Catholic Charities leaders, beneficiaries ask Congress to cut poverty

Published: 2007-04-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Leaders of Catholic Charities USA were joined April 26 by two people who have received aid from their local Catholic Charities affiliates to ask Congress to cut poverty in half by the year 2020. Father Larry Snyder, Catholic Charities' president, said he found it inconsistent in the United States, which has "more color TVs per capita and more Nobel winners per capita," that "35 million find it hard to give themselves adequate nutrition every day" and 37 million live in poverty. Father Snyder told a Capitol Hill audience largely made up of Catholic Charities diocesan directors that requests for help made to Catholic Charities affiliates last year were up 14 percent over 2005 levels; in 2005, he added, aid was given to 6 million people. "We see the plight of the working family that holds down two or three jobs to make ends meet, but has trouble making ends meet or finding an affordable place to live," Father Snyder said, adding that persistent poverty too often leads to family discord and divorce.

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