GOP's Convenient Faith

CORE MESSAGE

Using religion only for political gain is an abuse of religion.

Define: Washington Republicans talk about faith, but they listen to religious leaders and follow religious teachings only when it suits them politically.

Illustrate: After embracing the Catholic Bishops on the President's balanced contraception policy to use their opposition as a political tool, Washington Republicans are now dismissing them for opposing the GOP budget plan.

Explain: The Romney-Ryan budget would take from "the least of these" -- hungry children, sick young mothers, and struggling families -- so Wall Street CEOs and Big Oil executives can get more tax giveaways.

Discredit: That may be an ideological agenda that suits the Tea Party and the anti-faith philosophy of Ayn Rand, but it undermines the values and priorities of every major religious group in America.

Bottom line: Politicians who embrace religion only when convenient don't understand religion. 

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QUOTES TO REMEMBER

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you did for me."
-- Matthew 25

"If a brother or sister lacks clothes and daily food and you say to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and be well fed' and yet do nothing to help their bodily needs, what good is that? Faith without works is dead..."
-- James 2:15-19 

For additional relevant passages from scripture (there are many), click here.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals and the National Council of Churches, all condemned the Romney-Ryan budget cuts to programs that serve the most vulnerable. The Bishops called them "unjustified and wrong" and "undoubtedly lead[ing] to an unacceptable loss of life in dire circumstances." 
• Other Catholic leaders have denounced the Romney-Ryan budget as an "immoral disaster" and condemned Republican politicians for "distorting church teaching" to justify a "morally indefensible" budget that "betrays Catholic principles."
• Numerous other religious leaders and institutions representing the Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim faiths have all weighed in with their condemnations of the Romney-Ryan budget.
• The Catholic Bishops have also voiced concerns and opposed Republicans on the EPA regulation of mercury pollution, comprehensive immigration reform, climate, torture, and funding for faith-based organizations to serve the most vulnerable families. But Republicans have ignored them on those issues.
• Washington Republicans perennially try to cut and dismantle the programs and policies that are working to serve and lift up vulnerable families, including Medicaid, school lunches for children, the minimum wage, food stamps, and student aid.
• Mitt Romney, who said he's "not concerned about the very poor," would raise taxes on parents struggling to make ends meet and make seniors, children and vulnerable families bear even more of the burden -- so he can give the richest 1% even bigger tax giveaways.

WHO YOU NEED TO KNOW: "Tea Party Jesus" and Ayn Rand

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