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PAGE 5—The Southern Cross, October 25,1984
CHD: A Hand Up, Not A Hand Out
Not everyone recovered during the economic
“recovery” of 1984. Poverty deepened for the fifth year
in a row, and the Congressional Budget Office sees no end
to the trend in sight. Testifying before Congress on behalf
of the U.S. Catholic Conference, Auxiliary Bishop Eugene
Marino of Washington, D.C., said “We believe the test of a
society is how we treat ‘the least among us’ — the hungry,
the homeless and the vulnerable. By these standards, I fear
we are failing as a society.”
These facts help put American poverty in perspective:
o Several recent studies have shown that the American
middle class is shrinking, with three-quarters of those who
leave it moving down in income.
o More than 90 percent of the poor are elderly,
disabled, children under 16, mothers of young children
and underpaid workers, including some two million
people who work full-time but earn less than the poverty
level.
# America is undergoing a “feminization of poverty.”
Two out of three poor adults are women. Families of
single parents have six times the poverty rate of families
of couples. Seventy percent of black, 54 percent of
Hispanic and 53 percent of white single mothers are poor.
« One child in five in America is poor today: One black
child in two is poor.
# Social scientists have found that increases in
unemployment lead to increases in infant mortality, child
abuse, alcoholism, suicide, heart disease and most crimes,
including murder.
0 The United States ranks last among eight western
democracies in the level of aid it provides for its poor.
Forty percent of those eligible do not receive in-kind aid,
and the purchasing power of welfare benefits has fallen
one-third since 1970.
0 A Gallup Poll found that one American in five
reported not having enough money for food, clothing or
medical care at some point in 1983 — a 25 percent
increase from a decade earlier.
0 Twenty-five percent of all Americans were poor at
some time during the ’70s. While poverty is usually
temporary, there is a permanent core of some nine million
people who are permanently poor, what Pope John Paul
calls the “marginated” members of society.
Concern about the poor is part of the “seamless
garment” of life issues described by Cardinal Joseph
Cable TV Legislation Criticized
WASHINGTON (NC) - Legislation establishing a
national policy for local regulation of the cable television
industry was approved by Congress shortly before it
adjourned for the year.
But Richard Hirsch, USCC secretary for
communication, expressed “severe reservations” about
whether the measure serves the public interest or allows
cable to realize its potential.
Hirsch objected specifically to provisions in the
compromise bill concerning equal employment
opportunities, franchise renewal, leased access channels
and cross-ownership.
The bill, approved by voice vote in the House and
Senate, must be signed by President Reagan before it
becomes law.
Hirsch said Congress “gutted” provisions of the bill
governing equal employment opportunity.
The compromise bill eliminates specific numerical
requirements for the employment of women and
DCCW Notes
BY BRENDA MAHONEY
“I am only one ...”
People of all religious preferences joined together
September 29th for a common cause — LIFE!
The first annual Georgia Right to Life (GRTL) State
Conference was held at the Marriott Hotel in Atlanta with
200 plus from all over the state in attendance.
The opening meeting was brief but Mary Boyert,
President GRTL, urged all present to get directly involved,
then go home and get others involved. Senator Joe Burton
told us that “greatness is achieved one day at a time. He
urged us to go out and get one more person involved this
year.”
Morning workshops offered were Grassroots
“1 am only one ... but I AM one! I can’t do
EVERYTHING, but I can do something!”
Organization, Infanticide and Advanced Pro-Life
Speaking. I attended “Grassroots Organization” presented
by Mary Boyert. She told us to start on local levels to
organize, then reach out to larger organizations to expand.
Linda Fuchko of Cobb County GRTL gave us these words
which underline all that we attempt, “I am ONLY one,
but I AM one. I can’t do EVERYTHING, but I can do
SOMETHING!”
I also attended the workshop on “Infantacide” with
speakers Kel MacDonald and DeMar Elam. We were told
of the legal and Christian aspects of neonatal euthanasia.
minorities, but requires the Federal Communications
Commission to certify annually that a cable system is in
compliance with equal employment opportunity
standards. Additionally, every five years the FCC must
conduct a more extensive review of a cable operator’s
employment records.
Hirsch said an earlier House version of the measure had
required specific percentages for the hiring of women and
minorities.
“The section no longer has any teeth in it,” Hirsch said.
“You won’t have enforcement because you don’t have
any criteria ... At best, it’s meaningless. At its worst, it’s
deceptive.”
