This accessible and stirring book not only introduces readers to the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the domestic antipoverty and social justice program sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, but also inspires us to service. With John P. Hogan as our guide, we are invited to walk with those who serve and those who are served in confronting the daily reality of poverty as well as the root causes and structures that cause it. Written with the skill of a journalist and the passion of a social justice reformer, Credible Signs of Christ Alive highlights six exemplary CCHD-funded projects that represent successful joint efforts between the working poor—including whites, African-Americans, Latin Americans, and a variety of immigrant groups including, Africans, Asians, Hispanics, and Russians—and the non-poor. Complete with case studies, reflection questions, suggested actions, contacts, and optional further reading, this book tells the story behind the poverty statistics, mines the hope behind the headlines, and makes real the power of faith to transform the world.

"This volume... will be a rich resource for parish and school groups to mine, and it will be of great value for teachers to help students understand the Church's option for the poor." - The Living Light

"It [is] consoling to turn away from the mountains of literature on the current crisis in the church to read about places where people demonstrate that the Good News is alive, even in places where most of the news is bad." - Commonweal Magazine

"A practical and colorful resource for presenting the principles of Catholic social teaching." - Momentum

"Hogan has compiled a readable, engaging, and motivational work that is both artful and scholarly. His rich hands-on experience is as evident as is his knowledge of what parishes and communities need in navigating and sustaining the gospel call for social justice." - Catholic Press Association

"Well executed . . . easy to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of what faith-based initiatives can accomplish. Whether one hopes to emulate the programs, wants to know more about CCHD, or just wants to read a book that is uplifting, Credible Signs of Christ Alive is well worth the time." - H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online

"The stories of empowerment in Credible Signs of Christ Alive are as challenging as they are inspiring. In an attempt to document the work of the groups in each case study, Hogan goes straight to the source—the people themselves." - St. Anthony Messenger

"This valuable work puts us in touch with real people across the United States, for whom poverty is a fact of daily existence. In exploring the struggles and successes of these individuals, the book serves as an important introduction to the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development." - Theological Studies