Interfaith lobby finds Bush budget out of line with moral values

Over 900 interfaith clergy and laity wrapped up a March 11-14 advocacy conference with a rally at the U.S. Capitol that declared the proposed 2006 Bush administration federal budget out of line with religious values because it favors military spending and tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations and largely ignores the needs of the poor, children, the elderly, families and communities. The Ecumenical Advocacy Days were cosponsored by the National Council of Churches, The Interfaith Alliance, and over 30 denominations and faith-based groups, including Call To Action, Maryknoll, the Sisters of Mercy, and NETWORK. At press time outrageous tax cuts had been passed in both the Senate ($129 billion) and the House ($45 billion) while human needs programs were grossly underfunded. Entitlement cuts passed in the House totalled $69 billion.

To lobby your legislators on the budget or other justice issues before Congress, go to the NETWORK website, click on Legislative Action Center, type in your zipcode, and follow the directions. www.NETWORKlobby.org