Poverty Archives - TheCatholicSpirit.com

Expanding child tax credits seen as a pro-life, anti-poverty lifeline for families

March 14, 2025

It was one solid social victory amid the communal disintegration of the COVID-19 pandemic: With the congressional passage of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, an estimated 3.7 million U.S. children were lifted out of poverty when the maximum federal child tax credit was raised -- and, more importantly, when it was made "fully refundable."

Commentary

Martha Jane Gates: Decades of fighting hunger, poverty and homelessness

January 8, 2025

By 1970, St. Joseph parish in Plymouth had outgrown its pioneer church and purchased land nearby in New Hope. It took two years for a new church to be built. In the meantime, Father Blane Barr saw social ministry as an essential part of parish ministry. He put his vision into practice by hiring Martha Jane Gates to open the Social Action Center in the house on the property. Better known as Marty, she was a committed community activist with over a decade of experience running a teen center.

Faith at Home

To feed the body of Christ: What could be more profound?

October 27, 2023

My husband and I have a stubborn, unresolved argument in our marriage: What would we do if we won the lottery?

U.S. & World News

Congress failed to renew expanded child tax credit — can bipartisanship save it?

January 12, 2023

A child tax credit expansion was not included in an omnibus funding bill passed at the end of December, despite efforts by some lawmakers to reinstate the expired policy that is credited with lifting millions of children out of poverty. Still, some Catholics see hope that bipartisanship in Congress may save a valuable tool in the fight against poverty and even abortion.

U.S. & World News

Chicago’s Father Pfleger is removed from ministry over abuse allegation

October 18, 2022

Father Michael Pfleger, a popular Chicago priest and outspoken advocate against gun violence, gangs, poverty and racism, has stepped aside from his ministry after the Chicago Archdiocese said it received an allegation that the priest had sexually abused a minor more than 30 years ago.

Featured

March, speakers draw attention to poverty, voting rights, health care needs

June 23, 2022

Mercy Sisters Joan Serda and Marilyn Graf said they hoped the June 18 Moral March on Washington, organized by the Poor People's Campaign, would get more people "to understand the plight of the poor in our country."

U.S. & World News

World free of nuclear weapons is necessary, possible, pope says

June 21, 2022

Nuclear weapons do not increase a nation's or region's security, in fact, they are a "risk multiplier" that gives people a false sense of security, Pope Francis said in a message to an international conference.

Featured

Superpowers at war add to the world’s poor, pope says in message

June 14, 2022

War produces tremendous poverty, and its violence strikes those who are defenseless and vulnerable, Pope Francis said.

Featured

Declining birthrates impoverish future, pope says

May 12, 2022

The steady decline of birthrates across Europe and the West are signs of a new form of poverty that deprives humanity of a future, Pope Francis said.

Featured

Latin America’s bishops to confront increasing poverty after COVID-19

November 15, 2021

During the pandemic, parishes in the Diocese of Valle de Chalco on the outskirts of Mexico City have made care packages, taken meals to families of COVID-19 patients and operated food banks.

Featured

Biden says pope told him to continue receiving Communion

October 29, 2021

Pope Francis and U.S. President Joe Biden had an unusually long meeting at the Vatican Oct. 29, talking about the climate crisis and poverty, but not about abortion, the president said.

U.S. & World News

Better taxation, wealth redistribution are necessary, Vatican official says

October 6, 2021

The increasing and extreme economic inequality in the world is rooted in an ideology of individualism in which investments and prosperity are aimed only at driving profit not helping the common good, said Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister.

Poverty

Expanding child tax credits seen as a pro-life, anti-poverty lifeline for families

Martha Jane Gates: Decades of fighting hunger, poverty and homelessness

To feed the body of Christ: What could be more profound?

Chicago’s Father Pfleger is removed from ministry over abuse allegation

March, speakers draw attention to poverty, voting rights, health care needs

World free of nuclear weapons is necessary, possible, pope says

Superpowers at war add to the world’s poor, pope says in message

Declining birthrates impoverish future, pope says

Latin America’s bishops to confront increasing poverty after COVID-19

Biden says pope told him to continue receiving Communion

Better taxation, wealth redistribution are necessary, Vatican official says

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