Americans don’t see poverty relief as duty of faith groups

RICHMOND, Va. — Americans believe childhood poverty is a problem that demands urgent attention, but rank faith-based groups last when asked who should be responsible for meeting the need, according to a new survey.

The poll interviewed 1,002 U.S. adults via telephone and found 66 percent of Americans believe the United States has an obligation to assist poverty-stricken children around the world.

The survey asked respondents whose responsibility it is to provide aid to children in developing nations. Almost three in 10 (29 percent) said international nonprofit organizations should offer relief, followed by the governments where the children live (25 percent) and developed nations such as the United States (19 percent).

Faith-based organizations came in last, with only 16 percent of Americans holding them responsible for tackling childhood poverty.

The survey was released March 9 by ChildFund International, formerly named Christian Children’s Fund. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.