wfn.org | [ACNS] Presiding Bishop Griswold troubled by US proposed UN

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

     ACNS 4026     |	  USA	  |	26 AUGUST 2005

Presiding Bishop Griswold troubled by U.S.-proposed revisions of global 
poverty agreements

[ENS] In response to the United States' proposed revisions to UN 
poverty-reduction strategies - as reported in today's New York Times and 
Washington Post - the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, Presiding Bishop and 
Primate of the Episcopal Church, issued the following statement:

"I am deeply troubled by reports today that the United States has proposed 
revisions to UN global-poverty-reduction strategies that would undermine 
international commitments and partnerships already at work in the 
developing world. The Administration's sudden opposition to the Millennium 
Development Goals (MDGs) and the international target for rich nations to 
contribute 0.7% of GNP toward poverty reduction places an unwelcome 
obstacle in the path toward a more stable and secure world.

The world religious community -- which has been engaged in the work of 
international development for decades -- knows firsthand the vital 
importance of partnership between governments and institutions in the 
developed world and their counterparts in poor countries. Such partnership 
is embodied in the MDGs, and without it, the world is destined to fight a 
losing battle against the extreme poverty and deadly disease that are 
destabilizing our planet.

It had been my hope that next month's summit of world leaders at the UN 
would not only recommit to this sort of partnership by reaffirming the 
MDGs, but also take additional steps to work toward their fulfillment. I am 
deeply mindful of the need to use government resources to combat terrorism, 
but one of the most stinging lessons of our time is that the roots of 
terrorism and conflict most often can be found in those places where 
poverty and sickness abound and hope is lost.

Out of our deep commitment to the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to 
us by God in Christ, the Episcopal Church has endorsed the ethic of 0.7% 
giving to fighting global poverty, and a great number of our dioceses have 
already taken this step, as have many of the world's nations. For the U.S. 
to now oppose that long-held target further undermines our nation's 
international credibility, weakens rather than strengthens global security, 
and does violence to all of our efforts to respond to God's passionate 
desire for reconciliation and the well-being of all people."

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