Global 'Prayer Wave' to End Hunger Takes Place as Congress Debates Further Food Stamp Cuts

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As political and faith leaders join Pope Francis and the Circle of Protection in a global "wave of prayer" for an end of hunger today, Congress is finalizing a farm bill that could drastically harm hungry and poor people. Despite $11 billion in recent cuts to SNAP, formerly food stamps, the program faces billions more in potential cuts.

"As Congress continues negotiations, we will continue pushing against harmful cuts to SNAP—particularly at a time when record numbers of Americans remain hungry and poor," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "We pray that God will grip the conscience of each member of Congress so that they heed Jesus' call to feed hungry people, especially the working poor, children, and veterans."

This day of prayer is part of the "One Human Family, Food for All" campaign launched by Caritas Internationalis and supported by Pope Francis. Caritas is a confederation of 164 Roman Catholic charities working in 200 countries.

"I invite all the institutions of the world, the Church, each of us, as one single human family, to give a voice to all those who suffer silently from hunger, so that this voice becomes a roar which can shake the world," said Pope Francis in a video statement released on Monday.

"At noon today in time zones around the world, millions of Christians took time to pray for an end to hunger," added Beckmann. "Recent food stamp cuts have resulted in 10 million meals lost each day. We pray Congress will consider struggling Americans when debating cuts to programs that help them feed their families while they work to get back on their feet."

SNAP is one of the most successful anti-hunger programs in the United States. It helps struggling families put food on the table in times of need—times like now, when ongoing impacts of the Great Recession continue to be felt across the country. Nearly 5 million of the meals lost per day were taken from hungry American children, as well as 900,000 veterans who rely on the program to keep from going hungry.

For more information on the global "prayer wave," the farm bill, or the FY 2014 budget deal, please visit www.bread.org.

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

SOURCE Bread for the World

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