Social Justice urges letters for Bread for World

The Social Justice Group at St. Paul is asking parishioners to participate in Bread for the World's Offering of Letters to urge improvements in U.S. aid programs.. Information and letters will be available in The Parish Activity Center after all Mass on October 17, 18, 24 and 25. Letters will be printed and ready to address, sign and add personal comments (if desired). Parishioners may wish to learn more in advance of writing their letters by visiting the Bread for the World website at. www.bread.org/OL2009

Just click on the headline.

Here are the goals as explained on the website:

The world has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. But the way our country delivers assistance to the world’s poorest nations is still being driven by the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act. In 2009, Bread for the World members will urge Congress to rework U.S. foreign assistance to make it more effective in reducing poverty.

The opportunities and challenges we now face argue for a fresh approach to global development. By refocusing and streamlining our aid, and eliminating long-standing inefficiencies, we could increase U.S. assistance to poor and hungry people around the world, even in a time of fiscal constraints. The reform will improve U.S. support for progress against global poverty for years to come.

In 2009, a new president and a new Congress present a rare opportunity to make U.S. foreign assistance more effective and in the process improve America’s standing with other countries. U.S. assistance has helped to reduce child deaths, increase school enrollment, and curtail the incidence of AIDS. But more lives can be saved if foreign aid is fixed. Fewer children will die of hunger. Parents will be able to feed their families in the years to come. Better foreign assistance also means less waste and more impact for our tax dollars.

Currently our government’s global development policies and programs are scattered across 12 departments, 25 different agencies, and nearly 60 government offices. A more efficient foreign assistance system—with better coordination, better accountability, better clarity— means that people get help faster and more effectively.

We want the United States to be a leader in creating a better, safer world. To do that, U.S. foreign policy must elevate global development so that it plays a more prominent role alongside defense and diplomacy in our foreign policy.

We are asking Congress to pass legislation that strengthens the ability of the United States to promote global development, foster economic growth in low-income countries, and support the efforts of poor people to lift themselves out of hunger and poverty and become self-sufficient.