October 17, 2006 - The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty reflects the growing commitment to help the poor worldwide to meet their needs. This year’s theme is “Working Together Out of Poverty. Recognizing that, at present, almost half the world’s six billion people live on an income of $2 a day or less, and 2.8 billion people live on $1 a day or less, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 47/196 in 1992 recognizing that increased public awareness was necessary if poverty eradication in all countries was to be achieved. To meet that end, October 17 was declared the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The first worldwide observance of the day took place in 1993.
A Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty
Trade - Aid - Debt
Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. - Matthew 25:40
In a world where nearly half of our sisters and brothers live in poverty, how can we say, “go in peace” to a Sudanese child who has lost her parents in war? How can we say, “keep warm” to an Indonesian brother and sister left homeless in the wake of a tsunami? How can we say, “eat well” to a Haitian family struggling to survive in one of the poorest nations on earth?
As believers, we cannot. And because disasters and emergencies hit the poor hardest, people of faith are quick to respond generously with food for the hungry, shelter and clothing for the displaced, medical care for the suffering.
But even our generous responses to such disasters are not sufficient to address the pervasive poverty experienced by our brothers and sisters around the world. We must also work against the causes of global poverty and deprivation so that those who are currently poor can live in dignity.
This ultimately requires U.S. policies to promote development for impoverished people and to overcome poverty and its devastating effects.
And it requires people of faith to call upon our elected officials and policy makers to make genuine human development for the poorest people and nations a top U.S. policy priority.
Acting on Our Faith
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) invite Catholics throughout the U.S. to join this campaign as we advocate for U. S. policies that foster economic and social development for people living in poverty throughout the world. The campaign focuses on three areas of U.S. economic policy:
- Trade: Shaping U.S. trade policies so that overcoming poverty and promoting human development are central priorities;
- Aid: Supporting effective programs that foster long-term development and empowerment of the poor.
- Debt: Eliminating the debt of the poorest countries in ways that reduce poverty and promote human dignity.
When you visit the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty website you will find free, downloadable resources including:
- Resources for prayer, worship and preaching
- Educational material on Catholic teaching, global poverty, and economic policy issues for adults and small faith communities, students and religious education classes, youth groups, young adults, campus ministry programs, and others
- Stories that illustrate the human face of global poverty
- Action Alerts to help you advocate on specific policies
A Pledge to Combat Global Poverty
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them “go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not five them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - James 2:15-16
I pledge to be a peacemaker,
so that I may say “go in peace”
and work for a world that is more peaceful.
I pledge to serve the poor,
so that I may say “keep warm
and eat well”
and work for a world that
knows more comfort
and less hunger.
I pledge to work
for economic justice,
so that I may say, “be prosperous”
and work for a world
where trade is just,
where aid is well placed
and where debts are forgiven.
I pledge to put my faith into action,
So that when I say
“I follow Christ,”
the world might see and believe.
While this campaign focuses on international poverty, information on the Church’s concerns about poverty in the United States can be found at www.povertyusa.org, http://usccb.org/sdwp/national/index.htm, or http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/advocacy/. For more information on this campaign go to www.usccb.org/globalpoverty.
