What the presidential candidates say about
poverty;
Obama, Romney respond to
Circle of Protection invitation
Washington, September 13, 2012 - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have responded
to an invitation by the Circle of Protection to go on the record about their
intentions for dealing with poverty.
The candidates' video statements can be viewed at
http://www.nccendpoverty.org/praythevote/
The Circle of Protection is composed of more than 65 heads of denominations,
relief and development agencies, and other Christian organizations
representing a wide array of churches in the U.S. The National Council of
Churches is a founding member of the Circle.
The Circle, a unique amalgam of evangelical, ecumenical, Roman Catholic and
Christian Orthodox churches and groups, came together in 2011 to protect
essential poverty programs from being cut from the federal budget.
Earlier this summer, Circle of Protection leaders invited the presidential
candidates to submit short video statements.
"We believe that this presidential campaign should include a clear focus on
what each candidate proposes to do to provide help abd opportunity for
hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world," they
wrote.
The leaders stressed that God hold nations accountable for the treatment of
those Jesus called "the least of these" (Matthew 24:45).
In a press conference Wednesday, Circle of Protection leaders discussed the
latest poverty figures, which show that in 2011, more than one in seven
Americans or 46.2 million people lived in poverty—including more than 16
million children.
The Rev. Michael Livingston, director of national policy, Interfaith Worker
Justice, and a former president of the National Council of Churches, noted
that the candidates have raised over $1 billion for their election
campaigns.
"And our candidates have not been talking about helping the people of our
nation, over 12 million of them children, living in the most desperate
conditions," said Livingston, who until recently directed the NCC's poverty
initiative.
"Since the recession began in 2007 two congressional districts in the entire
nation have seen poverty decrease significantly. In 388 congressional
districts poverty has deepened. Our congress, our candidates are not
talking about this. It doesn’t seem to matter. Shame on us. Children and
families living in poverty don’t have a Super PAC representing their
interests, buying commercial airtime, making back room deals to improve
their lot. Well, their interests are our interests."
Presidential candidates can lead the way in a broader and deeper wrestling
with our moral obligation to care for the poor," Livingston said. "These
videos are a good start on a much needed, much avoided national
conversation. Next, let’s get to work repairing our safety net, putting
people to work in good jobs and caring for the most vulnerable among us.”
National Council of Churches President Kathryn Lohre said, “Jesus worked and
lived with people on the margins of society, and our call as a church is to
continue that ministry. God's church is at work bringing offerings of food
to share with hungry people, sheltering those without homes in our
fellowship halls, and creating support networks like job clubs and
employment ministries. Yet, that is not enough. We must also create a
society that provides for those in need. Presidential candidates from both
sides of the aisle have articulated how they plan to exercise their
leadership in order to alleviate poverty. We, as the church, join them and
encourage the nation as a whole to make eradicating poverty a national
priority.”
The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada, said "The Biblical
vision of wholeness (shalom) includes a world in which there is enough for
everyone. As people of faith who are committed to this vision of wholeness,
the members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are deeply
concerned about the poverty that currently plagues so many of God's
children. We therefore support all efforts to end this poverty, from the
courageous compassion of our local, regional and general ministries to the
public policies that affect all of us. We are pleased that the Presidential
candidates from both major parties are giving time and attention to the
issue of poverty, and we look forward to hearing more from them about their
specific plans to address this problem."
Other statements prepared for Wednesday's press conference:
“The Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (PNBC) is the
denominational home of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said,
‘Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.’ The
measure of our society and humankind in particular, is how we address the
least of these. People who are destitute have no lobbyists or any media
machine to advocate for them. That is why the Christian faith community is
called upon to constantly bring this issue to our politicians. We must lift
the veil of denial and neglect that keeps our nation from confronting
poverty. In this election year, the PNBC calls on our politicians and
elected officials from the local and federal government entities to break
the silence in dealing with issues of poverty. We must make the issue of
eradicating poverty a top political and social agenda in this decade.”
Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore,
Sr.
President, Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
“Poverty should be a major component and discussion for resolution in this
election and our country. My prayers always include the least among us.”
Bishop George E. Battle, Jr.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
“Our condition now is worse than ever. Hunger and poverty are so pervasive
in this country that the poverty rate is the highest on record in the United
States. This should be an election issue, so we are grateful that the
presidential candidates are publicly stating their positions. We are calling
on religious leaders and all people of faith to listen carefully to what the
candidates have to say and when voting be mindful of the least among us.
Voting is a sacred obligation; supporting candidates who have demonstrated
their commitment to reducing hunger and poverty is integral to good
stewardship.”
Rev. David Beckmann
President, Bread for the World
“Our faith calls us to place the poor and most marginalized in our
communities at the forefront of concern. Those who struggle economically in
our society, the most vulnerable—children living in poverty, people living
with chronic health issues, seniors, women trying to escape violence in
their homes—do not have a voice at the policy-making table or a hand in
influencing political campaigns. The United Church of Christ has a long
history of actively serving the needs of vulnerable populations in our
communities and advocating for systemic solutions that lift people out of
poverty and uphold the common good. We urge all people to let your voices be
heard through your vote. As our faith teachings remind us, nations are
judged by how they treat the poorest and most vulnerable people. Our faith
calls us to consider how our choices this election affect the “least of
these.”
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
General Minister and President, the United Church of Christ
“The Catholic Bishops join with other Christian leaders in calling for a
‘circle of protection’ around our brothers and sisters at home and abroad
who are poor and vulnerable. A just framework cannot rely on
disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons; addressing
future unsustainable deficits requires shared sacrifice by all, including
raising adequate revenues, eliminating unnecessary military and other
spending, and addressing the long-term costs of health insurance and
retirement programs fairly.”
Bishop Steven Blaire
Chair, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
“Voters do not accept that allowing one in five American children to grow up
in poverty is the best that we can achieve as a nation. Citizens expect a
robust debate on the best solutions, and a firm commitment to action over
the next four years. The candidate videos prepared for the Circle of
Protection are an important first step in this dialogue.”
Galen Carey
Vice President, Government Relations
National Association of Evangelicals
“The Church of the Brethren has firmly believed that as followers of Jesus
we are called to serve one another in the way that Jesus demonstrated by
washing his disciples’ feet. We urge all leaders to support programs that
care for persons in poverty. We recognize that as individuals and families
are assisted they will not only lead healthier lives but will be able to
assist others in need.”
Nathan Hosler
Advocacy and Peace Witness Ministries
Church of the Brethren
“We must not be misled into believing that the recession is the primary
cause of increased poverty in America, for while poverty has increased
during the recession, poverty was also increasing before the recession. The
gap between the middle class and the poor was widening and more and more
people and families were falling out of the middle class. This is especially
true among African Americans and other minorities. The people of God,
regardless of political party or affiliation, must raise our voices and call
upon our political leaders to face and address the issue of poverty, and do
it now. Leadership demands it, and the hurt and suffering of the poor,
especially children, requires it.”
The Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, Bishop
Office of Ecumenical and Urban Affairs
African Methodist Episcopal Church
“This is unprecedented. For years Christians have been separated by
elections, but finally, we have a common ground moral issue: poverty. Across
the political and theological spectrum, this group has put aside differences
and taken up this mantle of protecting the poor and bringing their stories
and struggles to light. It’s because of this unprecedented unity around
those whom Jesus called ‘the least of these’ that the Presidential
candidates felt they had to respond.”
Rev. Jim Wallis
President and CEO, Sojourners
Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical
witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member
communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox,
Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches --
include 40 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in
communities across the nation.
NCC News contact: Philip E. Jenks, 646-853-4212 (cell),
pjenks@ncccusa.org
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