Conference of National Black Churches Slams Congress' Tax Cut Plan

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON -- The newly launched Conference of National Black Churches criticized Congress on Thursday (Dec. 9) for linking extension of unemployment benefits to tax cuts for the wealthy.

"Based on our prophetic responsibility to speak to those in power on behalf of the poor, underserved, and vulnerable, we find it utterly shameful that those who insisted that the deficit be reduced, now celebrate billions of dollars being added to the deficit as tax cuts for the wealthy," wrote the Rev. W. Franklyn Richardson, chairman of the umbrella group of nine historically black denominations.

The letter called on President Obama and Congress to endorse "an extension of unemployment insurance without conditions."

The group issued the letter as 300 of its leaders met in Washington to restart the work begun by the now-defunct Congress of National Black Churches, which helped rebuild Southern black churches destroyed in a spate of arsons in the 1990s.

In an interview Friday, Richardson said the meeting formalized partnerships to build summer schools and after-school programs for poor children with the Children's Defense Fund and address health disparities with Balm in Gilead, a Richmond, Va.-based organization.

"We're asking every congregation to give 10 minutes once a month for health professionals in the congregation to talk about a particular health issue," he said.

The leaders, who also plan to address economic empowerment and social justice issues, represent 50,000 congregations.

"It's a very important move on the part of our community," Richardson said of the relaunch of the group. "We think we can collectively have more impact than we have individually."

Comments

[Deucejack]

04:03 PM on 12/21/2010

Gee... this is a surprise. I can't believe that churches that depend on it's members receiving welfare checks and are proponents of government forced redistribution of wealth would voice this opinion. Who'd of thunk it?

Next thing you'll tell me is that food stamp recipients are upset about these same tax code extensions.

[cayuse]

04:02 PM on 12/19/2010

SAD the DO NOTHING congress and president (s) could have simply let the BUSH Tax Cuts expire and do what has not happened in 3 decades of Reaganomics and Supply Side Cecil Rhodes Economics.

Equalized Wealth Distribution
Equalized Tax Code
Equalized Capital to Labor

When he left Reverend Write, my heart sank and I know why

[cylixdemas]

12:18 PM on 12/17/2010

Christians should not bring political matters to their members. That was not what Jesus was about. Being a Christian is an individual experience.

[Intelligentia]

10:23 PM on 12/18/2010

Jesus was vey political; that is, if we are talking about the same Jesus Christ.

[AbrahamMcLemore]

05:34 AM on 12/19/2010

How so?

[George R Williams]

06:08 AM on 12/21/2010

Cylixdemas is correct. If you actually read the Bible, Intelligentia, you wouldn't make such comments. Historically, the politics of social justice has always tended towards violent revolution. There is no evidence that Jesus ever advocated the overthrow of the Roman oppressors of Jews of the day. Jesus was not the political messiah that the Jews were expecting, one who was to lead them in violent battle. Jesus was not political, except in the minds of Democrats who believe that wealth transfer through government coercion (taxes) is charity. True charity is that which is given freely, not in response to the threat of imprisonment or fine. Moreover, Jesus separated charity from taxes in his statement urging that we give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. If he believed in charity through coercion, he would have established tax collectors.

[cayuse]

04:06 PM on 12/19/2010

I could not agree that enlightenment of all great teachers Christ, Buddha, Mohammad and Krishna is an INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE

But when we are not FLYING LIKE EAGLES with GOD and we walk the Earth as MAN I think Jesus would agree as he parables always used real waking state examples that we can SPEAK TRUTH.

I agree with Reverend Wright about Bombing Japan, etc. and today GDO

[Bostontru2u]

04:50 AM on 12/15/2010

I'm so glad jesus threw the money lenders out of the Temple. Good example to follow. Don't try to get or stay rich off the backs of poor people, or do other people harm, like hold them hostage, unless the rich get MORE money.

[b525]

06:44 PM on 12/14/2010

As I observe the current tax cut debates, I find it interesting how some right wing Republicans believe that African Americans/the poor should pull themselves up by the bootstraps and receive less government support, even though the Civil Rights act was not passed until 1964....which has given African Americans only 40 years to recover from 400 years of slavery and economic disenfranchisement in the U.S.

Many of these wealthy right wing Republicans don't even like the idea of having to pay taxes to support the poor. elderly and disabled in the U.S., even though nearly all the wealth in America, which is enjoyed disproportionately by European Americans, has been generated from 400 years of FREE slave labor.....and now all we're required to do, to make-up for this wrong, is PAY TAXES to support African Americans in their economic and social recovery.

