Oregon Public Broadcasting

A group of city ministers is asking the federal government to re-order its budget priorities.

April Baer / OPB

From left: Rev. Bill Sinkford, Senior Minister, 1st Unitarian Church of Portland; Rabbi Joseph Wolf, Havurah Shalom Community; Rev Mark Knutson, Senior Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church; Rev. Lynne Smouse-Lopez, Senior Pastor, Ainsworth United Church of Christ

Representatives from four Portland churches and a synagogue say President Obama’s proposed spending plan allots too much money to the military.

Reverend Mark Knutson of Augustana Lutheran Church says religious congregations have a singular authority to speak out on the subject.

Mark Knutson: “In faith communities, on this corner, and every corner across this nation, we deal with the ravages of war. While some who romanticize it go home to comfortable homes at night, we have those who’ve been devastated by warfare coming to our houses of worship daily, seeking some kind of support in society that is forgotten.”

Likewise, Knutson says, the poor and disenfranchised often turn to the faith community when their support systems run out.

The five leaders say they are addressing their message to Oregon’s Congressional delegation, in hopes of affecting change in the federal budget. 

Next month, they’ll join other colleagues for a rally on March 19th, to mark the eighth anniversary of the war in Iraq.