Christian Hypocrisy From the Religious Right

W.W.J.D.?  How about what would Jesus say? What would he say about the way we treat the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the elderly?

I haven't gone and gotten all religious on you, I promise. I was listening recently to an interview on the radio with a man from the Council of Churches on poverty. He reminded me how those on the religious right use the Bible and specifically the words of Jesus to defend their desire to overturn Roe v. Wade and fight against abortion, or to define marriage between and man and a woman to prevent gay people from marrying.

[See a collection of political cartoons on gay marriage.]

But what about the issue of those who are suffering? Those who are in need? Where are the religious right on that? Why isn't it a value or moral to help a sick child, an elderly person or someone who is hungry?

The Bible contains over 300 verses dedicated to the poor and social injustice. In all of those verses it is clear God is concerned for both; so why aren't those who claim to follow him?

Those on the religious right want to defund programs such as Social Security, Medicare, welfare, food stamps, healthcare, etc. What I want to know is: why aren't these so called people of God offering their homes to the homeless, food to the hungry, a coat to someone who is poor and cold?

[See a collection of political cartoons on the budget and deficit.]

The concept of "it takes a village" was not Secretary Clinton's idea; it originated with the teachings of Jesus. Don't take my word for it, read his words. (In some books they're in red; that should make it easier for you.)

With the current cuts in federal programs, more and more people are being turned away from shelters, yet at a time when the economy is bad, the unemployment rate is high, people keep losing their homes and there are more people living below the poverty line than in 50 years; what do we expect these people, some of whom are children, to do?!

Those in the churches aren't helping, many church doors are locked to these people. When you phone a religious organization asking for help, they'll send you to a shelter; which is government funded, which their congregation wants to cut the funding for. See the problem?

And it goes beyond our borders. In the horn of Africa where there is severe famine and where children are dying daily, the United States gives less than we have in the past, thanks to the cuts in funding.

[Debate Club: Given The Current Deficit Crisis, Should Foreign Aid Be Cut?]

I find it hard not to gag when I read "In God We Trust" on our currency when we don't follow God's laws. The religious right will fight hard to give a tax credit to a rich man, but doesn't want to pay for a blanket for a homeless one. Didn't the Bible say something about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven? In America, it's the other way around. If you're rich, it's like heaven; if you're poor, it's hell.

I was scared and shocked when I agreed with something Pat Robertson said recently. He said the right are being too extreme and to tone it down. He should've told the religious right to do something I think they've stopped doing long ago; read the book they so readily use to further their agenda.

• See a collection of political cartoons on healthcare.
• See a collection of political cartoons on the Tea Party.
• Read about 7 groups with reason to protest.

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