Transparency in Financial Reform: Because God Doesn't Like Secrets

In the Gospel of John, Jesus states that those who do what is right do so in the light, while wrong-doers shroud their deeds in secrecy and darkness. The recent tragedies of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the mining accident in West Virginia reveal the perils of allowing oil, mining, and other companies that profit from extracting natural resources to conduct their operations in the shadows. That is why so many in the faith community are strongly supporting an amendment to the financial reform bill that would require greater transparency for these companies.

The Cardin/Lugar Revenue Transparency Amendment to the Financial Service Reform Bill would require extraction companies to report what they pay to foreign governments. Why is this important? Because oil, gas, and mining revenues are critically important economic sectors in about 60 developing and transitioning countries. Paradoxically, these "resource-rich" countries are also home to more than two-thirds of the world's poorest people and have been home to horrific acts of violence committed by those seeking to exploit those resources. Corruption and greed born of secrecy has led to the exploitation and oppression of thousands of people.

Requiring that extraction companies report what they pay to foreign governments is good for everyone. It is good for the poor whose governments secretly make billions from extraction companies, because it gives them the leverage to require that the revenues from their natural resources be used for economic and social development. It is good for U.S. companies because it combats corruption and levels the playing field by requiring both foreign and U.S. based-extraction companies to be transparent in their business deals. It is good for Christians and others of goodwill seeking to be responsible consumers by reducing the chance that the money we spend on gas will finance governments that impoverish their own people, harbor terrorists, or promote genocide.

The amendment has bipartisan support, it's good policy, and it'll make the world a little more just. Now it just needs our Senators to do the right thing and ensure that it passes. It is beyond time to bring the deals of extraction companies out of the shadows and into the light.

 

Comments

[DavidGW]

03:41 PM on 05/19/2010

Based upon his chosen infallible holy men, god sure does like secrets! The juicier the better. Or, maybe god is just impotent and can't do anything about it? Or maybe god doesn't believe in protecting innocent children? Or maybe god WANTS the priests to rape little children? Or, maybe god simply doesn't exist? The last explanation is the most reasonable and rational.

[PotbellyTheologian]

01:13 PM on 05/19/2010

I am completely shocked that some posters don't understand why faith organizations would want to ensure this amendment passes. I have friends who are missionaries in some of these developing nations that extraction companies are using to make profit. These amazing missionaries see people starving to death, dying from preventable and curable diseases, and being ignored by a government that is probably making millions from extraction companies. Is that not a moral issue? Is this not clearly injustice? The Bible I read, and the one Eric below reads, calls for people of faith to be bold in ending immorality and injustice. Some people of faith have global humanitarian sensibilities and care for the world and its people beyond the pettiness of making sure gays don't marry and democrats aren't elected.

[apburns]

11:19 AM on 05/19/2010

"It's good policy, and it will make the world a little more just." Isn't that what we all want our government and our leaders to be pursuing? This amendment gives me hope. It's easy to be cynical and flippant, or overwhelmed by a sense of despair and futility when you consider the power and resources and reach of these companies. Looking at countries where people are brutally victimized and killed and live in abject poverty because our lifestyles are built on the minerals, oil, and gas in their lands, we should all feel an urgent sense of responsibility to do what we can to address those injustices. This amendment is a small, but important step. Greed and corruption are the only reasons to oppose it, and anyone who does, be it a company or a Senator, will not get my money and will not get my vote.

[Eric Sapp]

10:26 AM on 05/19/2010

Why should religious groups care about corruption and companies bribing governments and taking advantage of the poor? Wow...where should we begin? Isaiah perhaps: “Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless. The widow’s cause does not come before them.” or
“You seem eager for God to come near you. Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Yet is not this the kind of fasting I, your Lord, have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice." or
“Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!” or Amos
“For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins–you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate” or maybe just stick with how Jesus decided to begin his ministry..
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor"

[Nana Red]

08:40 AM on 05/19/2010

No religious person would give a care to what the government does about the environment, immigration, cap and trade or anything thing else political unless it goes against the Word of God.