Hirsch criticized franchise renewal provisions of the
legislation which he said do not guarantee adequate
procedures for public consultation.
The bill requires cities to allow the public to participate
in franchise renewal negotiations, but does not set up
specific procedures cities must follow in doing so.
It was brought out that, once born, a child is protected by
the Constitution but we must represent the unborn to see
that they also have the right to life.
Luncheon speaker, Jean Doyle, Florida Delegate to the
National Right to Life Committee, Inc., reminded
everyone to “Educate - Motivate - Legislate.” She stated
that those involved in Right-to-Life are doing the Lord’s
work.”
She also said that “we must be press agents for the
unborn child, because if not seen or heard he/she doesn’t
exist.”
Afternoon sessions included, Lobbying Your
Congressmen, The Medical Profession, Christian
Perspective on Abortion, Euthanasia, Pro-Life Caucus and
a film “Conceived in Liberty.”
I attended the “Euthanasia” workshop with speakers
Dr. W. D. Jordan, M.D. and Sheila Mallon, Co-ordinator of
Pro-Life Office of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The
importance of Hospice was discussed. Everyone was urged
to communicate with your doctor, explaining their needs
and desires about how they wish to be treated when death
is near.
There was a film “Conceived in Liberty” which showed
an actual suction abortion and gave many facts which
were shocking to all. Needless to say, there were no dry
eyes in the room after this very moving film. I urge all
who have an opportunity to see this film.
The conference was very well organized, thanks to the
hard work of Mary Boyert, President of the GRTL
committee and to Eddie Wise, Chairman of the
Conference Committee. All the speakers were well versed,
interesting, and dedicated to the cause.
(Brenda is Chairman of the Legislative Information Committee
for Sacred Heart PCCW (Macon) and is vice-chairman of this
committee for the Macon Deanery.)
Bernardin of Chicago in discussing the need for a
“consistent ethic of life” — “Those who defend the right
to life of the weakest among us must be equally visible in
support of the quality of life of the powerless among us:
the old and the young, the hungry and the homeless, the
undocumented immigrant and the unemployed worker.”
But in fighting poverty, Bishop Marino points out that
“Shelters and soup kitchens are no match for economic
and social forces which are forcing more and more
families and individuals below the poverty line.”
What is needed, in other words, is the kind of
“systematic response” to poverty the bishops called for in
their pastoral letter, “The Challenge of Peace.” In
November 1983, the U.S. bishops set priorities for
1985-1987. Among their “Primary Objectives” were
education on justice and peace issues and work for
“structural reform in society with a preferential option
for the poor.”
A “systematic response” to poverty is exactly what the
Campaign for Human Development provides. With its
theme, “If You Want Peace, Work for Justice,” the
Campaign offers “a hand up, not handout” and attacks
the structures and policies that perpetuate poverty in
America.
CHD funds self-help programs that directly help the
poor, are run by the poor themselves and change
structures and policies that deny the poor a voice. The
Campaign’s educational programs also emphasize the
church’s teachings on justice and the nature of poverty in
America.
The Campaign for Human Development, the U.S.
Catholic Bishops’ major, comprehensive, continuing effort
to come to grips with the root causes of poverty in
America, makes a positive contribution in three major
ways: It improves conditions for the poor, gives them a
sense of human dignity and accomplishment in their own
lives, and offers Catholics an opportunity to understand
the relationship of their faith to social justice.
SD / Board
A (U 3
Tall Boar etir the Savaniu Diocesan
Council of Cath-. an has bes .led for
November 3 at 10:30 am at the Holiday Inn in
Dublin, Georgia. President Lucile Ussery urges all .
deanery presidents and diocesan commission
chairman/co-chairman to attend.
RETREAT
FOR SEPARATED
AND DIVORCED
CATHOLICS
“Crossroads to New Life”
The Family Life Office is sponsoring a weekend retreat
for the divorced and separated Catholic.
The program will include Conferences, Liturgy, Private
Prayer and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
November 9-11,1984
Begins 8PM Friday evening and concludes
with lunch on Sunday.)
St. John’s Center
Grimball Point Road
Savannah, Georgia 31406
The total cost is $35.00
(Includes $10.00 non-refundable
pre-registration fee).
Deadline for reservations is November 5th. For more
information please contact Family Life Office.
WHEN:
WHERE:
COST: