The U.S. Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops have blasted the House GOP proposed budget - written by Paul Ryan and endorsed by Mitt Romney - in strong terms.  I applaud their statement even as it comes late and after leadership was shown by many other faith leaders in opposing the GOP effort to gut America's critical safety net.

The New York Times reports:

“Major reductions at this time of economic turmoil and rising poverty will hurt hungry, poor and vulnerable people in our nation and around the world,” the Rev. Stephen Blaire, bishop of Stockton, Calif., and the Rev. Richard E. Pates, bishop of Des Moines, wrote for the conference. “A just spending bill cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to the poor and vulnerable persons; it requires shared sacrifice by all.”

For House leaders, the letters could sting. Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio is Catholic. Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, the chairman of the House Budget Committee and the architect of the House spending plan, has said that his Catholic faith informed his decisions.

For people of faith, opposing the GOP budget shouldn't be a partisan political issue.  This is a moral issue.  I'm deeply gratified the bishops seem to understand that and hope they will show the same energy in fighting these budget proposals as they have in engaging in a misguided war against health care proposals that promote the common good.