Reducing poverty

Catholic Charities USA, a national network of Catholic Charities agencies, has launched the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, with a goal of cutting poverty in half by 2020. The Diocese of Albany has joined the campaign with the publication of the report “Poverty in the Diocese of Albany: A Threat to the Common Good.” The report describes poverty in the 14 counties that make up the diocese, with local statistics and stories about income insecurity, educational disadvantages, hunger and poor nutrition, the shortage of affordable housing, and the lack of health care coverage for many of our neighbors. You can read the report at www.ccrcda.org. Also on the website are educational activities related to poverty for youth and adults; a sample homily; sample letters to legislators; an insert in the Legislative Gazette on poverty in New York State; and a list of legislative priorities for 2008.