- Broad coalition announces "Circle of Protection" around programs for poor people -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – Washington, DC, April 26, 2011 – A diverse coalition of evangelical, Catholic, Methodist, mainline Protestant, African-American, and Latino Christian leaders will announce a new coalition to fight cuts to anti-poverty programs and congressional plans to make those cuts even deeper. A joint statement released by the coalition—and signed by 32 leaders—states:

“As Christian leaders, we are committed to fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice. We are also committed to resist budget cuts that undermine the lives, dignity, and rights of poor and vulnerable people. Therefore, we join with others to form a Circle of Protection around programs that meet the essential needs of hungry and poor people at home and abroad.”

What: Teleconference to announce new Christian coalition, called the Circle of Protection, to fight congressional budget cuts for programs that serve vulnerable people.

When: Wednesday, April 27, 2011
9:30-10:30 a.m. ET- General Media:
Call 800-723-6575 Confirmation Code: 6720737

10:45-11:45 a.m. ET- Religious Media:
Call 888-576-4382 Confirmation Code: 8108082

1-2 p.m. ET- Spanish Language Media:
Call 888-240-9373 Confirmation Code: 7266807

Who: Speakers will include Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, National African American Clergy Network; Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Bishop Jaime Soto, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Rev. Peg Chemberlin, National Council of Churches USA; Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference ; Andrea Cano, United Church of Christ; Galen Carey, National Association of Evangelicals ; Rev. David Beckmann, Bread for the World; Ambassador Tony Hall, Alliance to End Hunger; Jim Wallis, Sojourners.

Why: Congress will reconvene Monday, May 2, after a two-week recess. The FY 2012 budget and raising the debt ceiling will top its agenda. In the meantime, a growing number in the Christian community believe that while we need to balance the budget, it must not be on the backs of poor people. A budget is a moral document, and a moral measure of any budget is how it affects poor people.

The FY 2011 budget agreement recently passed by Congress included steep cuts to domestic and foreign assistance programs that are vital to vulnerable people. A FY 2012 budget plan by the House Budget Committee Chairman proposes even deeper cuts. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nearly two-thirds of those cuts are to programs that serve poor people.

Last month, more than 36,000 activists and 28 members of Congress protested the budget cuts by participating in a “hunger fast” that ended on Easter.

To read the Circle of Protection statement, the full list of signatories, and the programs included in the campaign, visit www.circleofprotection.us by April 27.