Source: San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/21/BAP6V5VJ8.DTL
An array of Bay Area religious leaders banded together Wednesday to announce plans to lobby Congress to increase foreign aid to poor countries for at least the next seven years.
The unprecedented lobbying effort was paired with a call to the Bay Area's myriad faith communities to join in what the religious leaders see as the defining issue facing the globe today.
"It's inconsistent and hypocritical to say our gospel is for all peoples of all nations, but ... we're not committed to the welfare of those people," said Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco George Niederauer.
The University of San Francisco, a Jesuit university, hosted the gathering Wednesday of interfaith leaders. Representatives from Jewish, Muslim and Wiccan groups attended, as did leaders from a slew of Christian denominations.