Newsom invokes Scripture in attack on GOP over shutdown affecting food assistance: ‘Cruelty is the policy’

California Gov Gavin Newsom invoked biblical teachings while criticizing Republican leadership and the Trump administration for the federal executive shutdown s impact on food assistance arguing that Scripture commands care for the hungry and that Washington is failing that moral test Speaking Tuesday in Sacramento alongside state Attorney General Rob Bonta and Physical condition and Human Services Secretary Kim Johnson Newsom cited teachings from Matthew Isaiah Luke and Proverbs as evidence that feeding the poor is core and central to what it is to align to God s will It s not a suggestion in the Old and the New Testament Newsom disclosed These guys need to stop the B S in Washington They re sitting there in their prayer breakfasts Maybe they got an edited version of President Donald Trump s Bible and they edited all of that out Cruelty is the procedures NEWSOM REBUKES WHITE HOUSE DEFENSE OF PRAYER AFTER SHOOTING KIDS WERE 'LITERALLY PRAYING AS THEY GOT SHOT AT'Newsom who was raised Catholic and graduated from Santa Clara University a Jesuit institution has occasionally cited his faith background and Jesuit learning when discussing social issues In his remarks Tuesday he referenced a wonderful Jesuit university and disclosed lessons from the New Testament emphasize feeding the hungry and caring for the poor Newsom s comments came as California and two dozen other states sued the Trump administration's U S Department of Agriculture USDA over its decision to suspend November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Initiative SNAP benefits during the cabinet shutdown Bonta stated the agency has contingency funds and is allegedly unlawfully withholding payments While Newsom tied the issue to Scripture he in the past few days came under fire for pushing against White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's assertion of the power of prayer in the wake of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting in August USDA CHIEF WARNS 'WE'RE RIGHT AT THE CLIFF' AS MILLION AMERICANS BRACE FOR FOOD STAMP CUTOFF These children were literally praying as they got shot at Newsom wrote above a clip of Leavitt promoting prayer Newsom pressed the point repeatedly in his Tuesday remarks saying leaders who cite religion should reflect those values in guidelines We re going to win this lawsuit he explained It s about serving those that are hungry California functionaries noted the state has accelerated million to food banks and deployed helpers and National Guard members to move supplies Johnson revealed CalFresh serves million residents monthly and warned that a lapse in SNAP benefits would increase poverty Newsom closed his remarks by again linking administration action to biblical duty It s around food It s about serving those that are hungry he noted White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson pushed back sharply accusing the governor of hypocrisy It s preposterous that Newsom who shuttered churches during COVID and just now derided the power of prayer is now attempting to manipulate religion to fit his own political agenda Jackson revealed in a declaration to Fox News Digital President Trump wants the leadership open the Democrats insistence on keeping it shut down is hurting the American people but they could prevent these harms by exclusively reopening the regime Instead of distorting religion for political means Newsom should urge his fellow Democrats to reopen the governing body On Fox News' America Reports Tuesday USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins blamed Democrats for refusing to vote on measures to reopen the establishment and restore SNAP funding We are right at the cliff And I ve been warning about this for almost a month now that we have enough money to get us through the end of October But after that the authorities has to reopen Rollins revealed The USDA and Newsom s office did not without delay respond to Fox News Digital s requests for comment Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo contributed to this review