Washington, February 17 – On this Sunday’s “State of Belief,” The Interfaith Alliance Foundation’s new show on Air America Radio, Rev. Welton Gaddy talks about civil unions, Hurricane Katrina and the Vice President’s hunting trip.

Welton explores the president’s proposed budget with ranking member of the U.S. Senate budget committee Kent Conrad (D-ND) who offers his critique of the proposal.

“A budget is a reflection of a nation’s values. What is going to be supported, what is going to be given federal assistance and what is not,” Sen. Conrad says.  “If you look at this budget in those terms and say how is it going to impact people’s lives, we’re cutting education; we’re cutting healthcare for the least among us…does that really reflect the values of the American people?”

Sen. Conrad says his personal faith background also makes the proposed budget cuts a hard thing to swallow.

“I don’t know of any religion who says take from the least among us and give to those who have the most among us,” Sen. Conrad says.

Welton also hears from Rev. Forrest Church, Senior Minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in New York, about his take on the wall of separation between church and state.   And we find the story of a South Dakota man who organized a safe haven for troubled gay teens and was fired for it.

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.