Pastors lobby for poor in heated deficit talks

WASHINGTON (RNS) More than 4,000 pastors told Congress that churches
would not be able to fill the gap facing social service providers if
deep cuts are made to the federal budget to bring the deficit under
control.

Christian leaders from across the country, led by Sojourners founder
Jim Wallis, sent an open letter to lawmakers on Wednesday (July 13)
pushing back on the assumption that churches and faith-based
organizations will be able to pick up where government programs drop
off.

The letter praised Medicare, Medicaid and the Women, Infants and
Children program by name, insisting that they are "serving the people we
serve."