As a statewide Christian movement for unity, justice, and peace, the Ohio Council of Churches seeks to follow Jesus the Christ in what we say and do.

A reading of Matthew 25: 34-40 shares how Jesus will judge those who claim to be his followers:

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’

We are disappointed in the proposed Federal budget that is currently being debated in both houses of Congress because they do not follow the mandate of the above passage. Rev. Dr. William Barber offers some questions for our reflection as we look at this budget that seeks to reward the rich at the expense of the poor and working-class people. Dr. Barber asks, “The moral issue at stake is which spending priority justifies the violence of starving a child? Should another child go hungry so a corporation in America can pay a lower tax rate? Should another child go hungry so we can “reduce the debt”? Should another child go hungry so rogue Homeland Security forces can have more funding to disappear people from our communities to offshore gulags? Should another child go hungry here so our Defense Department can have more money to support wars that are starving children elsewhere?” Our response to these questions is a resounding “NO!!” No child, no senior, no disabled person, no one working for less than a living wage should go hungry or be houseless so that billionaires can purchase more material goods and not pay their fair share of taxes, so that the entire nation benefits.

Some of the items in the budget that we stand against are the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that will take away health care from our most vulnerable citizens (over ten million persons), cuts to child nutrition programs, which means more vulnerable families will face food insecurities, and banning nonprofits who provide family planning and reproductive health care (not abortions) from receiving federal funding. We wonder what kind of faith these representatives have that intentionally and deliberately inflict this level of harm on a segment of society simply because they don’t have the financial means of others. This is a table that Jesus would definitely flip!!!

As of this writing, the House of Representatives has passed this immoral budget (narrowly) and is now on its way to the Senate. We urge you to contact your senators. The Ohio senators are Bernie Moreno (202) 224-2315 and Jon Husted (202-224-3353). Tell them to vote against this budget and to remember their oath to protect all citizens regardless of income.

No matter what the President proclaims, there is nothing beautiful about this budget, as it harms more people than it helps. We urge you to reach out and make your voice heard.

In the cause of justice,

Rev. Dr. Amariah McIntosh,

Associate Director