Roman Catholic Bishop Michael Bransfield said the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston will award $100,000 in grants to parishes, schools and other programs that fight child poverty, starting in December.

Bransfield’s 34-page pastoral letter issued Thursday discusses West Virginia's rates for low birth weight, infant mortality, child abuse and neglect, teen births and the percentage of births to unmarried teens.

All are higher than the national averages.

He said children are further challenged by low academic achievement and by parents who are incarcerated or addicted to drugs.

At a news conference Wednesday, Bransfield said all of the statistics taken together give a clear understanding of the experience of poverty for young people, as well as poverty’s consequences on their health. He further said the problem of poverty is not isolated to one part of the state.

"To be honest, it is all over. But there are various parts of the state that are worse than others. There is no question. I think we can all think of McDowell County,” Bransfield said.

Bransfield said helping children out of poverty will require a variety of approaches. He urged West Virginia's 76,000 Catholics to join him in showing compassion and care for the poor and asked for the creation of policies that support health care, mental health and education.

The $100,000 will be set aside to match any churches that raise money to help those in poverty.

-- UNEDITED: Pastoral letter from Roman Catholic Bishop Michael Bransfield (11/29/12)