wfn.org | United Church Says Economic Crisis No Time to Forget Poor

["Broadhurst, Tom" <tbroadhu@united-church.ca>]

News Release -- Wednesday, October 8, 2008

United Church Of Canada Says Economic Crisis No Time to  Forget Poor

Toronto: This year Canadians are preparing to celebrate T hanksgiving
during a time of great uncertainty. With fears of a r ecession and the
global economic crisis making headline news, many people  are worried
about their financial future. There is growing anxiety ov er mortgages,
pensions, and jobs.

Against this backdrop of heightened tension, The United C hurch of Canada
is challenging Canadians to temper their concern about fi nancial
security with the awareness that we live in a world w here unacceptable
poverty exists in the midst of plenty.

It is a Thanksgiving message the church fears will be  drowned out by the
bombardment of news reports about the credit crunch in  U.S. financial
markets.

"The terrible irony is that while our attention has bee n focused on
stock markets and financial institutions around the world  crying poor,
the cries of those who are truly poor are not being  heard," explains
United Church Moderator David Giuliano.

"We must always remember that, while we live in a wor ld of great
abundance, there is also incredible disparity," says Giulia no.

Globally, he explains, there is a vast economic gap tha t divides those
living in the North and South. And in Canada, the gap  between rich and
poor is widening, too.

* 800 million people worldwide are chronically malnourished
* global food prices have gone up 83 percent in the  past three years
* 750,000 Canadians rely on at least one of over 650  food banks-twice as
many as in 1989
* 80 percent of First Nations peoples in Canada have  personal incomes
below $30,000 per year
* 788,000 Canadian children live in poverty (2005)

Giuliano adds that despite Canada's prosperity, some groups -including
single parents, Indigenous peoples, new immigrants, people  with
disabilities, and older adults-experience unacceptably high r ates of
poverty.

"The growing gap in Canada between the wealthiest and t hose living on
the margins threatens the social cohesion that gives Cana da a positive
reputation in the world," says Giuliano. "We can afford  to do better."

He says that the current financial crisis demonstrates ho w powerful
governments, the investment community, and international fina ncial
structures have been freely allowed to gamble with the  sustainability of
the global economy, thus jeopardizing the well-being of t he planet and
of millions of people around the world.

"Until we make the principles of justice, equality, equit y, and
sustainability a reality, we will continue to see the d eterioration of
the economic system," says Giuliano.  "I believe strongly  that we must
stand in solidarity with the poor, as Jesus did, and  demand our
political leaders renew their commitment to ending poverty. "

He adds, "Inevitably a financial crisis tears communities  apart. Faith,
however, calls us into community to stand together with  each other
regardless of our individual situations."

And although this Thanksgiving may bring difficult times  for many
people, says Giuliano, "what makes it possible to go on  has always been
the awareness that we are not alone. It is the centre  of our faith. This
world finally is still God's, and God's love and justic e will prevail."

>For more information, please contact:

>Mary-Frances Denis
>Communications Officer
>The United Church of Canada
>416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (office)
>1-800-268-3781 ext. 2016 (toll-free)
>mdenis@united-church.ca

>--30--

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