U.S. Bishops Statement Economic Justice for = all

Social Teaching Documents

Major Themes

Notable Quotations

25 Questions

Reading List

Teacher's Toolbox

Web Links

OSJ Homepage

<= /DIV>

Social=20 Teaching Documents=20

Major = Themes=20

Notable=20 Quotations=20

25 = Questions=20

Reading = List=20

Teacher's=20 Toolbox=20

Web = Links=20

OSJ = Homepage=20

Office for Social = Justice
328 West=20 Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102 =20 =
(651-291-4477)

A Decade after Economic Justice for = All:=20
Continuing Principles, Changing Context, New Challenges =
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1995

A Pastoral Message of = the National=20 Conference of Catholic Bishops
on the = Tenth=20 Anniversary of the Economic Pastoral, November, 1995=20

"The challenge of this pastoral letter is not merely to = think=20 differently, but also to act differently. A renewal of economic = life=20 depends on the conscious choices and commitments of individual = believers=20 who practice their faith in the world. This letter calls us to = conversion=20 and common action, to new forms of stewardship, service, and = citizenship.=20 The completion of a letter such as this is but the beginning of a = long=20 process of education, discussion, and action."

Introduction

Almost ten ago our Bishops' Conference adopted the Pastoral = Letter=20 Economic Justice for All. This letter was an effort to proclaim = the Gospel=20 of Jesus Christ in the midst of our complex and powerful economy. = Our=20 pastoral letter insisted that the measure of our economy is not = only what=20 it produces, but also how it touches human life, whether it = protects or=20 undermines the dignity of the human person, and how it promotes = the common=20 good. We emphasized that economic decisions have human = consequences and=20 moral content; they help or hurt people, strengthen or weaken = family life,=20 advance or diminish the quality of justice in our land. Our letter = was not=20 an economic blueprint, but a moral challenge and a call to action. = We=20 called for a "New American Experiment" of participation and = collaboration=20 for the common good that has yet to be really tried in our = land.

Ten years after Economic Justice for All, the nations needs to = hear its=20 message once again and respond to its continuing challenges. At a = time of=20 great national debate, the Catholic community must continue to = speak for=20 poor children and working families. Our nation must reduce its = deficits,=20 reform welfare, reshape its foreign assistance and reorder = national=20 priorities. However, the fundamental moral measure of these policy = choices=20 is how they touch the poor in our midst, especially children and = families=20 who struggle against economic, social and moral pressures which = leave them=20 poor and powerless.

Poor children, workers and families may not have the most = powerful=20 lobbies, but they have the greatest needs. We welcome a broad = debate on=20 economic life, but we cannot support a retreat in the fight = against=20 poverty and economic injustice.

Therefore, at this time of national choices, we ask the = Catholic=20 community's help in assessing how far we have come and where we = need to go=20 to realize the promise of our nation and to be faithful to our = Catholic=20 teaching on economic life. Much has changed in this decade -- in = our=20 economy and our world, our churches and our communities. But much = remains=20 the same -- there is still too much poverty and not enough = economic=20 opportunity for all our people.

In this anniversary message, we renew our call to greater = economic=20 justice in an economy with remarkable strength and creativity, but = with=20 too little economic growth distributed too inequitably. The power = and=20 productivity of the U.S. economy sometimes seems to be leading to = three=20 nations living side by side:=20

One is prospering and producing in a new information age, = coping=20 well with new economic challenges;=20
A second is squeezed by declining real incomes and global = economic=20 competition. They wonder whether they will keep their jobs and = health=20 insurance, whether they can afford college education or Catholic = schools=20 for their children;=20
A third community is growing more discouraged and = despairing. Called=20 an American underclass, their children are growing up = desperately poor=20 in the richest nation on earth. Their question at the end of the = month=20 is whether they can afford the rent or groceries or heat. =

As people of faith, we believe we are one family, not competing = classes. We are sisters and brothers, not economic units or = statistics. We=20 must come together around the values of our faith to shape = economic=20 policies that protect human life, promote strong families, expand = a stable=20 middle class, create decent jobs, and reduce the level of poverty = and need=20 in our society. We need to strengthen our sense of community and = our=20 pursuit of the common good. A decade after the pastoral, it = remains clear=20 that the moral test of our society is how the poor, the weak and = the=20 vulnerable are faring. And by this standard we are falling far = short.

