poverty
Pope Francis calls on Catholics and the church to ‘kneel before these poor families’
By Rosie Scammell — June 3, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Addressing crowds of followers undeterred by the hot summer weather, the pope urged them to “kneel before these poor families: They are a real school of humanity and they save society from barbarity,” he said.
Are churches failing the poor? Yes and no (ANALYSIS)
By Jacob Lupfer — May 21, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. Surely comfortable churchgoers must do more than say, “Be more like me.”
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle boosts his profile (again) with charity post
By Rosie Scammell — May 15, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) At a relatively young 57, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is widely seen as a man on the move within the hierarchy, eligible to vote in papal conclaves for the next 23 years.
On conservative religious activism, the numbers speak for themselves (COMMENTARY)
By Rob Schwarzwalder — May 13, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam says churches are "entirely focused" on abortion and same-sex marriage. The numbers tell a different story.
Obama: Defeating poverty takes money and ‘transformative power’ of faith groups
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — May 12, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) In a rare appearance in a panel discussion, the president talked public policy with progressive and conservative voices before an audience of Catholic and evangelical leaders.
A mama knows best, so let’s let her decide (COMMENTARY)
By Rachel Held Evans — May 7, 2015
(RNS) We cannot allow simplistic, self-focused narratives about contraception and family planning to keep us from helping women who, really, aren't much different from us.
World Bank launches interfaith push to eliminate extreme poverty
By Heather Adams — April 22, 2015
(RNS) The number of people living on $1.25 or less a day has dropped in half since 1990. Now, the World Bank and religious groups want to bring that number to zero.
Robert Putnam fights America’s ‘opportunity gap’ with religious fervor
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — March 30, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) Robert Putnam wants to convert every reader on the sawdust trail to civic salvation. And he's not taking no for an answer.
‘Selma sowed, but it did not reap’; anniversary puts spotlight on deep poverty
By Aamer Madhani — March 9, 2015
SELMA, Ala. (RNS) In many ways time has stood still in this community of 20,000 that was at the center of the push that culminated with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
First showers, now sleeping bags: Pope Francis’ birthday gift to the homeless
By Josephine McKenna — December 18, 2014
VATICAN CITY (RNS) "This is a gift for you from the pope on the occasion of his birthday," volunteers, including nuns and members of the Swiss Guard, told the recipients during the operation.
Pope Francis: ‘We have paid too little heed to those who are hungry’
By Josephine McKenna — November 20, 2014
ROME (RNS) “The hungry remain, at the street corner, and ask to be recognized as citizens, to receive a healthy diet," the pope said.
Black atheists say their concerns have been overlooked for too long
By Kimberly Winston — October 9, 2014
(RNS) “There are people in our community that ... are only going to sit down and listen to you talk about separation of church and state for so long,” said Kimberly Veal, a Chicago-based black atheist.
Pope Francis meets US televangelists, and the first-ever ‘papal high-five’ follows
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey — July 9, 2014
(RNS) "The prosperity gospel seems to be fundamentally opposed to the message that Francis has been spreading. But he has shown that he’s willing to meet with just about anyone," said Michael Peppard, a professor of theology at Fordham University.
Catholic and libertarian? Pope’s top adviser says they’re incompatible
By David Gibson — June 3, 2014
WASHINGTON (RNS) Tuesday's daylong seminar showed how the moral implications of the debate over the role and size of government are playing out most vividly in the Catholic Church.
Survey: Most Americans say fighting global poverty is futile
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — April 29, 2014
(RNS) Observant Christians are concerned about global extreme poverty but skeptical that it can be ended in the next 25 years.
