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Politics & Government

Can We Keep Faith and Balance the Budget?

Clergy weigh in on what to do with economic problems.

How do we continue to practice the spiritual values of love, compassion and caring for the less fortunate, which are at the core of all major religious traditions, while digging out of debt in America?

A growing number of Americans are sliding into poverty each week due to high unemployment. No one wants to see taxes increase, but since there appears to be little job creation in sight, what is the alternative?

Some believe programs that provide goods and services for the poor of this country not only increase taxes but encourage an unhealthy reliance on the government for sustenance.

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Others believe that while government spending is not the ultimate answer, meeting the needs of the less fortunate and the poor, should guide policy makers.

If we were to draw from the teachings of the world’s religions and our own spirituality, how might this inform our economic decisions? 

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For Catholics, the principles that guide economic decisions have been set forth by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to Ray Chimileski, Deacon of St. Luke Parish in Long Valley, and Rev. Father Joe Goode, Pastor of and in Long Valley.

“In 1986 in a document about the economy, the Bishops took up the cause of the truly poor in our country and they used the term ‘preferential option for the poor’ which has become a guiding principle in the church's work for economic justice,” said Rev. Goode. 

He said the purpose of the principle is to invite policy makers to always consider whether their decisions will help or hinder opportunities for the poor.

“This of course is a large undertaking and you can just imagine the challenges that are faced if we look at all our decisions in this light,” said Rev. Goode.

And what is to be done when the population of the poor is increasing as it is today?

“As we engage in our outreach every week, we are seeing a growing number of individuals and families who are in need,” said Deacon Chimileski, who is also the founder of , an organization that has provided food, clothing, and other necessities to homeless veterans throughout New Jersey for the past 12 years.

“We are seeing suburban families living in their cars in parking lots and going into Starbucks in the morning to wash up,” said Chimileski.

"My ministry is dedicated one hundred percent to the poor, so I am in close proximity to those in the country who are hurting,” said Chimileski.

He said while faith organizations and other non-profits such as Operation Chillout try to meet the needs of the poor in this country, to think that they can meet all of the needs, should government services be drastically cut, is unrealistic.

Rev. Doug Welbourn, Pastor of the , said that he believes over time, the church and religious organizations could begin to take on more of the responsibility for meeting the needs of the poor.

“But this is going to take a long time. This is only part of what faith organizations do right now, but to expect that we could take care of the massive need out there, that’s not practical,” said Welbourn.

“If we were to drastically cut all social programs, it would be catastrophic and faith organizations are not at all prepared at this time to shoulder that responsibility,” said Welbourn.

According to Rev. Margaret Otterburn, Rector of while balancing the national budget is important, it is expected that as solutions are sought, what is important, is that Christian values be maintained when trying to find any solution. 

“Concern for the needs of the poor is central to the Christian faith,” said Rev. Otterburn.

She said when considering how we will spend our money, whether on a personal level or a national level, the story that Jesus told about “The Rich Man” can be a guide.

“We are reminded from this story that if we have money, we should use it well. Money doesn’t have to be a detriment, it gives us the ability to get things done in the world, but as Christians we are taught that money is a gift and should be used responsibly,” said Rev. Otterburn.

She said in this country, many people think they don’t have enough, but when you visit other parts of the world, one realizes how fortunate we are to have been born in a modern, Western country and have been given so much.

“But because we have been given so much, we are therefore called upon to share with those who are less fortunate,” said Rev. Otterburn.

“If we were to operate on Christian values when making budget decisions, we would be helping the needy and those who are lacking access to medical care, housing and food–these are the actions that matter to God,” said Rev. Melvin Travis, Pastor of the in Long Valley.

“For those who listen to the word of God, what is important is helping people–helping them get to a better place in their lives and making sure that no one is left behind,” said Travis.

He said he is disappointed with the current situation.

“We live in the wealthiest country in the world, but if someone doesn’t have medical insurance, and they have a toothache, they have to ask how bad does it hurt?” said Rev. Travis.

The common thread among these clergy seems to be that despite what happens in the world at large, in order to keep true to one’s faith, the only course of action is to volunteer, contribute and help in any way possible.

“We are committed to our desire to help the poor and I believe that once you get personally involved, you see how many people are hurting and not just in need of food and shelter, but those who are suffering from mental illness or who have been traumatized by serving in the war,” said Rev. Welbourn.

For Chimileski, while the budget debates go on, for him, it’s important to take action and engage in direct compassion.

He said, whether the action involves making a monetary donation, helping to distribute bottles of water in the heat of summer or backpacks full of warm gloves and other essentials in the frigid cold of winter to the homeless, as a Christian, he can only see the face of Christ in everyone and act accordingly.

In April of this year, two Catholic Bishops, Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, New York, and Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, stating:

The moral measure of this budget debate is not which party wins or which powerful interests prevail, but rather how those who are jobless, hungry, homeless or poor are treated. Their voices are too often missing in these debates, but they have the most compelling moral claim on our consciences and our common resources.

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