The Ryan/Romney Budget v. Jesus Christ April 26, 2012 Andy Frank: “Paul Ryan is speaking at Georgetown University this week and some professors wrote him a letter taking him to task on his budget and his interpretation of Catholic social teaching.” ☞ It’s worth noting that this is the budget Governor Romney has endorsed. In part, the professors write: … [W]e would be remiss in our duty to you and our students if we did not challenge your continuing misuse of Catholic teaching to defend a budget plan that decimates food programs for struggling families, radically weakens protections for the elderly and sick, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthiest few. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has wisely noted in several letters to Congress – “a just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons.” Catholic bishops recently wrote that “the House-passed budget resolution fails to meet these moral criteria.” In short, your budget appears to reflect the values of your favorite philosopher, Ayn Rand, rather than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her call to selfishness and her antagonism toward religion are antithetical to the Gospel values of compassion and love. … May I just add that you don’t have to believe Jesus was divine to embrace his moral teachings. SCIENCE AS A PERSONAL CHOICE Here is Stephen Colbert interviewing the (very nice) creationist dentist who may be dictating the content of your children’s textbooks. Laugh, cry — your call.