Impoverished

Yesterday, Jason Rowe (OLBS) and I attended an initial conversation at the ArchDiocese on how it might begin a plan to carry out Catholic Charities' Campaign to Cut Poverty in Half by 2020 (info button on right).

Poverty statistics nationwide are startling -- 1 in 8 Americans live in poverty, including 1 in 6 children. Right here in the borders of our ArchD this includes almost 91,000 children. In the state of NJ, there are 1.2 million people without healthcare insurance. Our wealthy state has the 4th highest cost of living in the US; many of the poor are working. Eliminating poverty is a dignity issue; people cannot let their spirits soar or raise their voices if their basic needs cannot be met.

Statistics on the real cost of living in NJ.

A plan for this Campaign must include efforts to educate/inform, take action, advocate -- and also empower those living in poverty or with low incomes.

Do you have any ideas about how to call attention to this issue? Think about educating, advocating, acting and, importantly, empowering those living in poverty.

Think about how we might reach other young adults who are called to make a difference -- but might not be in our churches. Who do you know that can get behind this issue?

Comments!