Family Research Council: Christians should not want the government to care for the poor

“The government has a responsibility to care for the poor? That’s not what Scripture says"

Published October 17, 2013 10:14PM (EDT)

Tony Perkins        (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
Tony Perkins (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Family Research Council has some interesting ideas about Christianity and poverty.

Last month, FRC senior fellow Kenneth Blackwell said there was "nothing more Christian" than kicking 4 million people off food stamps, and FRC head Tony Perkins echoed his colleague's uncharitable sentiment this week by arguing that the government has no responsibility to care for the poor.

As Right Wing Watch reports, Perkins believes that even though "as Christians we will be held responsible for the policies adopted by this government because it’s us," Christians shouldn’t want the government to help poor people.

“The government has a responsibility to care for the poor? That’s not what Scripture says,” according to Perkins.

Listen here:


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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