I am the director of a faith-based organization that helps feed the poor. The White House emphasis on the faith community "feeding the hungry" is a diversion to seek to justify government inaction. I remember a movie several decades ago where the Catholic Church was so moved by the state of the poor that the fictional Pope sold everything the Church had and gave it to the poor. If all the religious communities in my city did that it would not be enough to meet the needs in our city for very long and we would be right back where we are. Faith based organizations should be providing what they can in as quality a way as possible. What the faith-based community needs to do more than anything is speak "justice" to power. This will get us in trouble and it should. We need to say "Government must provide for it's people and to not do so is against God's will."

I am curious about Pastor Joe Winga's comment about the poor being with us always. Did he say that as an excuse for inaction? Jesus also said, "Blessed are the hungry - for they shall be filled." That promise is what these faith based groups are trying to work towards. Sayting the poor will be with us always seems to me to be a very poor excuse, and missing the true compassion for the poor that we should expect from a pastor.

On a different matter, it seems to me that the Geneva Christian group has justified complaints about the plight of small farmers that witih some innovatiive thinking might be addressed without stiffling global markets.

With food and water becoming increasingly precious commodities that a larger and larger percentage of the global population lacks access to, it is imperative that governments, faith-based organizations and other groups focus their efforts on this problem. Though there have been many wars fought over land and precious goods, none of those will compare to the worldwide battle for sustenance if this trend continues. Feeding those in need is the first step in heading off the next world war. Marshall makes a great point here; I just hope that those who make policy take some time to read this blog entry.

I am delighted to read Katherine Marshall's blog and to know that Georgetown takes the issue of faith/development seriously.

Tom Blinkhorn