Elder Oaks testified before the U.S. Senate today, in opposition to proposals to curtail the charitable deduction.

“While I appear here as a religious leader, the possible impairment of the charitable deduction in order to enhance tax revenues is not a religious issue. It is not a political issue. It is not even an economic issue,” Oaks said in his prepared testimony. “It poses a question about the nature and future of America.”

President Obama’s Jobs bill is paid in part by limiting the charitable deductions for those making more than $250,000.

UPDATE: Here’s video of Elder Oaks’ testimony. Interesting, he also spoke on behalf of representative of the Catholic Church and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Here’s to uniting behind common values, regardless of theology!

And here’s a copy of his prepared remarks [PDF].