Churches Can’t Take Up Government’s Slack in Helping the Poor, Bishop Says
Churches can be effective partners in helping the poor, but “we cannot go it alone,” says Auxiliary Bishop John H. Ricard of Baltimore.
Testifying recently for the U.S. Catholic Conference before a House subcommittee, he said churches and other private groups have labored valiantly to take up the slack caused by erosion of government programs.
But he said the private sector can’t substitute for the “essential responsibility” of the government.
Increased church efforts, he said, are “a desperate attempt to feed hungry people when others have abandoned their responsibility,” but “we cannot pretend that soup kitchens and shelters” are sufficient.
“They cannot substitute for a national commitment to end hunger and invest our common resources to feed the hungry,” he added.
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