People of Faith CT

U.S. Catholic bishops have urged Congress to make poor families and vulnerable workers central priorities as it adopts economic recovery legislation.

Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), made the call in a January 28 letter to both houses of Congress.

"Low-income families and individuals are experiencing the greatest hardship and have the least capacity to cope in this time of economic crisis," Bishop Murphy said in the letter, adding that such people were also more likely "to use these new resources quickly to purchase the essentials of life and to help move our economy forward."

Citing the need to avoid 'partisan or ideological agendas' and to focus on the needs of the poor, Bishop Murphy offered the bishops' support for aspects of the proposed recovery legislation.

These include increasing funds for nutrition assistance through food stamps and other programs, protecting low-income families from losing Medicaid and social service assistance, and extending Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.

Bishop Murphy echoed Pope Benedict XVI's call to bolster the economy by focusing on the dignity of the human person, adding, "This is a time to pursue the common good, beginning with help for the families and communities most hurt by this crisis."