wfn.org | [ENS] Griswold troubled by U.S.-proposed revisions of global

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Thursday, August 25, 2005

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

ENS 082505-1

[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."