Vatican office supports British prime minister's push to cut poverty

Published: 2007-08-01

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace supports British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's project to rally leaders of government, business and faith-based organizations in pushing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. "The time for simple promises has passed," said an Aug. 1 statement from the Vatican office, welcoming Brown's July 31 call at the United Nations for an international summit in 2008 to pressure governments to meet their commitments for reducing poverty and promoting development. When most nations of the world signed on to the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, "it was believed that 15 years would give governments sufficient time to mobilize efforts" to meet the goals, the statement said. "Some progress has been made in some areas, which should be applauded," it said. "However, even with limited progress, governments must continue striving for more."

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