceful and orderly act of civil disobedience, protesters contacted Capitol Police beforehand and let them know when and where they would be.

What was their message?

Across faith traditions, there are numerous scriptural injunctions to provide for the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our midst. Among the most powerful is Isaiah 10:1-2 which reads, “Woe to you legislators of infamous laws . . . who refuse justice to the unfortunate, who cheat the poor among my people of their rights, who make widows their prey and rob the orphan." Wallis applied this passage to the legislative duty of budgeting and said, “Budgets are moral documents that reflect the values and priorities of a family, church, organization, city, state, or nation.� While Right Wing leaders tried to drum up hysteria about an imaginary liberal war on Christmas, Wallis pointed out that the real war on Christmas was taking place in the budget process where, “political choices [are] being made that are hurting low-income people. Don’t make them the brunt of your deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility.� The series of letters released by the five mainline Protestant churches asserted, “Congress and the President should come together to present a budget that brings ‘good news to the poor,’ reflecting our nation’s historic concern for justice and the least among us.�

What challenges were faced?

Faith leaders face real challenges when attempting to insert their voices into the complex and continuous budget debate. As proposed allocations swing back and forth within the bicameral legislature, well-funded lobbyists and special interests have distinct advantages as they secure line items for their powerful clients. By uniting behind a common message, the faith community pressed legislators to regard a budget as a statement of values, rather than simply dollars and cents.

Some individuals, including other religious leaders, have been unwilling to associate moral responsibility with the budget process. Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association said, “The budget bores people,� and rejected the debate as more “liberal social gospel�. Moral budget advocates responded that though the process is indeed complicated, the allocations of the budget affect the daily lives and welfare of all Americans, particularly the most vulnerable.

How can you use this example?

Putting together the federal budget is an annual step-by-step process; however, each step presents an opportunity for amendments and change. What may seem like a defeat at one step in the process will soon be followed with a chance to fix it. As he did with the 2006 budget, President Bush offered a proposed 2007 budget that cuts funding for poverty programs while giving large tax cuts to the wealthy. The argument for moral budgets has already had an appreciable effect. Several amendments have been accepted by coalitions of Democrats and moderate Republicans that restore funding for health care, social services, education, and energy assistance for the poor. As the budget passes back and forth between the House and Senate, people of faith who want to see morality reflected in our nation's budget must remain vigilant with a united message and multi-faceted approach.

Key Links

The Washington Post: A Religious Protest Largely From the Left

Joint Statement from Five Mainline Protestant Leaders

Sojourners' Facts and Resources on Budgets as Moral Documents