Episcopal Press and News
Church Leaders Call for Increased Foreign Aid Through Cuts in Military Spending
Episcopal News Service. July 25, 1996 [96-1531]
(ENS) Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning joined 28 other religious leaders in July in calling on Congress to shift funds from U.S. military spending to support greater efforts toward eradicating global poverty.
"The growing separation between those who have plenty and those who have almost nothing is both a sign of moral collapse and a profound threat to the world's peace and security," the church leaders said.
The letter from Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox leaders to all senators came as the Senate began debate on defense spending and foreign aid appropriations. Calling current attempts to increase Pentagon spending "misguided and wasteful," the leaders argued that modest reductions in the military budget would "likely enhance the actual security of Americans by helping lift the burden of poverty that continues to make most of the world desperate and therefore dangerous." In particular, funds should be shifted to increase assistance to poor countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, they said.
Noting that "standard wisdom is that Americans are indifferent or even hostile to foreign aid," the letter observes that the opposite is true, especially among members of churches and religious organizations. "People may misunderstand the amounts of money and issues involved, but they are not hard-of-heart," the letter states. "Most want to see the United States give a higher priority to fostering social and economic development."
Programs that offer "sustainable, people-centered development," that support countries in transition to democracy and peace, and that offer humanitarian aid in emergencies should be emphasized, rather than "military and other security assistance," the leaders said.
The church leaders also urged Congress to reallocate some of the funds designated for aid to Israel and Egypt to other countries and peoples both in the region and elsewhere in the world. While 40 percent of total U.S. assistance now goes to Israel and Egypt, the letter argues that "the burdens of peace are now borne by others in the region as well, and aid must reflect that." Furthermore, the letter notes, "the security of people and states in the Middle East must not continue to be a greater priority in our aid program than the people and development of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America."