An hour ahead of a Senate vote on a controversial GOP budget plan that would dramatically overhaul Medicare, more than two dozen bishops sent a letter to Senators calling the bill "morally indefensible" and urging opposition to it because the proposal's cuts target America's most vulnerable citizens.

The budget put forward by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), which sailed through the House along partisan lines last month, "fails the basic tests of justice, compassion and a commitment to the common good," said the Wednesday letter signed by 27 Protestant bishops from around the country.

"This budget eviscerates vital nutrition programs for mothers and infants (WIC), and makes cuts to Medicaid that will hurt sick children, struggling families and seniors in nursing homes," the letter continued. "Unlike the Good Samaritan, who stopped to care for a wounded stranger on the side of the road, the House budget turns its back on the most vulnerable at a time of grave economic uncertainty even as it endorses policies that gives tax breaks for the privileged few."

The bishops, who represent the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Methodist Church in 19 states, instead called on Senators to come up with a bipartisan budget that "defends human dignity and basic economic security for all Americans." ]]> FPL helped organize this letter

An hour ahead of a Senate vote on a controversial GOP budget plan that would dramatically overhaul Medicare, more than two dozen bishops sent a letter to Senators calling the bill “morally indefensible” and urging opposition to it because the proposal’s cuts target America’s most vulnerable citizens.

The budget put forward by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), which sailed through the House along partisan lines last month, “fails the basic tests of justice, compassion and a commitment to the common good,” said the Wednesday letter signed by 27 Protestant bishops from around the country.

“This budget eviscerates vital nutrition programs for mothers and infants (WIC), and makes cuts to Medicaid that will hurt sick children, struggling families and seniors in nursing homes,” the letter continued. “Unlike the Good Samaritan, who stopped to care for a wounded stranger on the side of the road, the House budget turns its back on the most vulnerable at a time of grave economic uncertainty even as it endorses policies that gives tax breaks for the privileged few.”

The bishops, who represent the Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Methodist Church in 19 states, instead called on Senators to come up with a bipartisan budget that “defends human dignity and basic economic security for all Americans.”

The four made a familiar Democratic case against the Republican budget plan - that it unfairly burdens those who rely on the government's social welfare safety net and does not include tax increases for the wealthiest earners - but couched their argument in moral terms.

"The women, children and seniors who would suffer most from Paul Ryan's cowardly budget plan are not responsible for our deficit," Campbell said. "It's wrong to make them bear the burden while the wealthiest Americans and powerful special interests that wrecked our economy continue to exploit our society without consequence." ]]> FPL put on this press conference

Alaska Democratic Sen. Mark Begich and several religious leaders gathered on the steps of a Capitol Hill church Monday afternoon to decry — in moral terms — House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) proposed fiscal 2012 budget, which will be voted on by the House at the end of this week.

Begich, a first-term lawmaker and former Anchorage mayor who was recently tapped by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to serve on the Democratic leadership team, was joined Monday at the Church of the Reformation on East Capitol Street by the Rev. Derrick Harkins, pastor of the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church; Rabbi Jack Moline of the Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria; and Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of a Catholic social justice lobbying group.

The four made a familiar Democratic case against the Republican budget plan – that it unfairly burdens those who rely on the government’s social welfare safety net and does not include tax increases for the wealthiest earners – but couched their argument in moral terms.

“The women, children and seniors who would suffer most from Paul Ryan’s cowardly budget plan are not responsible for our deficit,” Campbell said. “It’s wrong to make them bear the burden while the wealthiest Americans and powerful special interests that wrecked our economy continue to exploit our society without consequence.”

Nine Democratic female senators held a news conference Friday to slam Republicans for their insistence that funding for Planned Parenthood be stripped from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running.

"These cuts are biased, politically motivated, they hurt women, and we the women in the Senate will not let it happen," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat. "What's at stake isn't the amount of cuts, it's the ability of American women -- poor American women -- to get health care service."

Added fellow California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer: "To think that this government could shut down because there's a group of people over in the House -- Republicans -- who are so extreme that they would stop women's health programs is extraordinary."

"The concerns regarding Planned Parenthood are misguided. It is clearly understood that there is no federal funding for abortion -- end of discussion," said the Rev. Derrick Harkins, pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington.

"Threatening to shut down the government over funding for Planned Parenthood is a distraction that won't balance the budget or prevent the tragedy of abortion," added Steve Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington. ]]> FPL compiled quotes from faith leaders opposing government shutdown over Planned Parenthood funding

Nine Democratic female senators held a news conference Friday to slam Republicans for their insistence that funding for Planned Parenthood be stripped from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running.

