As a person of faith, I value justice for all. And as an American citizen I cherish the right to express myself and the right to vote. As a faith leader I stand for honoring the voices of each person created in God’s image, and for protecting the integrity of those voices in our democratic process.
Along with many others across the political and religious spectrum, I am deeply concerned over the flood of special-interest money into our political system.
Montanans have long been aware of the dangers of letting money corrupt the political process. Over a century ago the state of Montana passed legislation that limited the amount of money that could be contributed to political campaigns. Unfortunately, that has been challenged in court, and the outcome is unclear. Add to that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in the Citizens United case to allow essentially unlimited spending by corporations and other entities in political races, and we are close to having our democracy hijacked by the biggest spenders.
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So despite efforts to reform the electoral process and level the playing field, we find ourselves, because of Citizens United and other court decisions, to be inundated with special interest groups making unprecedented contributions to campaigns. This kind of unregulated influx of money drowns out the voices of people with fewer resources and less access to power. The Supreme Court’s definition of personhood notwithstanding, our faith tradition teaches that people, not corporations and special interests, are made in the image of God.
This is a faith issue. This is a values issue. The Biblical prophets railed against economic wealth and political power that resulted in injustice. Modern day prophets and saints raise similar concerns about the co-opting of the democratic system. This is not a partisan issue. This is a justice issue. This is an issue for all citizens. And it is an issue for people of faith.
“We the People,” who established the U.S. Constitution, who are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are called to bear God’s image faithfully and to reject that which challenges these basic principles.
Montanans have a chance to make a difference, to take back our elections from special interests that are accountable to no one. Ballot Initiative 166 directs Montana’s leaders in Congress to support a constitutional amendment to state clearly that corporations are not people, and that they should not be able to use their resources to have undue influence over public decision-making.
Please join me in supporting a nonpartisan attempt to safeguard our democratic principles and the promise of government for, of and by the people.
Jessica Crist is bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Montana Synod. She lives in Great Falls.