I think African Americans will need many more years of our financial and spiritual support to overcome nearly half a millenium of economic and social disenfrachisement and abuse.

Although we now see a few thousand millionaire black athletes and performers on television, our metro areas are surrounded by MILLIONS of African Americans living in crime ridden ghettos, struggling just to pay rent and buy food.

An estimated 1/2 of the nearly 1 trillion dollar U.S. trade deficit is caused by importing oil into the U.S. to make gasoline for 190,000,000 American cars. This oil trade deficit accumulates from year to year as national debt.

[rstewart3]

01:28 AM on 12/15/2010

I hate to point out some historical facts, but I will do so anyway. First, the wealth generated by slavery was no where near the wealth that was generated by the exploitation of immigrants from Eastern Europe and Ireland by the northern industrialists. It has been a proven fact that wealth in this country was disproportionately located in the northern states leading up to the Civil War, and was especially so after the Civil War during and after Reconstruction. On top of that, most of the wealth generated in the South after the Civil War was done by those referred to as "carpetbaggers", or northern opportunists who came to the South to not only exploit the recently freed slaves, but to keep their southern white brothers disenfranchised in hopes to keep them from gaining any form of economic and political power. It would be the the election of Rutherford B. Hayes that reversed this. However, it wouldn't be until the discovery of oil in the South that any true wealth would be made there. Until then, the wealth remained in the North, and still does to some extent.

There is alot more wrongs that need to be made up, if we follow your logic. There are plenty of people that can get in line with their hand out expecting a reparation of some form or another. Or, we can do what you suggested we not do...buck up and make our own futures.

[Bostontru2u]

04:36 AM on 12/15/2010

The difference is, the attitude of getting wealth. 1st. the wealth generated by the South was agriculture, cotton and slavery labor. Northerners owned slave ships, few slaves. And the North was already industrialized before the civil war,and before the exploitation of immigrants from Eastern Europe. In any event, they still got over faster than a slave, at least they were free, and got PAID. So you buck up on your history, poster rsStewart.

[Bill Pilgrim]

09:57 AM on 12/15/2010

You cant beleive this can you.... Are you the African American who’s never even been to Africa, knows no one who has or has any clue of what it really means to be African, maybe you should lose the African part and call yourself what you really are an American. Being African is more than just skin color. let me guess again you were born in the US to parents that are US citizens, you have enjoyed opportunities Africans can only dream of but when it really comes down to it the only excuse you can come up with for your perceived slights or personal failures is race. I like alot of others am tired of the over used race card

[AbrahamMcLemore]

03:10 PM on 12/14/2010

How come separation of church and state only applies to conservatives?

If Jerry Falwell was against it there were calls for the "wall of separation".

What's the deal?

[wkb2texans]

10:58 PM on 12/13/2010

Ironic that not one time during his earthly ministry did Jesus call upon the Roman Govt to render aid to the poor, sick, lame ... that was the responsibility of the Church, friends, neighbors, etc. How times have changed ....

[Albert Westpy]

06:47 PM on 12/14/2010

When Jesus did His earthly ministry there was no Church. Jesus was a poor Jew who had no access to the Roman government.

[wkb2texans]

11:51 AM on 12/15/2010

You're correct ... my bad. The point is that the Roman Empire didn't provide any welfare suppport to the poor ... that was all handled by individuals.

[rstewart3]

01:32 AM on 12/15/2010

I must have missed the part in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman government to render aid to anyone. Would you mind pointing it out to me?

[rstewart3]

01:34 AM on 12/15/2010

Wait, never mind, my bad, misread it, lol. Time for bed!

[FreedToChoose]

06:22 PM on 12/13/2010

To many, any criticism of black churches is racial prejudice. My question is: Do the Bibles used in black churches have Jesus saying, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (KJV)

[wkb2texans]

10:59 PM on 12/13/2010

OF course they do ... that part's just ignored.

[Sarah EiseleDyrli]

10:17 AM on 12/14/2010

First off, there is lots of criticism in this post of the black churches at this meeting. Not one person has said they were demonstrating prejudice.

Secondly, I'm interested in what you think specifically these words mean in this situation. Jesus wasn't saying how much Caesar should tax, and seems to say that people should follow laws and pay the taxes the government requires of them. I know that at my tax rate (which is effectively higher than very wealthy people), I still have money to give. The taxes I pay are not (or should not be) an excuse for me to not be generous and to use the money that God has given me to support the church and those who are oppressed or disempowered. My responsibility is to render to both.