“These cuts are biased, politically motivated, they hurt women, and we the women in the Senate will not let it happen,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat. “What’s at stake isn’t the amount of cuts, it’s the ability of American women — poor American women — to get health care service.”

Added fellow California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer: “To think that this government could shut down because there’s a group of people over in the House — Republicans — who are so extreme that they would stop women’s health programs is extraordinary.”

“The concerns regarding Planned Parenthood are misguided. It is clearly understood that there is no federal funding for abortion — end of discussion,” said the Rev. Derrick Harkins, pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church in Washington.

“Threatening to shut down the government over funding for Planned Parenthood is a distraction that won’t balance the budget or prevent the tragedy of abortion,” added Steve Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington.

Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed Senate Bill 5 into law, which limits the bargaining rights of 350,000 public workers.

Labor unions already are planning to put the bill up for a statewide referendum in November. Teaming with the Ohio Democratic Party, union members will market their campaign as "We are Ohio" in order to stop the pending limitations on collective bargaining.

In order to give voters the final say on the issue, SB 5 opponents will need to gather more than 231,000 petition signatures within a 90-day window of time. Union workers report intense interest in helping.

Ohioans of faith may prove to be a swing vote for both sides courting the community that regularly attends church. At a news conference Thursday, Kurt Bateman of Catholics United joined other faith leaders opposed to SB 5 in vowing to fight for the bill's defeat.

"I've been online with a number of people who've already said, 'Where do I get my petition," Bateman said. "People will come to this out of their heart, and I think that there's a lot of faithful folks in the state of Ohio who understand that these basic rights are endemic to our faith." ]]> FPL partnered with Catholics United to host this news conference

Ohio Governor John Kasich has signed Senate Bill 5 into law, which limits the bargaining rights of 350,000 public workers.

Labor unions already are planning to put the bill up for a statewide referendum in November. Teaming with the Ohio Democratic Party, union members will market their campaign as “We are Ohio” in order to stop the pending limitations on collective bargaining.

In order to give voters the final say on the issue, SB 5 opponents will need to gather more than 231,000 petition signatures within a 90-day window of time. Union workers report intense interest in helping.

Ohioans of faith may prove to be a swing vote for both sides courting the community that regularly attends church. At a news conference Thursday, Kurt Bateman of Catholics United joined other faith leaders opposed to SB 5 in vowing to fight for the bill’s defeat.

“I’ve been online with a number of people who’ve already said, ‘Where do I get my petition,” Bateman said. “People will come to this out of their heart, and I think that there’s a lot of faithful folks in the state of Ohio who understand that these basic rights are endemic to our faith.”

An interfaith coalition of religious leaders, joined by labor and civil rights groups, is organizing a day of protest and witness on next Monday's 31st anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Interfaith Worker Justice committee is leading the effort and organized a press call this afternoon. Specifically, the groups are calling attention to the need to defend workers' rights in the face of political attacks unleashed on organized labor in recent months. Dr. King was shot in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with striking garbage workers.

Rev. Nelson Rivers III, vice president for stakeholder relations at the NAACP said, "In the context of our time, we face increased attacks by right-wing groups...engaged in a gigantic effort to turn back the clock." Rivers noted that the NAACP has long stood with organized labor defending workers' rights. He said many local NAACP chapters are organizing special events for Monday's protests, including "Teach-ins" at several universities.

Mario Ramirez, a union organizer in Wisconsin, spoke about the recent attacks by Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-led legislature on public sector unions in his state. Ramirez, who works at a manufacturing company, said he and his colleagues in the Voces de la Frontera Worker Center, stood in solidarity with the public employees in Wisconsin. ]]> FPL helped organize this press call featuring Interfaith Worker Justice and NAACP

An interfaith coalition of religious leaders, joined by labor and civil rights groups, is organizing a day of protest and witness on next Monday’s 31st anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Interfaith Worker Justice committee is leading the effort and organized a press call this afternoon. Specifically, the groups are calling attention to the need to defend workers’ rights in the face of political attacks unleashed on organized labor in recent months. Dr. King was shot in Memphis, where he had gone to stand with striking garbage workers.

Rev. Nelson Rivers III, vice president for stakeholder relations at the NAACP said, “In the context of our time, we face increased attacks by right-wing groups…engaged in a gigantic effort to turn back the clock.” Rivers noted that the NAACP has long stood with organized labor defending workers’ rights. He said many local NAACP chapters are organizing special events for Monday’s protests, including “Teach-ins” at several universities.

Mario Ramirez, a union organizer in Wisconsin, spoke about the recent attacks by Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-led legislature on public sector unions in his state. Ramirez, who works at a manufacturing company, said he and his colleagues in the Voces de la Frontera Worker Center, stood in solidarity with the public employees in Wisconsin.