“Comfort in Legal Struggle” by A. Sangrey

This is an update from Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia (CLCP) http://www.clcphila.org/, a volunteer organization that has long been close to my heart.

Philadelphia has the highest rate of  “deep poverty” of the nation’s ten largest cities [1].  The child poverty rate in the city is consistently around 40% [2].

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Prov. 31: 8).

Philadelphia City Hall, Author Max Binder (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)

“For four years, Senora Carmen had been waiting for her veteran benefits from her husband’s years of service [3].  After being denied once, she received another packet from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.  Twenty pages of fine print seemed to indicate more paperwork was needed.  Extensive paperwork.  Then her request–and financial need–would be considered, or denied again.

Senora Carmen had lived in the U.S. over twenty years, but her limited English was still a barrier for her.  Anxious and troubled, she brought the packet to CLCP.

Attorney John Visher, a retired Navy JAG Officer and CLCP volunteer, used his…legal skills to decipher the document.

‘Todo va estar bien?’ Carmen asked.  Will everything be okay?

As an attorney, Visher…cannot always guarantee resolution for every client he works with through CLCP, but…[much]of his work is providing comfort…Visher …watches over his clients, and at times, an attorney acting as the legal watchman for an impoverished client is the needed weight to resolve an issue.

With Visher’s involvement, the legal process picked up speed, and Carmen received her benefits check and the promise of continual monthly support.

As a Christian attorney, Visher counts it a privilege to demonstrate his care to needy clients as a watchman of justice, and Carmen, a devout Christian herself, not only had her financial need resolved, but in the process, she also received godly comfort through CLCP.”

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[1]  Philly.com, “Among the 10 largest cities, Philly has the highest deep-poverty rate” by Alfred Lubrano, 10/1/15, http://articles.philly.com/2015-10-01/news/67015543_1_poverty-rate-deep-poverty-philadelphians.

[2]  NPR, “Unrelenting Poverty Leads to ‘Desperation’ in Philly Schools” by Eric Westervelt, 11/21/13, http://www.npr.org/2013/11/21/246413432/weighing-the-role-of-poverty-in-philadelphia-s-schools.

[3]  The client’s name has been altered in the interest of privacy.

Anyone interested in Christian legal aid can find more information on that topic above

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse  https://avoicereclaimed.com