Poverty Tarnishes American Dream, says Bishops

(30 Jan 08 - RV) The U.S. bishops’ have called for an increase in the federal minimum wage in a letter to Congress.

The bishops say that raising the minimum wage is only one step needed to address the larger, more pressing problem of poverty in America, pointing out that in their shelters, soup kitchens, parishes and schools, there are too many working families where men and women work full time and still live in destitution.

John Carr is Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Social Development and World Peace.

He told us more about Church concerns regarding the latest proposal to stimulate the U.S. economy in the wake of the recent economic downturn.