Forget the Ethics Training, Go With Morals

Since posting "Rich Man Poor Man" below, I came across another scathing criticism of the budget reductions recently passed that I just had to pass along. Cathleen Falsani, religion writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, soundly rebukes Congress and Bush for losing their moral compass:

The massive budget reductions would include billions of dollars from pension protection and student loan programs, Medicaid and child support enforcement, as well as millions from the food stamp program, Supplemental Security Income (read: senior citizens and the disabled) and foster care. Also attached to the "reconciliation" proposal is a plan that would allow oil drilling in Alaska's pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Nice.

Maybe Republican leaders should consider proposing an open season on the homeless or the resurrection of debtors' prisons while they're at it?

Is this the kind of leadership the majority of voters who, according to pollsters at the time, cast their ballots in 2004 based on "moral values," had in mind?

Is this what faith-based "compassionate conservatism" looks like? Is our nation more moral, more secure or spiritually healthier than it was a year ago?

And, to address my fellow Christian voters specifically, has the Good News been advanced in any way?

No. Absolutely not.

Ms. Falsani goes on to point out that it's not just a few left-leaning wretches (like me) who feel this way:

For example, all 65 synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have signed a letter to members of Congress vehemently opposing the proposed budget cuts, saying in part, "The Biblical record is clear. The scriptural witness on which our faith tradition stands speaks dramatically to God's concern for and solidarity with the poor and oppressed communities while speaking firmly in opposition to governments whose policies place narrow economic interests driven by greed above the common good."

It's about time people of other faith - or no faith - starting speaking out. I'm a member of the ELCA church and I've been speaking out about the Bush administration's neglect and hypocrisy for nearly five years now, and in the process I alienated some friends at church - friends who put their allegiance to the Republican party above the moral teachings of scripture. Maybe now that mainstream church leadership is finally speaking out, others will find their voices too. As Falsani states, ..."there comes a time when silence is immoral. Now, I believe, is that time."