Religious Leaders Pray For 'Just And Compassionate Budget' (VIDEO)

Every weekday at 12:30 p.m., religious leaders and their followers crowd onto the front lawn of the United Methodist Building near the U.S. Capitol to pray for 'a just and compassionate budget.'

'There's nothing in the Bible about whether there should be revenues in the budget package of 2011," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, a nonpartisan Christian movement working to end hunger in the U.S. and abroad. "But there's nothing in the Bible that says you can't tax rich people. There's a lot in the Bible that says you ought to protect poor people."

These prayer vigils, which last approximately 30 minutes a day and have taken place since Monday, July 11, are organized by religious leaders of various faiths. They say they will not end until there's a budget deal.

Besides praying, the group of interfaith leaders are urging their followers to contact members of Congress. Earlier this month, they sent a letter to President Obama, writing that “people who are served by government program – those who are poor, sick, and hungry, older adults, children, and people with disabilities – should not bear the brunt of the budget-cutting burden.”

Comments

[peter010908]

02:58 AM on 07/31/2011

Wow stupidity taken to another level... lets all prey and hopefully our imaginary god will solve our fanancial problems.

maybe if i preyed to god he'll help me with my financial problems but letting me win the lotto.

[Big Game Hunter]

09:55 PM on 07/30/2011

Matthew: 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

[Big Game Hunter]

09:39 PM on 07/30/2011

This would be a good example for a lot of alleged Christians to follow.

[wca16]

05:26 PM on 07/28/2011

Yes Yes Yes, finally those that actually practice their religion are getting coverage.

[thorrsman]

05:34 PM on 07/29/2011

Their religion calls for having the government take more and more from the productive to support the lazy and the stupid?

[wca16]

06:37 PM on 07/29/2011

Are you asking a question or trying to make a ridiculous statement?

[Big Game Hunter]

09:41 PM on 07/30/2011

Actually, yes it does.
Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven
Blessed be the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God
There are a lot more, but three Jesus quotes is enough for me.

[tonylaz]

04:05 PM on 07/28/2011

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites­. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others."-ma­thew 6

[bdcelina777]

11:48 AM on 07/28/2011

Translation, GOP/TP you will not enter the Kindom of Heaven.

[thorrsman]

05:34 PM on 07/29/2011

You presume to speak for your God?

[Slate 1947]

11:26 AM on 07/28/2011

"If you pray for rain long enough, it eventually does fall. If you pray for floodwaters to abate, they eventually do. The same happens in the absence of prayers." [Steve Allen]

[peter010908]

02:59 AM on 07/31/2011

Nicely said

[stupid humans]

11:16 AM on 07/28/2011

All religions in America need to help America by paying taxes ...why do religions NOT PAY TAXES!!!!???

[rp75]

04:27 PM on 07/28/2011

Religious people do pay taxes. religious institutions are typically non profit entities, so they do not. most pastors, priests, et al make modest wages and the bulk of church donations go to service tangible human need, generally the stuff of tax dollars. a person is not taxed on their charitable donations, nor should they be on spiritual pursuits they forfeit money for, such as churches, other overhead, and aid.

[bgofca]

03:39 AM on 07/29/2011

sell the vatican and the chrystal cathedral and we could feed the world!

[stupid humans]

03:57 AM on 07/29/2011

Again....WHY?

[slickbottom]

10:56 AM on 07/28/2011

Oh Wow! Religious people actually heeding some of the real messages of their bible.. What a novelty...

[thorrsman]

05:36 PM on 07/29/2011

Where in the Bible does it say "ask the government to do to others what you won't do with your own money"?

[peter010908]

03:06 AM on 07/31/2011

The bible can be interprited in many ways to suit your argument.

[slickbottom]

03:14 PM on 08/02/2011

A major theme throughout the bible is to take care of the poor. This budget deal puts the burden on the poor and asks nothing of the rich who pay the smallest percentage of their earnings in taxes. Those people in Congress and in this country who are constantly wrapping themselves in their supposed Christianity would do well to read what the Bible actually says. As for me, I don't believe in the Bible. It's just another book to me.

[OldJazzyGirl]

10:36 AM on 07/28/2011

I am glad to see there are still some ministers that actually lead their flock to care about the poor and weak and follow the example of Jesus.

[thorrsman]

05:36 PM on 07/29/2011

If they care so much, why are they asking for the government to take over THEIR "Christinan duty" to care for the poor?

[Big Game Hunter]

09:50 PM on 07/30/2011

Okay, we get it. You somehow think Jesus was a Republican. Just ignore all that stuff about rendering unto caesar, helping the poor, etc. Focus on getting gays and forcing religious instruction in public schools. That's the ticket.

[krr02]

10:36 AM on 07/28/2011

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.-mathew 6

I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.-mark 10

[lovetoread 2000]

10:31 AM on 07/28/2011

Great article! Thank you for showing that there are Christians who care about things other than abortion and gay marriage.

[ParadoxHarbinger]

10:26 AM on 07/28/2011

why don't you do something useful and call up some representatives instead?

[Macready]

10:28 AM on 07/28/2011

x2

[pdferguson]

11:51 AM on 07/28/2011

Exactly. To paraphrase an old saying, "One finger dialing is more productive than a thousand hands clasped in prayer."

[Mag7]

08:30 AM on 07/28/2011

Instead of prayer vigils on the front lawn, how about paying some taxes too.

[Macready]

10:29 AM on 07/28/2011

ditto . . . . great suggestion

[Paul Baltodano]

10:39 AM on 07/28/2011

Telling a church to pay taxes is blasphemy in their minds. They would see it as paying money to believe in something, but it is just paying YOUR FAIR SHARE.

I have been saying this for years, and I KNOW that our revenue problems would end very quickly if we were able to tax these conglomerate churches and their service brands.

Thanks for the comment.

[1southernbelle]

07:46 AM on 07/28/2011

Can we declare Republicans a cult?

[thorrsman]

05:38 PM on 07/29/2011

Depends on how far to the Left you are, I suppose. Those who already worship the State pretend that there is something "off" about everyone who does not hold their radical views on "property is theft".

[1southernbelle]

08:09 AM on 07/30/2011

I own property. I have savings and a 401k. I have supported myself and my family since college. I believe in law and order. My family have served in the military since my ancestor came from Switzerland to join George Washington's Revolutionay army. My children are responsible citizens and support themselves and their families. And we all know how to enjoy life.

None of us worships the state. Most are involved in our communities, traveled widely, and read a variety of materials. Many are traditionally religious, some travel their own spritual path.

Half of my family are Republicans. I have always disagreed with their politics & I have been able to respect their viewpoint.

Current elected Republicans are destroying America and grinning while they do it. Not only is their ideology rigid, it is ignorant. [Nota bene: ignorant does not equal unintelligent.] This idea that government is bad and the wealthy should be unfettered gained a lot of ground under Reagan, but was kept in check by saner Rs for decades.

Current Rs do act like a cult. No compromise even in the face of evidence that it would serve the country. Insisting that the poor and middle class (built by unions) pay for all our rising debt and deficit. Deriding the American idea of community, that we are all in this together and have obligations to one another as well as freedom from one another.

If this places me far to the left I am thrilled to be here.