Think and Act Anew : How Poverty in America Affects Us All and What We Can Do about It

A frank discussion of poverty in the US--its causes and potential solutions.

Think and Act Anew describes the near economic collapse of the American economy and its effects on people, providing the United States with an opportunity to think and act anew in dealing with the thousands-of-years-old problem of entrenched poverty. The faces of the poor are described through stories of those who have sought Catholic Charities services. Fr. Snyder draws on Catholic social teaching and the papal encyclicals Caritas in Veritate, Deus Caritas Est, and Populorum Progressio that firmly establish the dignity of the human being and the connection between charity and justice as the core principals around which our decisions as a society must be made. He then challenges government, business, and individuals to examine their roles, accountability, and potential to change our nation s course. Included also ideas and examples of innovative programs that are making a difference in the lives of people and their communities. Finally, Fr. Snyder calls on people of faith and all Americans to think and act anew to rethink our approach to our economic and social safety nets and to envision innovative approaches to remove the causes of poverty in America.
Each chapter will comprise a series of stories, foundational passage(s) from scripture, identification of pertinent principles of social teaching, passage(s) from pertinent encyclicals, and their application to today s situation and moral challenges.

Rev. Larry Snyder is president of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and oversees Catholic Charities USA s work to reduce poverty in America. He is a member of the President s Council of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and in 2008 and 2009, The Nonprofit Times recognized Father Snyder in its Power and Influence Top 50 for his influence in the nonprofit sector. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named him to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, which oversees the Church's charitable activities around the world. He is also a member of the board of the Catholic Health Association and the Independent Sector, a member of the Domestic Policy Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and a trustee of the America s Promise Alliance. He is a weekend associate at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA.