ELCA, 15 Others Join In Social Security Principles Statement

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and 15 other religious organizations released a joint statement of principles last week aimed at informing the U.S. Congress as it considers how to preserve and strengthen the Social Security program.
"Our religious communities speak with one voice on the importance of providing compassionate care for the elderly, widows, orphans and persons with disabilities. We believe it is the birthright of each person to live a life with dignity and with access to the basic necessities of life," said Kay A. Bengston, director of domestic policy for the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs, the ELCA's federal public policy office, Washington, D.C. "It is this deep moral concern for maintaining and building a compassionate society that brings us together in this joint statement."
"The Social Security system has been a tremendous success, providing all participants with economic security when they need it most," she said. "It has demonstrated the positive role that government can play in advancing the common good. Future generations deserve nothing less. We need to strengthen the present system so that it will serve future generations."
The religious organizations' statement said that the current discussion of the Social Security system is "timely and appropriate," and warrants "careful reflection" concerning the basic principles on which the present system was founded.
The religious organizations' joint statement says future changes to the Social Security system should emphasize:
+ Compassion: the Federal government should continue its role to promote "a compassionate society" through the Social Security system
+ Economic security: social insurance should remain a basic part of society. Disability and survivor insurance should be maintained, and security for the elderly, survivors and people with disabilities should be maintained
+ Equity, fairness and progressivity: The present overall structure should be "preserved and strengthened." Costs and benefits should be distributed "progressively in proportion to each person's ability to pay and level of need." Some segments of the population should not be "systematically disadvantaged" due to gender, race or marital status.
+ Savings and pensions: "Social Security is intended to be the third leg of a three-legged stool." The other legs are personal savings and employer-provided pensions. "Congress should encourage personal savings and employer pensions in addition to (not as a substitute for) the current system."
+ Stewardship of the public trust: Congress has a "moral obligation" to fulfill its trust responsibilities to those who have paid into the Social Security system. Congress must assure that trust fund revenues and expenditures "balance over time, and that future generations will not be unfairly burdened by this generation's debt."
"We believe the strength of our country is measured best by the compassion we show to one another in times of greatest need and vulnerability," said Sammie Moshenberg, director of Washington operations, National Council of Jewish Women.
"In the months ahead, we will continue to look at proposals to modify the Social Security system through the framework of our moral values and religious experience. We will engage with members of Congress and the public to help find the best way to strengthen and preserve the Social Security system so that future generations may continue to benefit, as we do now," she said.
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The full text of the statement, "To Preserve and Strengthen Social Security: Religious Organization Statement of Principles" is at http://www.elca.org/advocacy on the ELCA's Advocacy Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news