Mitt Romney strongly criticized by Catholic organization for attacking the poor
Mitt Romney Criticized By Franciscan Friars For Comments On The Poor
Posted: 08/09/2012 2:36 pm Updated: 08/09/2012 3:55 pm
WASHINGTON--
The Franciscan Action Network (FAN), a Catholic faith-based advocacy and civic engagement organization, is strongly criticizing Mitt Romney's recent ads and rhetoric regarding welfare programs and welfare recipients, urging him to spend some time in low-income communities.
"Our Christian tradition teaches that we are to treat the poor with dignity and to prioritize the poor in our policies as a society," the organization said in a press release on Thursday.
"At a time when millions are struggling financially, it is degrading to talk about the 'dependency' of people hurting in this economy, as Gov. Romney did recently."
Rhett Engelking, a secular Franciscan in Milwaukee and member of FAN, has even personally invited Romney to visit with the low-income people he assists. “Political leaders would not talk about the poor in demeaning ways or cut job training programs if they spent more time with the people they are affecting with their policies," he said.
While faith-based anti-poverty and charity organizations have often criticized candidates and lawmakers for a perceived unwillingness to highlight and tackle issues affecting the very poor,
FAN claims Romney's rhetoric goes a step further, unfairly using welfare recipients as political props.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/mitt-romney-franciscan-friars-poor_n_1760580.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&utm_hp_ref=politicsIt appears they have invited Romney to spend some time with them in low-income communities to see how the poor really live. Someone like Romney, who has been sheltered all his life, really has no idea about these communities and the struggles of the poor. What are the chances Romney accepts the invitation?