Republican Ryan outlines new approach on poverty

Congressman Paul Ryan, who ran unsuccessfully for vice ­president in 2012, unveiled a new anti-poverty agenda in a speech in Washington DC last week, writes Michael Sean Winters.

He called for combining 11 anti-poverty programmes run by the federal government, and allotting the same amount of federal dollars in lump sums to the states, so that they can administer the programmes with greater flexibility. He also called for adopting a “case management” approach, allowing a person in need to work with one government official, coordinating the aid for which the person qualifies, and creating a plan to lift that person out of poverty.

Mr Ryan, who once urged his aides to read the works of libertarian icon Ayn Rand, is one of the most prominent Catholics in the Republican Party and his new proposals were greeted with cautious praise from Catholic anti-poverty advocates. “We appreciate Congressman Ryan’s attempt to improve the way our nation tackles the complex issue of poverty and look forward to reviewing the proposal in greater detail,” said Fr Larry Snyder, ­president of Catholic Charities.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia delivered a speech on Pope Francis and economics at the annual Napa Institute meeting in California. Archbishop Chaput placed Pope Francis’ teachings on the economy squarely within the tradition of Catholic social doctrine dating back to Pope Leo XIII, but also acknowledged Francis’ difference, in part because he hails from Latin America.

“When Francis thinks about economics, he thinks in terms of human suffering,” he said. The text of Archbishop Chaput’s speech was published in the National Catholic Register.