REDUCING POVERTY
Campaign aims to cut poverty in half by 2020

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Sept. 6, 2007

When thinking of poverty, visions of the starving people of Darfur and other Third World countries come to mind. Americans don't always realize that the problem is much closer to home.

Thirty-seven million Americans lack some of the basic needs in life - decent housing, food and healthcare. Fifteen million are children. Seven million live in rural areas.

Iowans, including those living in the Diocese of Sioux City, are not immune to the problem.

Statistics from the Iowa Policy Project showed that Iowa's poverty rate increased from 7.8 percent in 2000-2001 to 11.1 percent in 2004-05, with more than 320,000 Iowans living in poverty.

One indicator of poverty in this diocese is the percentage of public school students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals, said Marilyn Murphy, diocesan social concerns facilitator. In 2004-05 up to 29 percent were eligible in 13 counties, 30 to 39 percent were eligible in 13 counties and in four counties of the diocese 40 to 47.6 percent were eligible.

Compelled by these grim statistics which tell the story of poverty in the richest country in the world, Murphy said that earlier this year Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and its member agencies, including Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Sioux City, launched a nationwide Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America.

"The national campaign's goal is to reduce poverty by 50 percent by the year 2020," she explained.

Murphy said all people of good will are invited to join in the campaign. An endorsement process has been developed by which individuals and organizations across the country can sign on as supporters of the campaign.

Endorsing the campaign means that the signer agrees with the campaign's goal to cut poverty by educating policy makers and the public about the structural and policy changes needed to enable all people to acquire basic resources they need to live in dignity.

Organizations from the Diocese of Sioux City that are joining Catholic Charities in this effort are the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, the Diocesan Commission on Women in Church and Society and the Diocesan Peace and Justice Commission.

"We are hoping that parishes, diocesan offices, schools and, of course, individuals will endorse the campaign," said Murphy, who added that this campaign could also be used within Catholic schools or parish religious education programs as a way to raise awareness about poverty. Children and adults of all faiths may endorse this project.

Campaign information and endorsement forms will soon be widely distributed in the diocese.

"We asking people to look at the campaign, learn something about it and endorse it if they choose," she said.

At the national level, Catholic Charities USA has partnered with United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Health Association, Ladies of Charity and National Council of Catholic Women.

Murphy noted that while headlines last week touted a drop in poverty rates according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, she said there was only a slight decrease and cautioned there is still much work to be done.

A document by the U.S. bishops titled A Place at the Table, stated, "Every Catholic and all our communities of faith are called to join in the search for the moral values and virtues and for the just policies and social investments that will help people escape the trap of poverty and overcome the barriers of injustice. We recognize that the choices we make to build the common good will require sacrifice from all of us."

On Jan. 10, Catholic Charities USA unveiled a policy paper, "Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common Good." The paper was published in a 28-page booklet and was released at a briefing on Capitol Hill to set the framework for their new campaign to reduce poverty.

"Poverty remains our nation's most serious political blind spot and one of our nation's most profound moral failings," said the policy paper. "Poverty in this nation is an ongoing disaster that threatens the health and well-being of our country, which our children will inherit."

The names of campaign endorsers - individuals and organizations - are posted on the CCUSA Web site. Among the more than 3,500 who have endorsed the campaign are 32 dioceses and several bishops including Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver.

A campaign blog offers more information, forms, etc. on Things You Can Do, Tools and Resources. Go to www.catholiccharitiesusa.org or contact Catholic Charities, 1601 Military Rd., Sioux City, IA 51103; telephone - (712) 252-4547 or e-mail - cathchar@cableone.net.