The real Christmas scandal

[Sapphire Blue]

The real Christmas scandal
by Jim Wallis

There is a Christmas scandal this year, but it's not the controversy at shopping malls and retail stores about whether their displays say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." The real Christmas scandal is the budget proposed by the House of Representatives that cuts food stamps, health care, child support, and educational assistance to low-income families - while further lowering taxes for the wealthiest Americans and increasing the deficit for all of our grandchildren.

That was the message we brought to the steps of the House office buildings yesterday. The day was cold but the message was clear, as hundreds of religious leaders and faith-based organizers who daily serve the poor joined for what became a revival and prayer meeting in the United States capital.

This was the culmination of a yearlong effort by people of faith to teach our nation's political leaders that "a budget is a moral document." I was proud to be one of the 115 pastors and leaders out of that group who were arrested for kneeling in prayer. In the final stages of the budget process this week, after praying and making our best arguments from afar, we decided to take our prayers and presence to the steps of the Cannon House Office Building.

After some powerful preaching on the steps and a press conference that was more like a revival, we continued our praying and singing in front of the entrance, symbolizing the denial of access to Congress for low-income people. "Come walk with us!" we said as we invited members of Congress into our neighborhoods to meet the people who will be most impacted by their votes on a budget that virtually assaults low-income families. We sounded like a choir (and a good one at that) as we sang Christmas carols while being arrested, handcuffed, put into buses, and taken to a large holding cell roughly a mile away.



Continued @ http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.home#4

Testimony & photos of those arrested: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display_c&item=051214_arrests_testimony

<edited to add: Stand Up for a Moral Budget: http://go.sojo.net/campaign/moral_budget2 >

[Ezlivin]

1. It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle,

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

I hear that all the time from the Right Wing. It's one of their favorite verses.

:sarcasm:

[NI4NI]

2. Any national TV Coverage?

Did I miss it? Did the national televised media miss a chance to demonstrate the big differece between the quiet majority of devout Christians who righteously care for the poor and hungry among us compared to the angry, attention hungry fundamentalists on the Christian right who only concern themselves with forcing their beliefs on the personal freedoms and sexual orientations of others?

[Sapphire Blue]

3. It was covered by many newspapers... don't know about tv, though.

Haven't turned it on lately.

Quite a difference, isn't it? (between the quiet majority & the 'others', that is.)

[AuntiBush]

6. It sure is a major difference!

It sure is.

[AuntiBush]

5. It was on one of the major networks...

ABC, CBS or NBC. A relative seen it last night. Wait till she hears they were arrested. That part was "not" mentioned!!!

Only that a very "few" were there, braving the cold. I told her it was surely more then just a "few."

Thank you, NI4NI & all of those that walked with you in protest to these immoral budget cuts for the poor, and tax-breaks for the wealthiest, repeatedly and right before Christmas at that.

Feel very sad there were arrests made. That looks horrible for this adm. It should have been all over the faux-MSN!
Shame on them for not doing so. For shame!

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Of course they wouldn't

It's not a "war on Christmas" so it's of no concern to them. *Sigh*

[Sapphire Blue]

4. Kick... Please Stand Up for a Moral Budget:

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/moral_budget2

[hippywife]

7. Kick!

For those who understand and act!

[Shallah Kali]

8. Emailed, Forwarded, and Kicked!

!

[NVMojo]

9. the real followers of Jesus are out there fighting for the poor ...

standing for peace on earth ...not running around in hysterics over bullshit issues like Happy Holidays ...

[Sapphire Blue]

10. The Real Christmas Scandal *** updated link ***

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=sojomail.display&issue=051215#4

[FreedomAngel82]

11. I love Jim Wallis and Sojourners

These are my fellow Christian's doing something amazing. Where's Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and Randall Terry now? No where in sight are they?

[Sapphire Blue]

14. Wallis asked them: "Come walk with us."

[Sapphire Blue]

13. **** VIDEO **** Civil disobedience on the steps of the Canon Bldg

rtsp://real.faithandvalues.com/streaming/sojourners/051214_moralbudget.rm