Georgetown hosts dialogue to promote investment in low-income households

Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life hosted an online conversation on January 16 to explore how Catholics can strengthen efforts to support people living in poverty around the world.

Kim Daniels, director of the initiative and a member of the Vatican’s Office of Communications, moderated “Promoting a Consistent Life Ethics: Investing in Low-Income Children and Families.” Patrick Brown, Kelly Robinson (CAS ’88), Barbara Williams-Skinner, and MJ Norma Pimental Sr. join Daniels to discuss issues in low-income neighborhoods and how churches can help alleviate these problems. We discussed what steps could be taken.

Daniels said members of the Catholic faith are called to defend and promote God’s common good among the most vulnerable, including residents of low-income communities.

“This is a test of our faith and humanity, an inevitable challenge. We must create a true culture of life that upholds the inalienable dignity of every human being, pursue dialogue and “We are called to resist this approach, stand in solidarity with the vulnerable, and consistently and effectively defend human life and dignity under these violent and violent conditions. These are divisive times,” Daniels said. .

This conversation occurred just hours after Congress introduced an expansion of the child tax credit. This is a bipartisan agreement that provides economic relief to 16 million children from families in need.

Brown, a fellow at the Center for Ethics and Public Policy who works with the Life and Families Initiative, said the agreement is important because it allocates aid packages by child within a family, rather than by family.

“It’s a technical difference, but it actually adds up to hundreds of dollars a year,” Brown said. “It’s more money in their pockets to help deal with diapers, groceries and childcare.”

He is CEO of the Skinner Leadership Institute, co-convener of the National African American Clergy Network, co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Prayer Breakfast, and chairman of the Circle of・Protection leader Williams Skinner said Congress’ announcement was a step in that direction. We are on the right track, but continued action is needed to continue supporting low-income households.

“I’m optimistic that this small group of bipartisan members can have a collective impact. I’m hopeful, but it’s not enough. I want all of us to know right now. We have to reach out. If we have contacts on the Republican side, we should reach out to them, and we as Democrats should do the same with our senators and others. We should,” Williams-Skinner said.

Pimental, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, said collaboration between various organizations seeking to help the poor is a key element to making a measurable impact.

“I called the director at the port of entry and said, ‘I have family with me,’ or, ‘This happened yesterday. There was a mother in labor on the bridge, and I needed to get to the other side of the bridge. ‘We were able to help her in the right way.’ So to actually call the head of the port of entry and say, ‘Please help us move this woman to the right place.’ ,” Pimental said.

Mr. Pimental emphasized the importance of working together with allies for the common good.

“That’s what we can do together. We can work together and respond to what’s in front of us every day. It’s not just me, it’s not just Catholic Charities. It’s everyone. ” she said.

Kelly Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, echoed Pimental’s remarks, saying that people need to think of themselves as part of a close-knit community with those less fortunate. He said empathy is essential.

“We have to see people, like you and me, as human beings in need, as members of this human family. And the only way we get there is by Pope Francis As the world commands us to do, it is to give ourselves permission to meet and accompany others, people who are different from us,” Robinson said.

Robinson added that it is not enough to passively support efforts to address issues faced by low-income households; it is important to take action.

“Using our voices, using our platforms, using our leadership, and using our networks to bring people together to enact fair and humane policies is the very essence of humanity. It is critical to creating the very conditions that enable prosperity,” she said. “If one person is suffering, we are all suffering.”