John Carr: The Fundamental Moral Measure of America's Greatness

As Congress returns and as leaders of the Senate and House continue their desperate search for ways to pass their health and budget proposals, I have one simple question for those whose votes will decide these matters: Is this really why you came to Washington, to take health care from the sick and food from the hungry?  

I hope and believe their answer is no. However, the health and budget proposals before Congress will do just that. They make devastating cuts to health care and nutrition for families with the fewest resources and power to fund massive tax cuts for those with the most resources and power...There is no popular mandate for these upside-down policies and priorities.

At this time of policy chaos and preoccupation with presidential tweets, it is worth remembering that less than two years ago Congress united to applaud Pope Francis’ call “to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good.” Last May, President Trump met and promised Pope Francis, “I will not forget what you said.” With his strong words and humble ways, Pope Francis reminds all of us, “the measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.” Whether the president, members of Congress and the rest of us heed these words will be a fundamental moral measure of who they are as leaders and who we are as a nation.

Excerpts from John Carr's opinion piece  on July 10, 2017, in America magazine, entitled "Senators: Did you come to Washington to take health care from the sick and food from the hungry?" 

Syndicated columnist E.J. Dionne, John Carr

Carr is the Director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University and vice-chair of the board of Bread for the World.

He served for more than two decades as director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.