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A great article in the New River Voice about Virginians struggling with unemployment and our role as people of Faith in assisting them in their time of need.

Two quotes stood out for me. The first is about scriptural and theological source for how we should help the unemployed:

Most Christian and non-Abrahamic faiths emphasize two methods in addressing poverty—charity and the pursuit of justice. Charity describes an attitude of love and caring which results in benevolent acts. It typically operates on a small, localized scale. Justice, however, looks to address structural problems so that all are treated in a fair and just manner. Psalms 82:3 in The Old Testament states, “Defend the poor and the fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy.” In Islam, it is believed that the poor have a claim on the rest of society in providing for their needs. Thus, Muslims are required to pay zakat, a portion of their excess savings to the needy. Most faiths believe that alleviating poverty is a moral obligation.

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Some faithful Virginians in the New River Valley have begun a conversation in their community about creating a more just and compassionate Virginia. Take a look at their column in the New River Voice written by one of our Chapter Leaders, Stephanie Gilmore:

One of the questions I am asked often is, “Is it right to mix religion and politics?” We tend to shy away from expecting faith organizations to promote political stances, and that is as it should be. The important thing about the work of the Center, though, is that it is non-partisan.

We do not endorse candidates or promote party-specific issues. Rather, we draw from all the world faiths lessons about how to promote the greatest good for the least among us.