NY bishops say government, private charities should ease poverty
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Church leaders in New York called for continued efforts by both government and private charities to address high levels of poverty while respecting the human dignity of the poor.
“As the Church celebrates the feast of St. Vincent DePaul, we affirm that the poor must receive our special attention to ensure that they have basic necessities of life,” said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn.
In a joint statement issued Sept. 27, the bishops pointed to the example of St. Vincent de Paul, the 17th century saint known for his concern for the poor and the society in his name that continues the work of bringing charitable aid to those in need.
Such charitable effort, along with government aid, are important in relieving those suffering from the greatest poverty, they said.
Through soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other family and youth services, Catholics Charities in New York serves “literally hundreds of thousands of people each year – the neglected child, the homeless family, the hungry senior, the new immigrant to our shores,” they noted.
In addition to this important work, government “must continue to play its part as well,” they said.
The prelates pointed to recent statistics indicating that “a shocking number” of Americans are currently in poverty, and “recovery is nowhere in sight.”
With income declining and poverty on the rise, they observed, the current statistics “are overwhelming.”
“The basics human needs of good jobs, food, and housing continue to challenge tens of millions throughout this country,” they said.
The combination of a “persistent sluggish economic and slow pace of recovery” fails to provide the jobs for those in poverty to support themselves and offers fewer resources “for government to do its part for Americans in need,” they added.
“This is creating a situation that is devastating to struggling families throughout the country,” they warned. [More]
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Conerned: Obama hasn’t got a clue on how to fix the econmey. The wealthy are waiting for Obama to be out so that they can start investing their money which will get jods going. Obama want to borrow money from Red China and print more false money for social programs. He is not a businessman he is a charmer with a big smile. By the way the unemployment rate is not 8% It is 21%. Obana is not counting all those people who used up their unemployment checks and are now on their own and cannot find Jobs and have lost everything. We are not allowed to talk about the. And you want 4 more years of this? Obama is a Charmer. Romney has no personality. Obama has a 4 yr track record of 16 trillion dollars deat, Romney has a record of Starting “Staples” and saving the Olympics and other firms. Smell the coffee, concerned
Tony, Tony, How about the working poor that are so taxes by Obama. Rommey/Ryan want to care for the poor also. They ask the question, where are you going to get the money? we are Broke. Rammey wants to create Jobs, Obama want to barrow money from China and print false money. Obama cannot learn from Greece, a socialist country, there, people set home, the goverment will take care of you. It was great for the past 20 years, Now the goverment has no more money, the people are flipping out, It is the same song there that is sung in America, “I am entitled” I am 72 yrs old and working two jobs, the water is under my nose and I hope no-one makes any waves. My prayer each day is Lord, with all my medical problems and PAIN I’ve got to get out that door to work, The nuns on the bus don’t care about me, but will send me letters for donations so they can go to the beauty polars. Ombama wants more time to fixs things. We don’t have more time. There are no Jobs, we can’t wait 4 more years in hopes that things will change. I’m still waitng for Santa Clause to come down the chimney.
Romney and Ryan will give more to the rich, and to themselves at the expense of the poor and the middle class. I
Tony, you are an Idiot. Plain and simple. And simple minded enough to believe all the church spews out and swallow it right down. Why don’t the Bishops of the church unlock their coffers and help the poor. Why don’t they get out and down with the people instead of standing on their backs and complaining?
Tom, a lot of what you say is correct, the bishops could start by setting the example by doing as you say.
One only has to look at Romney’s record – make more money at any cost. Did he ever care that outsourcing jobs has created more poverty in th US? Dis he ever show compassion for the people who were treated siply as a means to an end? He doesn’t know any other way. He has no empathy for anyone except his accountant and the images on the money he reaps in. As for Ryan – his views are summed up by the beliefs of the Atlas Society – of which he was a memeber and professed their beliefs – watch out for yourself – get ahead at any cost. Obama has not gotten everything done – many people are disappointed by that. But trusting the care of people to Romney and Ryan? There is nothing Christian about that.
and Joseph Francis, if thatis your situation I do pray for you. But what do you believe that Romney is really going to do? He is going to write you off. Why do you think he is vague in what his policies would be? Why do you think he is not answering the questions? He is going to set up the rich to distance themselves even further from everyone else. Care for the poor? Hah! No one has yet answered the question, “How many jobs have been created by giving tax breaks to the rich?”
As the cardinal and his bishop also state: “Solidarity is critical to ensure the dignity of all.”
And speaking of solidarity, American wealth in Swiss bank accounts, Bermuda trusts or Grand Cayman corporations, like American jobs in China or Mexico, even fabled Vatican wealth, don’t help to feed, clothe or house the poor and homeless among us — especially when our “leadership” lives in ivory towers and gated communities and takes great pains to insulate and secure (loaded word!) itself from the constant pain of those who have ceased to hope.
Government is parens patriae — parent to the nation. Government has the inalienable obligation to care for ALL of its citizens. This year’s GOP crop of nominees what to repeal this obligation so as to take from the poor and give more to the wealthy.
The cardinal and his bishop meanwhile pretend not to understand what is going on right in front of their well fed faces, but they appear to be fooling fewer and fewer voters as the days count down to the 6 of Nov.
Of course there has to be a preferential option for the poor in response to the Gospel, Romney and Ryan want to cut back government aid to the poor at a time when millions are in need.