Catholics Confront Global Poverty

Support Long-term Development in Haiti

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, is struggling to recover from January’s devastating earthquake. The work is complicated by capacity, human, resource, and infrastructure constraints. In response, Representative John Conyers (MI) recently introduced H.R. 6021, the Haiti Emergency Assistance and Reconstruction (HEAR) Act which provides an effective policy framework for long-term recovery and development efforts [...]

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What Your Advocacy has Accomplished

The following is a summary of advocacy efforts during the last two months, what has been accomplished, and what you can do to follow-up with your Congresspersons during the Congressional recess that end on September 12. Climate Change: We asked you to urge key senators to include and strengthen provisions in climate legislation that would [...]

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How You’ve Helped Haiti

Thanks in part to your advocacy efforts, Congress has passed the FY 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill.  This bill will provide critical support for people suffering from emergencies around the world including urgently needed funding to help Haiti recover from January’s devastating earthquake, assist refugees, and support humanitarian efforts. What was the Church’s position? As stated [...]

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CRS Testifies in Congress about Haiti Response

This morning, Nicole Balliette, Deputy Director of the Haiti Earthquake Emergency Response effort, will testified before Congress about the emergency response effort. Below is her testimony to the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, part of the  House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Thank you Chairman Engel (NY) and Ranking Member Mack (FL) for calling this important [...]

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Updates on Global Poverty Issues – Summer 2010

USCCB and CRS advocacy efforts to support Haiti recovery USCCB and CRS are working to support Haiti’s recovery in a number of ways. Our advocacy efforts have focused on extending trade preferences; canceling Haiti’s debt; securing funding for emergency relief and reconstruction; and developing a policy framework for long-term reconstruction. Read a recap of USCCB [...]

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Natural Resources and our Catholic Response

This is a letter sent to the advocacy team at Catholic Relief Services from Catholics Confront Global Poverty. Dear Tina, The Senate yesterday afternoon passed the financial reform bill that includes several critical provisions that Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and the Catholic community in the United States [...]

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Advocating for Haiti

On the plane, as I settled-in and buckled my seat belt I noticed the lively chatter on the plane. Everyone was recounting their recent experience which illustrated some of the challenges of working in Haiti. Michael, the man seated to my left was from a Baptist Church in Montana. He had come to rebuild one [...]

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Ask President Obama to Support a Peaceful, Stable Sudan

As the delegation of Catholic bishops from Sudan make their way to the Washington, DC area to meet with policymakers regarding their concerns about the volatile situation in their country, Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are reiterating the Church’s call for increased efforts by the Obama administration to build [...]

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Sudanese Bishops Visit U.S.

Sudan is at a critical junction. The volatile situation in the country – not just in the Darfur region, but also the tenuous peace between the North and South brought about by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) – is becoming more serious. Three prominent bishops of the Sudanese Catholic Church will be visiting the [...]

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Building Peace in Sudan

Please join the next Catholics Confront Global Poverty webcast: A Critical Juncture for Sudan on Wednesday, June 16 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Join us for: An opportunity to hear directly from three prominent bishops of the Sudanese Catholic Church and engage them in dialogue; USCCB and CRS’ policy recommendations for how U.S. policymakers can [...]

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