Obama tackles poverty on a panel in front of Catholic and evangelical leaders

[rug]

EJ Dionne, President Obama, Robert Putnam and Arthur Brooks. (Screenshot via Georgetown livestream)

May 12 at 11:33 AM
By Michelle Boorstein and Sarah Pulliam Bailey

Clergy often preach about poverty, houses of worship have programs to provide food and clothing to the needy, but an unusual – and unusually high-level – panel Tuesday looked at whether religious groups can completely change action around decreasing poverty by making it the moral issue of our time.

It’s not every day you see President Obama at an academic conference, but that’s what’s happening at Georgetown University, where dozens of prominent Catholic and evangelical leaders from across the political spectrum have been meeting this week.

“I think it would be powerful for our faith based organizations to speak out on this in a more forceful fashion,” Obama said. This may sound self interested, Obama said, acknowledging differences with Catholics and evangelicals on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. “I think there is more power to be had there, a more transformative voice that’s available around these issues.”

Obama said he can’t wait to host Pope Francis this fall because he thinks the pope will spark a larger discussion on poverty.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/05/12/watch-obama-tackle-poverty-on-a-panel-in-front-of-catholic-and-evangelical-leaders/

5:46 video at link.