Archbishop, other church leaders protest budget cuts

El Paso Times ^ | May 29, 2003 | Gary Scharrer

[FITZ]

AUSTIN -- Archbishop Patrick Flores and other religious leaders are mounting a late attack on the new state budget plan, saying they're outraged that Gov. Rick Perry and lawmakers are picking on children, the elderly and mentally ill to balance a budget.

"If they cut the budget and they cut the services, people are going to be in a much more horrible, worse condition," said Flores, archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of San Antonio. Flores was bishop of the El Paso diocese in 1978-79.

State lawmakers are expected to vote this weekend on a final $118 billion budget.

Budget writers defend their spending plan as far superior to earlier versions, which contemplated much steeper cuts.

"I'm surprised they're not out there claiming victory," Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said. "You could always say it's never enough, it ought to be more. But considering where we started, we've come a long ways."

Perry and state leaders have insisted that they would fill a $10 billion shortfall without raising taxes. The budget they plan to adopt before the session ends Monday accomplishes that.

"It's frustrating because no matter what we do, it's still not going to be enough," Ogden said. "People who have a need for government services never seem to stop saying what their need is."

That's because the needs are so great, the archbishop said. Faith-based social services agencies can't keep up "with people who constantly come to us for assistance."

The spending plan would deny Medicaid health coverage to 332,000 children and maternity care for 8,300 low-income pregnant women, in addition to reducing the Children's Health Insurance Program by 169,000 children, according to a budget analysis.

Flores and other religious leaders formed "Texans for Texans" last week in an effort to persuade Perry and lawmakers not to cut Medicaid and CHIP spending. The coalition includes the Disciples of Christ, Episcopal bishops, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists and the Jewish Family & Children's Services.

The Texas Association of Business opposed any tax increase.

"The leadership promised Texas families no new taxes, and it delivered," association President Bill Hammond said. "This budget is historic because it demonstrates that state government can live within its means by restraining spending instead of constantly raising taxes."

The archbishop had an hourlong meeting with the governor. Flores said he would ask Perry "to respond to the needs of the people."

A Perry spokesman later said the governor's meeting with Flores was private.

Gary Scharrer may be reached at gscharrer@elpasotimes.com

[FITZ]

Socialism, we need it for the children.

[trebb]

The Catholic Church has no right to protest a lack of funding - they are one of the richest and most tight-fisted organizations in the world. When I was stationed in Southern Italy, my unit sponsored a Catholic orphanage. We bought supplies to fix plumbing, huge leaks around windows, leaks in the roof, etc. The place was run by one old priest and three old nuns and the Church put zero funds into it. If not for charity to keep it afloat, the clerics would be recalled and the place shut down.

[Texas_Jarhead]

I'd like an hour long meeting with Mr. Perry too.

[from occupied ga]

"If they cut the budget and they cut the services, people are going to be in a much more horrible, worse condition," said Flores, archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of San Antonio.

It has long been my contention that the Catholic Church is a relentlessly communist organization. You can call it socialism to somewhat soften the sound, but the church heirarchy is dedicated to wealth redistribution and repressing individual rights. (ie the Church's official endorsement of gun control)

[Ebenezer]

Archbishop Flores' criticism of state budget cuts is but an example of how even religious leaders in our country expect the state to foot the bill for charity and social welfare, when, in reality, those functions should be left to the churches.

If my knowledge of Scripture serves me well, the early Christians were not necessarily waiting for the Roman government to provide for the widow and the orphan. Saint Paul's admonitions clearly show that.

[Alberta's Child]

In all of the events in the life of Jesus Christ that have been described in the New Testament, the part about petitioning Caesar for financial support on behalf of the people of Israel is noticeably absent.

[from occupied ga]

, the part about petitioning Caesar for financial support on behalf of the people of Israel is noticeably absent.

Yes, I don't remember reading that part either, perhaps it's in the Lenin translation :-)

[FITZ]

Maybe these communist churches should have their tax-exempt status revoked. They seem to believe very much in tax increases so maybe they should participate.

[FITZ]

The churches no longer do their job in promoting personal responsibility ---the notion of waiting until after you're married to become sexually active and produce children, the churches no longer worry about private charity ---they now believe their role is to promote socialism to take care of the poor which if you look at the rates of unwed motherhood, gang involvement, drunkeness, drug use etc in these so-called poor communities, you can see how ineffective the churches have become.

The best solution would be to start taxes churches like we do businesses ----if they can't afford the high taxes, they'd have to leave the state or shut down just like businesses and individuals must.

[from occupied ga]

Maybe these communist churches should have their tax-exempt status revoked. They seem to believe very much in tax increases so maybe they should participate.

Works for me. Part of the problem is that the people who end up in the church heirarchy are uttlerly clueless on economics, wealth creation, and the free market. They don't participate in wealth creation, but wealth transfer and after a while begin to think that no matter how much money they're given it isn't enough and would it be good to be able to force people to give more. They of course then support governments that do this (Democrats especially). Further the Catholic Church is bought and paid for by the federal government. Catholic Charities USA gets over $1,400,000,000 of tax money in grants. They're even ahead of AARP which gets a little less than 1 billion. This is money that was forcibly taken from the people who earned it. I don't see any bishop turning away stolen loot just because it was stolen.

[FITZ]

Texas balanced budget and tax ping.

[FITZ]

Of course it's not just the Catholic Church ---it seems most of the Protestant Churches have become very marxist also. Wealth redistribution is what it's all about now ----freely given charity isn't the goal, just more and more government programs and higher taxes which the churches believe they should not have to pay themselves.

[from occupied ga]

it seems most of the Protestant Churches have become very marxist also

You're, of course, correct here too. I looked at the United Methodist Church website, and if you look at their principles you'll see thinly disguised marxism

[Kuksool]

Strange that the liberals aren't complaining about "separation of church & state".

[FITZ]

That's a good point. If the bishop or other church leaders said abortion shouldn't be legal, the liberals would be outraged. If the church leaders suggested that morality (delaying sex until after marriage and a job) helps people be more prosperous, there would be similar outrage.

[MeekOneGOP]