Faith leaders descend on Washington, call for a "moral budget"

Organizers of the Loaves and Fishes Day of Action will call on Congress to reject Rep. Ryan's "austerity gospel"

Published March 20, 2013 3:32PM (EDT)

                                        (Reuters)
(Reuters)

Faith leaders will descend on Washington for a Loaves and Fishes Day of Action on Wednesday. There message for Congress? Reject the Ryan austerity budget and stop "worshipping at the altar of deficit reduction."

In a statement from NETWORK, the Sister Simone Campbell-led social justice organization denounced Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget as creating "untenable situations for those struggling to survive" through cuts to Medicaid and the social safety net.

In a multi-state, grassroots effort against austerity cuts, a coalition of faith leaders have organized events around the country on Wednesday, including delivering loaves and fishes to members of the House of Representatives (a reference the Biblical story of having enough during a time of scarcity).

They've also released an animated message about "finding the political courage to pass a moral budget."


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

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Austerity Deficit Hawks Paul Ryan Rep. Paul Ryan Ryan Budget Sister Simone Campbell Video