Indiana bishops' letter on poverty originated at Notre Dame summit | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Indiana bishops' letter on poverty originated at Notre Dame summit Indiana bishops' letter on poverty originated at Notre Dame summit Published: March 19, 2015 Author: Michael O. Garvey Indiana’s five Catholic bishops this week issued a new pastoral letter on poverty inviting and challenging Catholics in the state to make the needs of the poor a priority and to take action to reduce the effects of poverty. The letter has its origins in a meeting hosted and sponsored by the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns two years ago. The Indiana Catholic Poverty Summit met at Notre Dame in April 2013, bringing the bishops together with social service providers from health care and educational institutions and Catholic religious orders across the state for a day-long conference to explore and recommend new initiatives to reduce poverty and alleviate the suffering it causes. The letter, “Poverty at the Crossroads: The Church’s Response to Poverty in Indiana,” was signed by Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin of Indianapolis and Bishops Timothy L. Doherty of Lafayette, Donald J. Hying of Gary, Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend and Charles C. Thompson of Evansville. According to a 2015 report from the Indiana Institute for Working Families, more than 1 million state residents are living in poverty, defined as at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level. Noting that “all disciples of Jesus Christ are called to love the poor as He did,” the bishops said that they “invite and challenge everyone, beginning with ourselves, to be more attentive to the poor in our communities, to identify the systemic issues that keep individuals and families poor, and to take concrete steps to reduce the long-term impact of poverty in our state, even as we reach out and help those who, here and now, suffer from its devastating effects.” Contact: JP Shortall, 574-631-3209, jshortal@nd.edu Posted In: Faith Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 dCEC to Award 2023 ND Evangelium Vitae Medal to Robert P. George September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 15, 2022 In new book on global Catholicism, Provost John McGreevy explores modern history, current challenges of the Church September 15, 2022 Death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean to speak at Notre Dame September 14, 2022 Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain to deliver the 2022 Keeley Vatican Lecture For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn