A Consistent Ethic for Life – Te Kahu-O-Te-Ora

  Poverty: a call for fairness Teresa Homan Poverty diminishes human dignity. Access to basic needs is a God-given and a fundamental human right. God provides enough for everyone to…

 

Poverty: a call for fairness

Teresa Homan

Poverty diminishes human dignity. Access to basic needs is a God-given and a fundamental human right. God provides enough for everyone to have food and shelter, families and communities to work and live amongst, and individual talents that can benefit one’s potential as well as serve others.

Poverty results from society’s distribution imbalance, resulting in food production problems and lack of access to wate
r and shelter.
Catholic social teaching calls for fair distribution of resources.

However, when resources are used as profit-making commodities the reality is that many miss out.
In New Zealand, many lack adequate food, secure shelter, and opportunities.

Children go to school hungry, live in sub-standard accommodation, and lack healthcare and educational opportunities.

We need social and economic policies that ensure a balanced economy  affording all children equal access to basic needs.

When one child goes hungry all children lose.

Teresa Homan is a member of the Wellington Catholic Archdiocese Justice, Peace and Development Commission.