NCC urges 'direct measures' to stem poverty in U.S.

["Philip Jenks" <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

Census Bureau reports 43.6 million Americans live in poverty,
and NCC urges the government to take 'direct measures'

Washington, September 16, 2010 -- The U.S. Census Bureau reported 
today tha t the number of Americans living in poverty has climbed to 
14.3 percent, an d the National Council of Churches called upon the 
government to take actio n.

"Direct measures need to be taken to assure that even after economic 
prospe rity is restored that vulnerable populations aren't left 
behind in the reco very," said the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC 
general secretary.

The rise in the number of persons living in poverty has been 
attributed to  the economic downturn of the past two years. The 
Census Bureau reported tha t about 43.6 million people, or 1 in 7, 
were in poverty last year -- up fro m 39.8 million, or 13.2 percent, 
in 2008.

But Kinnamon pointed out that too many lived in poverty even before 
the eco nomic collapse in 2008, and that government leaders have been 
preoccupied w ith supporting the middle class and the rich at the 
expense of the poor.

"Our political leaders' calculated neglect of the poor while courting 
the v otes of the comfortable offends the creator of the universe," 
Kinnamon said . "Any measures taken should not only stimulate the 
economy but benefit eve ryone, especially those living on the 
economic margins."

As campaign 2010 continues, Kinnamon urged politicians to "push aside 
parti san politics and instead identify initiated for doing justice, 
loving kindn ess, and walking humbly with the God who loves the poor."

>The full text of Kinnamon's statement:

Despite two years of historic measures to rescue the U.S. economy 
from the  Great Recession, government figures released today show 
that millions of ad ults and children still live in poverty. 
Thousands of verses in the scriptu res of many faiths, including 
Christianity, Judaism and Islam, express God' s concern for the poor 
and God's wrath at the injustices that cause poverty  to exist. When 
Jesus was asked for God's greatest commandment, he said, Lo ve God, 
and love your neighbor as yourself. 

Even before the economic collapse of 2008, too many lived in poverty. 
 Di rect measures need to be taken to ensure that even after economic 
prosperit y is restored that vulnerable populations aren't left 
behind in the recover y.

There is little indication that our political leaders-regardless of 
politic al party--are taking the need to address poverty with fervor. 
Most recently , the campaign rhetoric between Republicans and 
Democrats has focused on ta x cuts for the Middle Class and not on 
helping lift those in poverty out of  their plight. Our political 
leaders' calculated neglect of the poor while  courting the votes of 
the comfortable offends the creator of the universe.  Any measures 
taken should not only stimulate the economy but benefit everyo ne, 
especially those living on the economic margins. 

Speaking on behalf of the 36 member communions of the National 
Council of C hurches, who join together in a shared concern for our 
brothers and sisters  in poverty, our hope is that leaders of both 
parties will recognize that t heir greatest responsibility is to 
uphold those who do not have the means o r power to support 
themselves. Let the debate of this campaign season push  aside 
partisan politics and instead identify initiatives for doing justice, 
 loving kindness, and walking humbly with the God who loves the 
poor.                        

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of 
Christ  in the USA has been the leading force for ecumenical 
cooperation among Chri stians in the United States. The NCC's 36 
member faith groups -- from a wid e spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, 
Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African  American and Living Peace 
churches -- include 45 million persons in more t han 100,000 local 
congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 
646-853-4212 ( cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org