Washington D.C., Feb 13, 2018 / 12:08 pm
The federal budget proposal released by the Trump administration on Monday has been met with worry from U.S. bishops who stressed the need to protect the poor.
"Budget decisions ought to be guided by moral criteria that safeguard human life and dignity, give central importance to 'the least of these,' and promote the well-being of workers and families who struggle to live in dignity," read a statement released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Feb. 13.
"Yesterday, President Trump unveiled a budget plan, 'Efficient, Effective, Accountable: An American Budget,' that again calls for deep cuts to vital parts of government, including underfunding programs that serve the poor, diplomacy, and environment stewardship," the statement continued.
The bishops commended certain aspects of the budget request, which would prohibit organizations that perform abortions from receiving federal funding, and would pump $13 billion into fighting the opioid crisis. However, they also expressed concern on other aspects, including immigration enforcement and the boost in military spending.