Rhode Island faith leaders call for renewed commitment to fight poverty

PROVIDENCE – On Jan. 7, leaders representing virtually every faith in Rhode Island marched from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Frances Street to the State House. The uphill march, to the beat of drums in cold weather, was meant to symbolize the day-to-day struggle to get by.

At the State House, the sound of four shofars called the faith community and Rhode Island’s elected officials to work together to reduce poverty. Blowing the Shofars were: Rabbi Alan Flam of the Swearer Center for Public Service, Brown University; Rabbi Wayne Franklin of Temple Emanu-El; Rabbi Aaron Philmus of Temple Torat Yisrael; and Abigail Sherwood, a member of Temple Beth-El.  This was the seventh year that a vigil has been held at the start of a legislative session. Much has been done to help Rhode Islanders living at or below the safety net. Yet, organizers of the vigil, the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, said there is still much more that has to be done and implored legislators to renew the state’s commitment to fighting poverty in Rhode Island.

More than 200 members of the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition and its supporters turned out to issue a prayer for legislators that asked for leaders to govern with wisdom and compassion, as they make decisions in the new year, and to remember those most vulnerable. During the vigil, more than 40 faith leaders called out the names of all elected officials including President Obama, the Rhode Island congressional delegation, the governor, members of the executive offices, the general assembly as well as city and town mayors. Readers included Flam, Rabbi Andrew Klein of Temple Habonim in Barrington, Rabbi Sarah Mack, president of the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis and a rabbi at Temple Beth-El, and Philmus.

Gov. Gina Raimondo, in her first full day in office, spoke about the hard work Rhode Islanders and the state government must do to assist the needy. This included areas of human services and jobs. Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello also spoke.

The Rt. Rev. W. Nicholas Knisely, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, gave the keynote address and spoke about the promise to eradicate poverty and the challenges in such an endeavor.  “It is a challenge because we know that there will always be more to do in finding the causes of poverty in this state and eliminating them.  It is a promise because, as all people of faith recognize, we can only truly serve God by serving the weakest and the most vulnerable.”

Maxine Richman, board member of the Jewish Council of Public Affairs and co-chair of the Interfaith Coalition, welcomed those attending the vigil. Before introducing Gov. Raimondo, Richman called on the state to do more to eradicate poverty in Rhode Island as well as help people near, or below the safety net. Richman asked the state legislators to answer questions concerning the earned income tax credit rate which is the lowest in New England and why so many Rhode Islanders are waiting for foundational workforce programs.

“How can it be,” said Richman, “that Rhode island, with a very large service sector and struggling middle class, has only a 10 percent  earned income tax credit while our neighbors in Massachusetts  earned income tax credit is 15 percent,  and Connecticut’s  is 20 percent?  And how can it be that 1,300 people are on a waiting list for foundational workforce programs?”

The Interfaith Coalition wants to make sure that all Rhode Islanders are given the same basic rights regardless of their race, religion or economic status. The annual vigil is meant to raise awareness among legislators that every Rhode Islander shall have: A decent, safe and affordable home; adequate food and nutrition; equal access to affordable and quality health care; equal and quality education for all children; decent work with adequate income.

The Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty was formed in the summer of 2008 as part of a national effort, “Fighting Poverty with Faith,” endorsed by 40 national faith-based organizations and co-chaired by Catholic Charities USA, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the National Council of Churches. The goal of the national project is to elevate the issue of poverty. The premise of the national effort is based on the belief that poverty can be solved with political leadership powered by a citizen movement.

MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.