If we claim that taxes prevent us from giving to God what is God's, it simply means we're disobedient. God didn't say to give to him what is his if there's enough money left over after taxes. I've heard this from so many people, and it really sounds like an excuse not to be generous.

If you read scripture, you find that more often than not God takes the wealthy to task for becoming wealthy on the backs of the poor, and tells Israelites/followers to give to those in poverty. This American idea that the rich should keep all their money is political, not Biblical.

[AbrahamMcLemore]

05:40 AM on 12/19/2010

If the government forced citizens to follow Biblical principles and give to the poor, would that be crossing the "wall of separation between church and state"?

[AgingLady]

06:21 PM on 12/13/2010

Make sure everyone in your church is registered to vote and send the numbers to the WH.

[peterz]

06:10 PM on 12/13/2010

I agree in part....

so here's a suggestion for the black churches and all others - don't take tax deductions and exemptions as they relate to your religious activities as it violates the 1st amendment is unethical And encourage your congregations to do the same with respect to tithing. I should not have to subsedize anyone's superstitions or hobbies..it's wrong, and is just one more thing adding to the national debt...

[Jezreel]

05:03 PM on 12/13/2010

Good move. It's about time Black churches which were on the front-line of every major domestic struggle for social, economic and political equality has been too quiet since the 2008 election.

For too long now, African Americans have sat by quietly as unemployment, foreclosures and racial disparities in wealth accumulation have devastated Black communities around the country. Mr. Obama's political, economic and social policies have had a negative impact on racial minorities and allowed our jobless rates to increase dramatically since George Bush left office.

In the meantime, the beltway narrative and indeed the Obama administration have manipulated policy messages so that the President benefits while those who put him into office continue to experience massive despair and are afraid to criticize his ineffectiveness for no other reason than the symbolism his election represents.

As an African American I have lost confidence in Barack Obama's ability to lead us in the policy debates which are necessary to level the playing field for all economic classes. And I have been heartened by the recent advent of Black voices like former M. L. King, Jr. advisor - Clarence B. Jones, Harry Bellafonte, Michael Eric Dyson, Tavis Smiley and others who rightfully assert that Mr. Obama was elected to represent ALL Americans, including Black Americans who worked tirelessly to put him in office.

And this article at DKos helps to further crystallize the issue:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/12/928445/-Obama,-African-Americans-and-Economic-Policy

[Bostontru2u]

04:43 AM on 12/15/2010

I'd like to see the voting records of those you mentioned. If Black folks don't vote..why whine.

[Jezreel]

03:18 PM on 12/15/2010

You are certainly welcome to examine the voting records of various constituency groups wherever they are publicly available. But until you have concrete, specific evidence that Black folks don't vote you should avoid the sterotypes and the dislogistics.

[Mundane Egg]

02:36 PM on 12/13/2010

It is nice to hear Christianity not linked with supporting the rich and neglecting the poor.

Jesus told the rich man to sell all of his belongings and follow him....he didn't follow.

Christ said it was easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than it was for a rich person to get to heaven....

[alterego55]

08:04 PM on 12/13/2010

If I remember correctly it wasn't a camel, a misinterpretation. I think it was a rope. And, I don't think it was Christ that said it anyway. I think you are being misled by your scriptural teacher.

[Sarah EiseleDyrli]

10:49 AM on 12/14/2010

Matthew19:23-24 - 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (NIV)

I don't know Greek so I can't say if every single Bible translation has it wrong or not.

[newagedem]

07:07 PM on 12/14/2010

If you go to Mathew 19:23 you will find the story about the rich man and yes Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get to heaven.

[Jennifer Mead]

02:13 PM on 12/13/2010

Cool.

[elkhawk]

01:59 PM on 12/13/2010

Not to sound ra.cIst, but a black church going against the president is very nice. It's good to see that they are not siding with him because they are of the same race.

[sunshine14]

01:53 PM on 12/13/2010

I wish this church well and it is about time, the truth of God and his word be heard loud and clear right at congress..

[lotus321]

04:29 PM on 12/14/2010

No one distrust a black person more than another black person.  Yes, I said it and you all know it is true. 

[Radical Logic]

07:19 PM on 12/14/2010

what a bigot. As a Black American, I take incredible exception to your nonsensical assertion. I suggest you cite evidence of your incendiary comment.