Catholic rural group joins nationwide Sacred Foods Project

Published: 2005-07-28

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Organizers of a new interfaith effort to improve the U.S. food system hope that for religious adherents concern about the food they eat will be about more than just observing the dietary restrictions of their faith, and for consumers in general it will be about more than just "eating healthy." The National Catholic Rural Life Conference is joining with Jewish and Islamic groups in the Sacred Foods Project. Such efforts are not new for the rural life conference. Its "Eating Is a Moral Act" campaign has been in force for several years. "Our best-seller is 'Cooking With Christ,' a cookbook geared toward the liturgical year," said Holy Cross Brother David Andrews, the conference's executive director. First published in 1939, it was recently reprinted to appeal to a new generation. The Sacred Foods Project will work with a growing network of religious leaders to develop a series of programs within each faith tradition for educating their members; evaluating and identifying products that meet ethical standards; encouraging religious institutions to promote these standards; and mobilizing religious leaders and faithful consumers in support of public policies consistent with ethical standards.

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