Religions offer principles to guide leaders on public spending

“Budgets are moral documents.”

That quote, attributed to Martin Luther King Jr., came to me this week when I was thinking about the new federal budget.

In fact, King never said that exact phrase. But it is in keeping with his general philosophy that how governments choose to spend — or not spend — money reveals their moral character by showing what is important to them.

If that’s the case, what does a budget say about a government’s morals and values?

For example, if a budget increases funding for health care and affordable housing, is a government sending a message that it values health and basic security? If it cuts environmental programs while subsidizing oil and gas extraction, is it saying it prioritizes current industry and jobs over the long-term health of the planet. If a budget increases military spending while reducing foreign aid, is it saying force is a more important way to provide security than diplomacy?

Budgets also say something about how a government views the people it governs. A budget that invests in child care and education suggests that people are the best investments for government money. But one that slashes or limits social supports could be seen as ignoring the needs of its most vulnerable citizens.

Budgets also have moral consequences for people not yet born. Generations to come will be impacted by budget decisions made today when it comes to debt and how we treat the environment.

Finally, budgets reveal who and what is important to a government. Whose voices were heard when it was developed? Whose voices were ignored? What values were preeminent? What ideals were overlooked?

That includes religious voices; given that Prime Minister Mark Carney is a devout Catholic, and a follower of Catholic social teaching, I wonder if he consulted his bishop or other people of faith when constructing this budget?

Examples of how budgets reveal moral choices are easy to find.

The previous federal government, for example, put reconciliation high on the agenda. That’s why it budgeted $3.4 billion in 2017 for clean water, housing, and education in Indigenous communities

In 2010, the values of Prime Minister Stephen Harper were on display when his government announced the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health initiative. One of Canada’s most high-profile global humanitarian efforts, it saw Canada pledge over $1 billion in new funding to reduce preventable deaths among mothers and children in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

In 1994, the government, the value of peace was evident when Prime Minister Jean Chretien created the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre to promote and train people in the uniquely Canadian value of peacekeeping.

What about religion? Does it have anything to say about government budgets? It turns out, the world’s various religions do have principles that can guide leaders when setting priorities for public spending.

For Christianity, that includes the principles of justice, compassion and the common good. They are based on the Old Testament prophets, who condemned leaders who “trampled the poor” or hoarded wealth while neglecting widows, orphans, and strangers, and also on the teachings of Jesus, who preached love for neighbours and the care of “the least of these.”

Among the core ideals of Islam is the promotion of justice and social welfare, including always remembering the needs of those who are poor. Governments in Muslim-majority societies are expected to keep this in mind and ensure that resources are distributed fairly.

In Hinduism, rulers have a sacred duty to promote the welfare of all. The Arthashastra, an ancient treatise on governance and economics, instructs rulers to collect taxes fairly and spend for the public good, keeping in mind the needs of the poor.

Buddhists believe that governments should follow the Dasa Raja Dhamma, or the “Ten Duties of a King.” Based on Buddhist ethics, those duties include things like compassion, integrity, honesty, selflessness, non-violence and the alleviation of suffering.

For Jews, public spending is a form of tzedakah, or charity. In the case of governments, that means promoting social welfare and support for the needy, keeping in mind the biblical injunctions to care for widows, orphans and strangers.

Indigenous traditions also have something to say about government budgets. First Nations believe that governance is about creating harmony between people, communities and with the natural world. For them, resources are shared gifts, not private possessions, and leaders have an obligation to care for the next seven generations.

Creating a national budget isn’t easy. There are many voices competing for attention, and money—not to mention the uncertainty caused by Donald Trump and his tariffs. But for people of faith, there are core ideals that can help them determine how a budget measures up to their beliefs.

With that in mind, how does this new budget stack up against your beliefs and ideals?

faith@freepress.mb.ca

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