It’s time to think and act anew

By The Rev. LARRY SNYDER

Economic collapse is not an anniversary anyone wants to mark, but we note it this month.

A year ago the news of Lehman Brothers’ collapse and AIG’s near collapse stunned our nation, led to a global economic crisis and was followed by an infusion of hundreds of billions of bailout dollars to preserve the country’s financial system.

Our Catholic Charities’ clients had made us well aware that an economic downturn was already under way, but we could not have fathomed what was about to occur last September. Nor could we envision the thousands of families who would seek assistance for the first time: they were now poor.

The need for our services has catapulted to unprecedented levels. Parents who lost their jobs or now work reduced hours; children hungry for a healthy meal; senior citizens incapable of paying the heating bill: they all knock at our doors. We, in the best way we know how, serve them without question. Catholic Charities works with and among the poor every day. We know them. They trust us. Their numbers are increasing.

Last week the Census Bureau reported the nation’s poverty rate climbed to 13.2 percent in 2008 — 39.5 million Americans — up from 12.5 percent in 2007. About 46.3 million have no health insurance. The number of unemployed has risen by 7.4 million since the recession began.

Deplorable fact

During this time our 1,700 agencies across the country served 8.5 million people, an increase of 10.2 percent from 2007. This is not a cause for celebration. It is a deplorable fact. Clients needing basic services (clothing, utilities, prescriptions and emergency financial aid) increased 11 percent. Clients seeking housing services increased 12 percent. Employment services increased 35 percent.

These disconcerting reports do not include the impacts on the hundreds of thousands who lost their jobs or health insurance during the first eight months of 2009.

The economic downturn has stretched Catholic Charities’ resources and forced us to do more with less.

UA Catholic Charities clinic in Pittsburgh adds 100 patients monthly. It sees people who were not uninsured before. “It’s scary for them,” says the administrator, “they’re not used to asking for help.”

UIn Delaware, Catholic Charities receives thousands of requests for assistance from neighbors throughout Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Many who ask for help have never before been in this position.

UThe food pantry at Catholic Charities of High Springs, Fla., like others around the country, has empty shelves and is in need of food. “The demand for food has been higher and the donations have been lower,” says its director. “I’m not even giving as much as I want to give. I send everybody off with a bag. Whatever I’ve got, that’s what I give.”

UIn Scarsdale, N.Y., where the estimated 2007 median household income was $222,000 (median income was $53,514 in New York), Catholic Charities held a Career Counseling Seminar for high level professionals who find themselves unemployed in a tough market — a new experience.

Glimpses of financial recovery now buoy some but the journey out of poverty will be long and arduous for those we serve.

In July, Pope Benedict XVI urged all nations to rebuild their economies in a way that works toward the common good and the real needs of our neighbors. “Every Christian is called to this charity,” he states. He challenges business enterprises, governments, unions and individuals to re-examine their economic responsibilities in the light of charity governed by truth. He calls all men and women to think and act anew.

‘Love your neighbor’

We must heed this call. After all, Jesus did not ask us to think about caring for our neighbor. He called us to act. He said, “Love your neighbor.”

In a few weeks Catholic Charities USA begins its centennial year. It will spend the next 365 days rallying the nation to rebuild in a way that leaves fewer people behind. We challenge our leaders to muster the same urgency and creativity they brought to the banks’ bailout by now addressing the needs of those whom the economic crisis has hit the hardest.

X The Rev. Larry Snyder is the president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune.