The Jesus of the Gospels Calls Us to Good Stewardship, Justice, and Care for "the Least of These."  We Call on Our Nation's Leaders to Seek Economic Justice in the Management of Our Nation's Wealth.

In his sermons and in his parables, Jesus teaches that poverty can certainly be an effective weapon of mass destruction. He demands that we deal mercifully with one another and show special care for the poor.  Contrary to what Jesus taught, our leaders act as if we have no responsibility to "the least of these."

Today, the future of our "little ones," whom Jesus so loved, is mortgaged by government debts that are increasing daily. As of this writing, every newborn American infant owes $20,000 in public debt when they draw their first breath. Such dismal stewardship dissipates the birthright of our "little ones."

Tax breaks for the richest underpin this ever-growing public debt. To preserve these tax cuts, public investment in education, health care, and housing is labeled "wasteful" and reduced or eliminated. So "the least of these" - children, the aged, the poor - are asked to bear the burden of controlling the public debt. This is an injustice. It is unfair, unchristian, and un-American.

On the national level, increasing public debt is the public policy. At the same time, our leaders have enacted "bankruptcy reform" that takes a hard and punitive approach to those who have suffered financial misfortune. The vast majority of personal bankruptcies are the result of catastrophic medical expenses, job loss, or divorce. We consider Jesus' parable of the slave who was forgiven a large debt and then refused to forgive a small debt owed to him by another. In light of that teaching, a punitive approach to the burden of indebtedness is an injustice and is also a scandalous hypocrisy.

Honoring Jesus' compassion for the poor and the powerless, we call for a tax system and spending priorities that are grounded in fairness and justice and we call for fiscal stewardship that fosters prosperity and opportunity for all Americans.