Amazing that the Liberals are all for the separation of church and state until it comes to their agenda. Hope all these churches that get involved with the government lose their charitable status for promoting the government's agenda.

False prophets are everywhere!

[apburns]

11:28 AM on 05/19/2010

Naming evil as evil and standing up to injustice is not "promoting the government's agenda" it is the job of the church. A major reason to be in favor of the separation of the institutions of government and the church is to maintain the prophetic integrity of the church. That way, when Senators oppose legislation that would promote justice, the church can call them out. And when our government takes a stand on behalf of the poor and victimized, the church can be there to offer encouragement and support. It is not the job of the church to be "pro-government" or "anti-government" or pro- or anti- Democrat or Republican. It is the job of the church to "do justice and love mercy" (Micha 6:8) and to stand on the side of anyone who does the same.

[PeteLeS]

08:04 AM on 05/19/2010

I think Mrs. Chemberlin is bandwagoning. Why would a religious organization have anything to do with the policies of big buisness. Particularly oil. Why should they care about transparency? Though the policies on the tables are a good thing, and even a better thing if they are passed, but the only thing I could see from this article is there is an underpinning for more government support for its "national religion".

[RNoelJ]

11:40 AM on 05/19/2010

This is something I don't understand. When churches and people of faith run soup kitchens, or homeless shelters, or give money to charitable organizations they are not questioned "why?" These actions are expected. But in each of these instances what they are doing is addressing the results of injustice. Why is it ok to provide shelter to the homeless, but not ask why they are homeless and if there is a way to stop them from becoming so in the first place? Why is it ok to address the consequences of injustice, but not the causes? Surely both are the work of the church. When the practices of big business create situations that breed poverty and violence, surely the church has just as much business opposing those practices as providing humanitarian relief to those who are victimized by them.

[diogeneslives]

03:34 AM on 05/19/2010

Seriously, the Chairperson for the National Council for the Churches of Christ (like this wasn't some group started in her basement).?. And she is only the chairperson, should have named herself the grand puba. Why is she writing about financial reform? Aahhh, jesus christ!

[Eric Sapp]

10:29 AM on 05/19/2010

You should at least try a Google search before these sort of posts...it would help you avoid putting your foot in your mouth. The National Council of Churches is one of the largest church bodies in this country, representing millions of Christians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches

[diogeneslives]

03:29 AM on 05/19/2010

God doesn't like secrets and God doesn't dig hats.

[Guitanguran]

11:13 PM on 05/18/2010

Transparency is good. But if I were you, sister, I'd get crackin' on this thing under the radar.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/11/a-new-era-partnerships-advisory-council-faith-based-and-neighborhood-partnerships-pr

[HarmNone]

10:03 PM on 05/18/2010

I wonder if the Vatican knows about this part: "wrong-doers shroud their deeds in secrecy and darkness".

[Indon]

04:10 PM on 05/18/2010

Can the faith community get behind these companies being held responsible for the consequences of their business here in America, as well, while they're at it?

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

03:24 PM on 05/18/2010

'Corruption and greed born of secrecy has led to the exploitation and oppression of thousands of people.'

Make that tens (or hundreds) of millions instead of thousands, and we can talk.

[PotbellyTheologian]

02:46 PM on 05/18/2010

I think we are all in for a huge and unsettling awakening when we find out the secrets and under-the-table dealings of these extraction companies to rogue developing world governments. What has been going on is deplorable and I suspect the behavior will be deemed criminal as well. God Bless the Amendment!

[jhNY]

01:47 PM on 05/18/2010

"What's done in the dark must come to the light'--- Ike Turner. Yep, that Ike.

[eric414]

01:37 PM on 05/18/2010

This is a pretty black and white issue from a moral or ethical perspective. There is no honest reason for these companies to hide what they are paying govts for the rights to extract resources. The only question now will be how many Senators are in those companies' pockets...my hope is that enough of our leaders will see the clear policy and moral benefits of this amendment to ensure it passes. Kudos to Reid and Dodd for making sure it gets a vote.