FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 15, 2015
Contacts:
Christian Leaders Challenge Presidential
Candidates
to
Focus on Ending Hunger, Poverty
Washington, D.C., January 15, 2015 – As President Obama prepares to present his plan for his final two years in office in the annual State of the Union address next week, a group of Christian leaders is already looking ahead to what the next president may do to address hunger and poverty.
The group of 100 Christian
leaders around the country, including the Reverend Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk
of the PC(USA) General Assembly, is challenging the presidential candidates to
appear on camera in a video stating how they propose to provide help and
opportunity to hungry and poor people in the United States and abroad.
"We are praying for a
president who will make ending hunger and poverty a top priority of his or her
administration. Are you that leader?" a statement from the group asks. The
full statement is available at www.circleofprotection.us.
The leaders, convened by
the Circle of Protection, represent a diverse array of Christian denominations,
churches, colleges, and agencies across the country. They will disseminate the
videos throughout their networks and memberships in order to raise hunger and
poverty as an election issue.
"We
will be calling on people of faith to examine presidential candidates to see if
they have a heart for poor and hungry people.
We want to know how each candidate proposes to fulfill the mandate to
those who govern to "give deliverance to the needy" (Psalm 72), the
leaders said in their statement released today.
According to
the latest U.S. Census data, 49 million Americans are at risk of hunger, while
45 million live in poverty. One in five children lives in poverty. That is 15
million children, 5 million of them under age 6.
The
challenge to candidates was issued today during a press conference organized by
the Circle of Protection. Speakers included Rev. David Beckmann, president of
Bread for the World; Galen Carey, vice president of government relations for
the National Association of Evangelicals; Rev. Sèkinah Hamlin, director of the
Ecumenical Poverty Initiative; Rev. Carlos Malavè, executive director of
Christian Churches Together; Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities
USA; and Rev. Jim Wallis, president and founder of Sojourners.
###
The Circle of Protection is a coalition
composed of more than 65 heads of denominations, relief and development
agencies, and other Christian organizations. www.circleofprotection.us
Quotes:
The
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was represented at the press conference by the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, PC(USA) Director
for Public Witness:
“Hunger
and poverty in a world of abundance are sins and we have the responsibility –
both at our church doors and in our halls of government – to address the
underlying root causes that trap generations in poverty. Our elected leaders,
those who have been elected and those who are seeking election, must have a
comprehensive plan that begins to undo the vast and growing income inequality
in this nation. We must make education and good jobs – with living wages and good
benefits – available to all people. I hope to see bold vision from these
Presidential candidates.”
Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World:
"There is broad consensus among faith leaders that
our country has been culpably neglectful of poverty, especially in our own
country. 100 Christian leaders of all
stripes are urging all the candidates to explain, on camera, what they would do
to provide help and opportunity to hungry and poor people in our country and
around the world.”
Galen Carey, vice president for government
relations, National Association of Evangelicals:
“There are different ways to address the needs of poor and vulnerable
people—some more effective than others. Christians who believe government
leaders are called to share God’s concern for the poor and vulnerable want to
know how presidential candidates would approach this essential responsibility.
Silence on poverty is inexcusable.”
Rev. Sèkinah Hamlin, director of the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative:
“We are looking for those who aspire to become president of the United
States to seize this moment and take decisive leadership in ways that address
the complex yet solvable evil of poverty, particularly as poverty affects
nearly one in every five children in America and one in every three children of
color.”
Rev. Carlos Malavè, executive director, Christian
Churches Together in the USA:
“Christian leaders from all major Christian traditions
have come to have a shared sense that the extent of poverty in this country is
unnecessary and shameful. We expect that our president, regardless of which
political party he or she represents, place hunger and poverty at the top of
his or her priorities."
Fr.
Larry Snyder, president Catholic Charities USA:
"For the 45 million Americans living in
poverty, the state of our union leaves them struggling to get by. Helping them
achieve their full potential should not be a partisan issue - it's time for
candidates from both sides of the aisle to have a meaningful conversation about
advancing the common good," said Fr. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic
Charities USA.
Jim Wallis, founder and CEO, Sojourners:
"The State of the Union is still not good for poor and
vulnerable people in America. Should we also not consider God's point of view
as we look toward this important speech? Throughout the Scripture, we're told
that a society will be judged by how they treat "the least" among
them. Our political leaders also must be assessed through the measure of their
commitment to the poor and most vulnerable. Though political advisors are
telling their candidates that they shouldn't talk about poverty, as people of
faith we must and will disagree. That is why, as each presidential candidate
declares, the faith community will hold them accountable by asking them
all-Republicans and Democrats alike--to tell answer the question "how will
you treat those Jesus has called 'the least of these'"? How will you
address and find real solutions to poverty?"
