Catholics urged to come to aid of needy New Yorkers

Published: 2005-03-11

ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) -- A document just released by Catholic Charities of the Albany Diocese asserts that poverty is on the rise in the diocese and that Catholics must come to the aid of needy New Yorkers. "Rebuilding the Covenant With the Poor" is a supplement to a new pastoral letter on poverty by the bishops of New York state. According to statistics cited in a draft version of the document, the Albany Diocese has sponsored 200,000 services to the needy in the past year through Catholic Charities, in addition to services provided by the diocese's four Catholic hospitals, seven nursing homes and other programs and agencies. In 2004, the nonreimbursed portion of this aid exceeded $40 million. Catholic schools in the diocese also educate 10,000 students. The 2002 U.S. census estimated that between 9 percent and 12 percent of the population in the 14 counties of the Albany Diocese lives below the poverty line.

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