US church leaders weigh in on 'unbiblical' politicians in budget fight
U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black has spoken out against the government shutdown during a morning invocation this past week.
Black called on God to "save us from this madness," The New York Times reported.
Religious leaders from across a wide spectrum, like ordinary Americans, are not happy with goings on, or lack of them at the top.
Jim Wallis, president of Sojourner's, recently wrote on his blog about why the government shutdown is "Unbiblical".
Wallis wrote, "First, to be hostile to the role of government is unbiblical according to the Scriptures. Second, because of their hostility to government, many of those who are promoting this crisis are also hostile to the poor, who are supposed to be protected by the government."
Recently, Wendy DesAutels wrote an op-ed piece for the Christian Science Monitor, calling people to prayer during the shutdown.
DesAutels wrote, "While no one can outline how progress will come, prayer that is rooted in the supremacy of good and our universal access to intelligent and loving action must naturally bring about an improved human condition.
"In this way we are public messengers of peace, progress, and healing for the nations."
Rev. John L. McCullough, the president and CEO of Church World Service and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism added their voices to the cry against a government shutdown suggesting the devastating affects the shutdown would have on those they serve.
Mark Tooley, president of the Institute for Religion and Democracy commented that when church leaders urge their communities to pray for God's help, they are being faithful to their calling.
Tooley warned, however, that when church leaders pick partisan sides they stray from their vocation.
Chesapeake Church senior pVincent Reinhart, a Morgan Stanley economist
astor Robert Hahn said he hopes lawmakers in Washington will see the pain their causing and realize hunger is a bi-partisan issue. WJLA in Huntingdon, Maryland reported.
The pastor said, "Both sides are worrying about their political future and they're forgetting the human present. So we're here to stand in that gap."
The government shut its doors on the morning of October 1, after the House of Representatives could not agree on issues regarding debt and the Affordable Care Act.
According to Vincent Reinhart, a Morgan Stanley economist, if the government does not reach common ground, the United States will be forced to default on its debt, causing the U.S. Treasury to break the law in one of three ways.
These included the 14th Amendment of the Constitution which holds that the debt of the United States government, lawfully issued, will not be questioned.
A Washington Post poll recently released suggests that 70 percent of Americans disapprove of how member of the Republican Party are handling budget negotiations while a Pew Research poll found that 30y percent of Americans blame President Barack Obama for the shutdown.
