Thoughts about the financial crisis

I am disturbed; I am disappointed; I am ashamed; yes, even conscience-stricken. Watching the pundits on the various news’ channels pontificating about who is at fault in the current fiscal crisis, I am thinking that they left out one very important category. Yes, Wall Street Barons are at fault for following the goddess Greed. Congress shares much of the blame. Imagine adding $100 billion in pork to a $700 billion rescue package! However, there is a larger question – who within society has the responsibility to teach morals? Families? Cultural values have usually been passed from one generation to another by the majority religion of that culture. As a Christian clergy person, I am ashamed that we have failed in our responsibility.
I am especially ashamed because so many of us clergy are teaching a prosperity gospel, all but advocating worship of the goddess Greed. Others preach that less government is better and that lower taxes means more money to spend on my family, again bowing down to the goddess Greed. Have we forgotten early Christians suffered martyrdom and that a sign of spirituality used to be to sell all we have and give to the poor?
I urge my fellow clergy to accept our responsibility in this fiscal crisis and urge our congregants to live a life of righteousness in light of the fact that they and one day we will be held accountable to our lives.