WASHINGTON -- March 10 --

What:

• Hundreds of people of faith will join the National Council of Churches USA and The Interfaith Alliance at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol to rally against the fiscal year 2006 budget proposed by the Bush Administration. Boldly declaring that "This Budget Does Not Reflect Our Values!" people of faith from across the country will speak out against the proposed budget, which favors military spending and tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations and largely ignores the needs of the poor, children, the elderly, families and communities.

Members of the clergy will gather in front of the United Methodist Building wearing their traditional garb and walk to the rally location to join with other people of faith in this protest.

Who:

• Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA www.ncccusa.org and former U.S. Congressman (7th-PA)
  
• Rabbi Eric Yoffe, President, Union for Reform Judaism www.urj.org , the largest American Jewish denomination
  
• Arun Gandhi, Founder/President, M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence (Tennessee) www.gandhiinstitute.org , grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Board Member, The Interfaith Alliance
  
• Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President, The Interfaith Alliance www.interfaithalliance.org
  
• Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Associate General Secretary National Council of Churches USA www.ncccusa.org
  
• 2005 Ecumenical Advocacy Days Participants (Many of the close to 800 clergy and lay leaders who will be in Washington, D.C. for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 11-14 at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, Va., will participate in the rally)

When:

• Noon, Monday, March 14

Where:

• West Front of the U.S. Capitol
  
• (Members of the clergy will meet at 100 Maryland Ave., NE at 11: 30 a.m. and walk to the rally location)

Why:

• The federal budget is a moral document because it establishes the priorities of our nation. Rather than cut or eliminate programs that help those most in need, the federal budget should be funded by controlling military and war spending, closing corporate tax loopholes, and scaling back tax breaks for the wealthy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Religious leaders will be available immediately before and following the rally for interviews. To schedule an interview contact, Leslie Tune, NCC, at 202/544-2350 or 202/297-2191 (cell) or Don Parker, The Interfaith Alliance at 202/639-6370.

The Interfaith Alliance (TIA) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the positive and healing role of religion in the life of the nation and challenging those who manipulate religion to promote a narrow, divisive agenda. With more than 150,000 members drawn from more than 75 faith traditions, and 47 local alliances, TIA promotes compassion, civility and mutual respect for human dignity in our increasingly diverse society. www.interfaithalliance.org

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