Cathedral Clergy to Congress: Remember and Protect the Vulnerable

Members of the Cathedral clergy joined a prayer vigil on Capitol Hill to advocate for vulnerable communities as the Senate takes up the federal budget.

Organized by a coalition of churches and religious advocacy groups, the demonstration drew several hundred people, including Dean Randy Hollerith, Canon for Worship Rose Duncan, Canon Missioner Leonard Hamlin and Associate Priest for Worship Patrick Keyser.

The 10-year spending plan has cleared the House and awaits action in the Senate, but religious advocates condemned the massive package as a giveaway to the wealthy that steals from the poor to give tax cuts to the rich. Religious leaders decried cuts to Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps) and public education.

“We break our promises when we choose bombs and billionaires over our babies,” said the Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, president and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund.

The event brought together representatives of Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Mennonite, United Church of Christ and other Christian traditions. Our own bishop, the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, led a prayer on the Senate steps before participants fanned out to meet with lawmakers.

“The American people deserve the truth,” she said before leading the prayer. “The truth about the implications from this transfer of weath; the implications of the reduction in critical resources and health care for our people; the reduction of food for children who require sound nutrition to go to school; the dismantling of institutions and organizations upon which the pillars of our democracy depend.”

“I am here, along with hundreds of others, to say that we deserve better than this, that we need a budget that reflects the values and the aspirations of all Americans.”