1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I am a United Women in Faith. I join with Rev William Barber & Moral Monday movement. Please let me know if you support their movement and will meet with them/join them in prayer May 19-23, 2025 to discuss Congress moral obligation to care for poor/vulnerable in federal budget. Their letter/ May 1, 2025: Dear House Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Senate Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, We are writing this National Day of Prayer to request a meeting during third week of May to discuss the moral obligation of Congress to care for the poor and the vulnerable in the federal budget. On this past Monday, we came to the US Capitol to pray for you and for the nation, begging God to spare the lives of people who will suffer if life-saving and life-sustaining programs are cut. Some of us were arrested in the Capitol rotunda for refusing to cease praying this prayer. We still have not ceased. Today, many of your members will pray and ask God to bless this nation. But we know that we cannot ask God to shower us with mercy if we are not willing to obey the commands of our sacred texts to do justice and righteousness, care for the immigrant, single women, and children, and ensure that innocent blood is not shed (Jeremiah 22). In the Christian New Testament, Jesus says nations will be judged by how we treat God in the disguise of people who are hungry, thirsty, immigrants, sick, and imprisoned (Matthew 25). These are not just instructions to individuals; they are wisdom for our general welfare. If our National Day of Prayer does not address the moral concerns of the people whose lives will be destroyed if government programs are slashed, it is an offense to Almighty God. “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me,” God says to people who sing praise songs on a National Day of Prayer but pass policies that prey on the poor (Amos 5). The Bible says God doesn't want to hear our prayers until we commit to listening to the poor and low-income people who are crying out for justice. As moral and religious leaders who are charged with caring for everyone in our communities, we would like to bring people who will be impacted by your decisions to meet with you and discuss the impact of Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, Section 8, and HeadStart on their lives. These are some of the most moral people in this nation, and we know it is not possible for you to lead us well in this moment without hearing from them. We write to you on both sides of the aisle because we know these are not Republican or Democrat issues. They are moral issues that impact all of us. We would like to meet and pray with all of you, but we are willing to bring a delegation to meet with any of you who are willing. Please let us know at your earliest convenience if you are able to meet and pray with us the week of May 19-23, 2025.”