Oh, For a Cause Worth Fighting For

Ten percent of Californians have to skip or shrink meals just to get by. Three percent of Californias experience hunger to such a degree that they suffer physical pains. (Three percent of California's population is more than one million people.)

Worldwide, almost one billion people go hungry. Sixteen million children die every year from preventable/treatable causes, more than half from hunger and malnutrition.

The United Nations Development Program estimates that it would take thirteen billion dollars to end hunger and provide basic health needs for all the world's people. That sounds like a lot of money, but it's not when you consider that Americans and Europeans spend far more than that just on pet food each year.

This is just one of a whole bunch of justice issues that deserve the attention of the world in general and the church in particular. So I find it interesting that a pastor in San Diego County is trying to rally 1,000 pastors to organize a 100-day period of prayer and a 40-day fast this fall. What worthy cause is this for? Could it be, feeding the hungry children?

No. It's to get people to vote for a proposed amendment to the California constitution that would deny same-sex couples the right to marry--a right they currently have in California.

Does that seem right?

16 million children dead every year.
Over 43,000 a day.
One child every two seconds.
Not because there's not enough food in the world, but because of the priorities of politicians and the developed world.

And I'm supposed to believe that the most critical issue facing the church involves denying two people the right to formalize their love?

http://www.cafaithforequality.org/
http://www.bread.org/
http://www.calchurches.org/1-1.html
http://www.churchworldservice.org/