Poet of Poverty

Msgr. Michael Doyle has served the poor of Camden NJ for the past forty years. Below is a trailer for the Documentary film, "Poet of Poverty." based on the letters of Msgr. Michael Doyle. It's a film about how the poorest city in America can exist in the richest state in the union.

from the film's web page:

Narrated by actor Martin Sheen, “Poet of Poverty” is built around the letters that Msgr. Doyle, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in South Camden, sends monthly to parishioners, friends and supporters.

The letter that begins the film was written in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and accompanies the image of a child walking past boarded-up buildings and trash-filled streets on his way to school.

“A seventh grade boy in Sacred Heart School made this comment after the frightening destruction of the twin towers in New York that killed 2,700 people. ‘I feel safe here,’ he said. It was an amazing statement because most people are shocked in their shoes and scared to death. ‘You’re not afraid,’ he was asked. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m not afraid because if the terrorists fly over Camden, they’ll think they have done it already.’”

Msgr. Doyle was recently interviewed by WHYY. You can listen to a clip here.
His book and the DVD for the documentary can be purchased here.