Bravo to religious leaders weighin in on how Connecticut's proposed cuts reflect on society.

HARTFORD — Interfaith leaders at a Capitol press briefing Wednesday cast the $81 million in proposed cuts to services for people with intellectual disabilities in a moral framework, saying a society defines itself on how it helps its neediest citizens.

By that measure, the state is failing thousands of the clients of the Department of Developmental Services, clergy members said. Deep cuts to the DDS budget next year will only worsen the situation, they said. More than 2,100 families are languishing on a waiting list for residential placements, and high school graduates with intellectual disabilities face being shut out of day programs this year and next year for the first time in 60 years.