Words become cheap currency on the campaign trail. They're thrown about, dissected and retracted to the point that some voters judge them meaningless. But action is always preceded by words.

Setting the stage for real solutions on poverty, a diverse group of religious leaders has put the candidates on notice that their words matter. They're telling Sens. McCain and Obama that mere lip service to this moral issue just won't do.

Nine prominent faith leaders who lead organizations representing millions of people, inspired by their shared values, sent a letter to both presidential campaigns asking that each nominating convention include a primetime speech on poverty and each candidate deliver a plan "to address poverty and opportunity in America over the next decade."

The letter recognizes that the government and faith communities must work together to turn the tide:

As people of faith, we believe that it is immoral to ignore our nation’s most vulnerable populations. As Americans, we believe enduring poverty undermines our country’s economic strength and prosperity. Every day, faith organizations serve individuals in need within our communities. But our efforts to sustain our brothers and sisters living in poverty must be complemented with a serious plan from our political leaders to reduce the number of needy.

This partnership is specifically laid out in their call to the candidates:

In the weeks leading up to the election, the interfaith community will be mobilizing our networks and starting a national conversation in churches, synagogues, and mosques--in the shelters and soup kitchens of our faith-based service providers, and among people of faith across our great nation. We will be drawing from our shared scriptures and commitment to our fellow beings, working to build the political and public will to combat poverty in the United States. We hope you will do the same from the podium at your party’s convention this summer.

Focusing on poverty is not just a moral imperative for the candidates---it also makes good political sense. With $4 gas, rising food costs and the continuing shame of 47 million Americans without health care, our national senses are unusually heightened to the threat of poverty. Whoever our next president is must actively engage poverty now and going forward; people of faith will be listening.