Washington D.C., Jun 11, 2016 / 05:14 am
After U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan announced a task force on poverty this, Catholic leaders and economists weighed in, saying that it was a good starting point, but that more needed to be done.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami voiced hope that the proposal would be a conversation-starter on poverty, saying it "ought to be a catalyst for strong bi-partisan dialogue about our brothers and sisters in need and our obligations to give them priority in our policymaking."
Speaker Ryan's 35-page plan, A Better Way: Our vision for a confidant America, proposes changes to the welfare system, more cooperation between faith and community-based initiatives and the federal government, and a more results-based critique of federal anti-poverty programs.
"No amount of government intervention can replace the great drivers of American life: our families, friends, neighbors, churches, and charities," the introduction states. "And Americans do not need more one-size-fits-all, top-down government programs that limit their ability to get ahead. Instead, they need opportunities to help them escape poverty and earn success."