Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street and Your Street

In another contribution to debates regarding religion and politics in the United States, Rev. Jim Wallis turns his attention to the place of moral values in the global financial crisis. Wallis argues that Americans must ask themselves hard questions addressing issues beyond the technical failure of our economic system. He claims that it is our responsibility to recognize a moral failure on the part of our society; a failure to build an economic system prioritizing sustainable growth and an equitable distribution of wealth. He challenges religious organizations especially, calling them to boldly commit to and practice a mission of pastoral care that will help the country recover and renew its spirit. Wallis argues that the American people must get beyond an idolization of the free market in order to understand how the crisis emerged and how to best address it.