WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2020—Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, wrote a letter to congressional leaders Thursday, urging them to include the charitable sector and protect vulnerable populations through specific provisions in the next coronavirus-relief legislative package.
“Churches and charities are themselves ravaged by the public health and economic crisis we are facing even as they are also at the forefront of helping the vulnerable, the sick and the poor,” Moore said. “Government should do everything possible to remove obstacles to the thriving of civil society.”
As Congress crafts a new piece of legislation, Moore stated, “This next step should remove such obstacles from these organizations helping the most at-risk populations. The recommendations in this letter can do that.”
In his letter, Moore detailed provisions for the charitable sector with a specific request for a two-year Universal Charitable Deduction to encourage giving to churches and charities, as well as additional support for charitable nonprofits, including schools, to be included in the Phase IV legislation.
Moore also included specific ways congressional leaders could provide additional support to families who access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP program, individuals who will soon age out of foster care and incarcerated men and women.
The ERLC this week also publicly supported a congressional letter authored by U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R–Okla.) and Angus King (I–Maine) calling for provisions for nonprofit organizations, including the UCD, to be included in the next legislative package. That letter can be accessed here along with a press release from Sen. Lankford’s office.
The full letter from Russell Moore can be accessed at this link.
