Religion, Politics and Paul Ryan’s Budget

In the latest episode of “Moyers & Company,” Bill Moyers talks to Sister Simone Campbell of the Catholic policy and lobbying group NETWORK, and Robert Royal, founder and president of the Faith and Reason Institute, about economic inequality in this country and Paul Ryan’s budget blueprint.

Campbell and other nuns made headlines in the weeks before Ryan was selected to be Mitt Romney’s running mate for protesting the Wisconsin congressman’s budget plan, which had just been passed by the Republican-controlled House.

“Moyers & Company”:

She and some of her sister nuns rolled across the heartland on a bus trip designed to arouse public concern over what the Ryan plan would mean for social services in America, especially its slashing of programs for the poor. Sister Simone says his budget is inconsistent with Catholic social teaching. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops agrees.

But other Catholics say Sister Simone and the nuns have crossed the line, becoming too outspoken and political. Royal believes that issues of economic inequality are being oversimplified and says the focus should be on creating a more dynamic economy for all.

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— Posted by Tracy Bloom.