Food & Justice - Catholic Rural Life

Food & Justice

American farmers provide significant amounts of agricultural commodities for our domestic consumption as well as export markets. The United States, both our government and through private charities, are widely known for our generosity in supplying food aid to poor or stricken countries overseas.

But hunger in the United States and around the world persists. Many people – including too many children – go hungry everyday. So how is it that great quantities of food are produced, and yet one-sixth of the world’s population goes hungry?

A Call for Action: Start a Study Group

We can fight hunger by making smarter investments in sustainable agriculture. We must do more to enable poor communities to access the resources they need to grow and secure their own food.

As a first step, learn more about the issues:

Food Security and Economic Justice: A Faith-Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger is a reflection on hunger and poverty, and a call to action and justice. It begins with an observation of the world as we know it: A world with resources and knowledge to produce ample food for all, and yet many people have little to eat and few resources to lift themselves out of poverty. The content delves into a critical reflection on how we relate the current world situation to the Story and Vision of our Catholic faith. It concludes with the possibilities for action by individuals and groups. The hopeful result is a change in attitudes and behaviors accomplished in a spirit of solidarity with the poor and the care of God’s creation. The leader’s guide is also available here.

Once we understand the situation of hunger and poverty, then we can begin to act according to the dictates of our faith tradition. Our study guide offers a process for discerning that call to act – and then identifies various actions that individuals and church groups can take.

Related Information & Action Resources
Bread for the World
Presbyterian Hunger Program
ELCA World Hunger Program
United Methodist Committee on Relief
Society of St. Andrew
America’s Second Harvest
Food First
Foods Resource Bank
Hunger No More
Heifer Project International
WHY Food Security Learning Center
Oxfam America
World Food Day (recognized annually on October 16)

People love being members of the Catholic Rural Life community.

View member benefits