Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, issued the following statement regarding new statistics released today by the US Census Bureau that show 800,000 more people living in poverty in the Unitest States.

"It is unacceptable that in a nation as prosperous as ours that 37.3 million people, including 13.3 million children, continue to live in poverty.  This increase indicates that reducing poverty is not a priority for this nation.

"For Catholic Charities USA, and our 1,700 local member agencies who serve nearly 8 million in need a year, the poverty rate is not just another economic statistic.  This unacceptable figure represents the millions of families we see each and every day who are struggling just to make ends meet.

Substantial decreases in these number must occur in order to alleviate the struggles that millions are experiencing.  The downturn in the economy is making matters worse.  Across our nation, Catholic Charities agencies are seeing more and more people having to choose between putting food on the table, paying the utility bills, or making their rent or mortgage payments.

"Needing help with food,rent, clothing, and prescriptions are all sypmtoms of much larger problems facing the poor and vulnerable in America, such as low wages and the lack of affordable housing and health care.  These are problems that must be addressed if we are ever going to cut poverty in our country and create better economic opportunities for all.

"Reducing poverty in the United States must be a national priority.  That's why Catholic Charities USA launched its Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, which aims to cut the poverty rate in half by 2020. By helping to lift individuals and families out of poverty, we can ensure that they are in a better position to weather these economic downturns.

"Let these troubling poverty statistics be a call to action for each of us.  As a nation we must demand that our current and future leaders give a much higher priority to the needs of the poor in the policymaking decisions.

"In this election year, candidates for public office - especially our presidential candidiates - must move from rhetoric to action and propose comprehensive plans to address the needs of more than 37 million people living in poverty in the United States over the next decade.  We call on all Americans to ask their candidates, 'If elected, what you will do to address poverty?'

"We must no longer ignore the injustice of poverty and the extreme inequality in America."

Catholic Charities USA's members - more than 1,700 local agencies and institutions nationwide - provide help and create hope for nearly 8 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds.  For more than 275 years, local Catholic Charities agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing.  For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org