News Advisory
Remarks at Press Conference
“Brake the Cycle of Poverty” Bike Tour Conclusion
By Bishop Wilton D. Gregory
President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
August 1, 2003 – Washington, DC
Good Afternoon. I am pleased to be here today to welcome this impressive group of men and women “home” - or at least to their final stop on their journey across the United States. And, on behalf of all the Bishops of the United States, I would like to tell them how very proud and grateful we are for their efforts to draw attention to the tragic situation of poverty in America. We are grateful as well that, at the same time, they have taken the opportunity to call attention to the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development which provides both funding and education to promote permanent and effective solutions to poverty in the United States.
This is a truly remarkable group of people and I would like to recap some of their accomplishments. They pedaled 3,838 miles in 61 days. Their travels took them through 12 states and 34 dioceses and also to great heights—more than 12,000 feet, I am told. And, they encountered all kinds of weather extremes from desert heat to snow-packed roads. As they rode through towns and rural areas of this country, they were joined in solidarity by many men, women, children and quite a few “bishops on bikes”! They enjoyed the hospitality of Catholic parishioners who prepared 55 potluck suppers in parishes and, on many evenings, even opened their homes to provide soft, comfortable beds and hot showers! They range in age from 20 to 73 years. I would like to ask the oldest and the youngest to hold up their hands and you can probably figure out who’s who. Their occupations include students, teachers, a seminarian, executives; we were also blessed to have a number of retirees join the crew. Most never met one another before June 1st when they set out on this incredible journey. Now they have formed intergenerational bonds and lasting friendships.
The riders kept journals and took photos and these are posted on the website www.brakethecycle.org (Spell B-R-A-K-E) They are quite inspiring, as well as informative, and I recommend them to those who would like to “enjoy” a cross-country bicycling experience with very little effort! Some of these journal entries brought to light the deep spiritual motivation of their writers who heard God’s call to bring the “good news” of human dignity and empowerment to poor and low-income people and who experienced God’s grace and beauty as they rode through the hills and valleys of this great nation.
Thus I would like to conclude with one such reflection by a member of the Brake the Cycle team, she wrote:
As we moved toward eastern Utah the landscape became more sparse – only with juniper and brush and scarce other vegetation. Some of our group thought it uninteresting and dull. As I looked upon even this scenery it spoke of God’s continuing creativity and my eyes looked for evidence of life even here. Sometimes we look at poverty and those entrapped in it and see only what is missing – life skills, initiative, education and fail to see the good that each individual has to offer. These areas made me look for the green line of trees in the midst of the dry clay to tell me that source of life was near-by. May I continue to seek the beauty of God’s love in the poor that I meet?
God bless each of you and thank you for your commitment to accompany your sisters and brothers as they empower themselves to enjoy the dignity and grace that God has freely given to them and to each one of us!
Route & Schedule 
