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Faced with a multi-billion dollar revenue shortfall and a growing population, state leaders are confronted with unavoidable choices in balancing needs and resources. The state budget is a moral document that reflects the priorities and values of our state. We urge our state leaders to look at these choices from the “bottom-up,” by protecting and defending the life and dignity of the poorest and most vulnerable, who have little legislative presence or representation.
In Hebrew Scriptures the prophet Isaiah calls on God’s people to feed the hungry and give shelter to the naked (Isaiah 58:6-11). This message is echoed in the Christian scriptures with the story of the Last Judgment (Mt: 25) when Christ instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. The call to care for the most vulnerable in the community is echoed in Islam, Hinduism, and every other major world religion. The message is for the entire community, not just the individual. It is our belief that the state government has a vital role to play in providing for the common good by ensuring access to certain basic services for those in need.
Appropriations decisions have real consequences. Legislative choices to reduce services, cut education, increase costs or erect barriers result in burdens and sacrifices for all Texans, but especially for those who start from a disadvantaged position. The faith community supports policies that strengthen the safety net and opposes proposals that weaken it in this time of increasing needs and rising poverty.
As religious leaders, we call for a budget that prioritizes those Texans in greatest need—those who are trying to care for their children, gain access to health care, overcome hunger and homelessness, and searching for gainful employment. We support a balanced approach to crafting the state budget that includes a clear priority for poor families and vulnerable workers and appropriate new investments and sources of revenue. One of the basic functions of government is to raise sufficient resources so that it can undertake efforts to “provide for the general welfare” and to promote the common good. When the basic requirements of human life and dignity for many go unmet, it is essential that adequate revenues be available to help meet these basic needs.
A fundamental moral measure of our state’s budget and economic policies is whether it enhances or undermines the lives and dignity of those most in need. We will be praying for our state leaders, that their budgetary decisions will protect and preserve life and dignity in Texas.
Signed,
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston/Houston
Most Rev. Kevin J. Farrell, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas
Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth
Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, Auxillary Bishop of Diocese of Dallas
Most Rev. Placido Rodriguez, C.M.F., Bishop of the Diocese of Lubbock
Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, O.M.I., Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo
Most Rev. James Tamayo, Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo
Most Rev. Michael Mulvey, Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi
Most Rev. David Fellhauer, Bishop of the Diocese of Victoria
Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory, Bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont
Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio
Most Rev. Patrick J. Zurek, Bishop of the Diocese of Amarillo
Most Rev. Oscar Cantu, S.T.L., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio
Most Rev. Álvaro Corrada, S.J., Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler
Most Rev. Joe S. Vasquez, Bishop of the Diocese of Austin
Bishop Max D. Whitfield, New Mexico Annual Conference and Northwest Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe, North Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop James Dorff, Southwest Texas Annual Conference and Rio Grande Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop J. Michael Lowry, Central Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Bishop Janice Huie, Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
Mike Cole, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of the New Covenant, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Houston
Hilary Shuford, Executive Presbyter, Mission Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), San Antonio
Bishop Ray Tiemann, Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop Kevin S. Kanouse, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Nash, Brazos Association Minister, United Church of Christ
Rev. Allen C. Allen, Interim Area Minister, Bluebonnet Area, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Southwest
Rev. Dani Loving Cartwright, Regional Minister & President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest
Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, D. D., IX Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas
Dr. Steve Vernon, Acting Executive Director, Baptist General Convention of Texas
Susan Y. Paynter, Director Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission
Pastor John D. Ogletree, Jr., First Metropolitan Baptist Church, Houston
Charles Foster Johnson, Pastor, Bread Fellowship of Fort Worth and First Baptist Church of Desdemona
Dr. Michael Massar, Sugar Land Baptist Church, Sugar Land , TX
Rev. Dr. Roger A. Paynter, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Austin, TX
Dr. Van Christian, First Baptist Church, Comanche, Texas
Dr. Michael A. Evans, Sr., Senior Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Mansfield, TX
Michael B Fanning, San Antonio, TX
Deborah T. Ferrier, Chair of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas
Charlie Singleton; Director of African American Ministries/BGCT/Texas Baptist, Dallas, TX
Patty Lane, Director Intercultural Ministries, Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dallas, TX
Anne Bramlett, MS, CCC/SLP, Speech and Occupational Therapy of North Texas
Rabbi Barry H.D. Block, Temple Beth-El, San Antonio
Rabbi Stephen Folberg, Congregation Beth Israel, Austin
Rabbi Neil Blumofe, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Agudas Achim, Austin
Rabbi Neal Katz, Congregation Beth El, Tyler, TX
Dr. Yusuf Z. Kavakci, Scholar-in-Residence and Imam, Suffa Islamic Seminary, Islamic Association of North Texas
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