Introduction
Have Faith. Register.
Vote. End Hunger.
“Voting is a sacred
obligation. Giving time
and money to candidates
who have demonstrated
their commitment to
reducing mass hunger and
poverty is an integral part
of good stewardship.”
Crystaline Randazzo for Bread for the World
—David Beckmann, Exodus from Hunger
As people of faith, it is our moral calling to be politically engaged. Practicing faith-filled citizenship is our right under the U.S. Constitution. Hunger is a profoundly political issue and one that should be a top concern
of our government. We are serving God when we raise issues of hunger
and poverty with our government. It is our responsibility to engage in the
processes that remind all candidates to make relief for hungry and poor
people a priority. To convey this message, concerned people of faith can
and should be involved in all aspects of electoral campaigns.
One of the best times to raise the issues of hunger and poverty is during election campaigns. It is at these times that our government’s elected
officials are listening the most and are making and establishing promises,
priorities, and plans. Elections have become times to re-assess how our
common resources—our taxpayer dollars—are being used and what the
role of our government should be.
In the 2014 election, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
will be on the ballot, and a third of the U.S. Senate will be chosen.
“Pocketbook issues” are always prominent in national elections. These
issues are about jobs, personal income, and the economy, and all of these
issues relate to hunger and poverty. It is our duty as people of faith to
make sure those who are affected by these issues are considered in these
major topics in the national conversation.
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