We believe the best way to prepare for this anniversary is not = to=20 develop a major new document, but to offer a urgent call to = renewed=20 Catholic dialogue and action in pursuit of a more just, productive = and=20 human economy. As we mark this anniversary, we ask the Catholic = community=20 in its ongoing activities to:=20

look back at the economic letter and its major themes;=20
look around at the U.S. economy a decade later, noting = progress and=20 continuing problems;=20
look ahead at future challenges in light of our developing = Catholic=20 teaching.

A Look Back

The economic pastoral was an enormous undertaking. Years in=20 preparation, it generated wide discussion, occasional controversy = and much=20 activity. But it produced remarkable consensus and unity -- all = but nine=20 bishops voted for the final letter. The process of consultation, = listening=20 and dialogue strengthened the letter and enriched the Church. In = parishes,=20 schools, universities, think tanks and a wide variety of ad hoc = efforts,=20 the Church's teaching was shared and discussed and its = implications=20 debated. In the years after the pastoral, nine of every ten = dioceses=20 conducted education sessions in parishes; 60% strengthened = legislative=20 advocacy; more than half held sessions with businesses, labor or = farm=20 representatives and a majority assessed their personnel = policies.

While much of the news coverage focused on policy directions, = the heart=20 of the letter remains its scriptural roots and Catholic = principles. The=20 greatest contribution of our economic pastoral was to remind us = that the=20 pursuit of economic justice is a work of faith and an imperative = of the=20 Gospel. For some Catholics this message was an affirmation of = long-held=20 principle. For others, it was a jarring exposure to part of the = Catholic=20 tradition they had never encountered. The call to economic justice = is not=20 a political preference or ideological choice, but a response to = the=20 Scriptures and a requirement of Catholic teaching.

We hope this anniversary period will be a time of increased = focus on=20 economic justice in our parishes, institutions, families and = society. A=20 brief resolution cannot communicate the full substance of the = letter, but=20 its central message might be summarized in this way:=20

The economy exists to serve the human person, not the other = way=20 around.=20
Economic life should be shaped by moral principles and = ethical=20 norms.=20
Economic choices should be measured by whether they enhance = or=20 threaten human life, human dignity and human rights.=20
A fundamental concern must be support for the family and the = well-being of children.=20
The moral measure of any economy is how the weakest are = faring.=20

In the last decade, the Church has continued to share and apply = its=20 social doctrine. Pope John Paul II continues to be a powerful = voice for=20 solidarity and justice in a world often lacking both. His defense = of the=20 poor, workers, family life, and the victims of injustice is a = constant=20 theme of his travels and teaching. In his 1991 encyclical, = Centesimus=20 Annus, our Holy Father offered a sweeping moral analysis of the = economic=20 and global challenges of our times, reaffirming the principles of = our=20 tradition and developing new themes. This encyclical offers = particular=20 challenges for U.S. Catholics. While it recognizes the vital = contributions=20 of democratic values and market economics, it insists that these = be guided=20 by the common good and be at the service of human dignity and = human=20 rights. He reviewed the failed and empty promises of communism, as = he=20 warned against a capitalism which neglects the human and moral = dimensions=20 of economic life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirms = the=20 Church's teaching that economic life must be directed to the = service of=20 persons and be subject to the limits of the moral order and the = demands of=20 social justice.

Our own Conference has sought to apply Catholic principles in a = variety=20 of statements and initiatives which build on our economic = pastoral. Our=20 reflections on children and families, environmental justice, = international=20 responsibility, stewardship, welfare, health care and violence in = our land=20 offer examples of our commitment to continuing education and = advocacy on=20 issues of economic justice.

Our economic pastoral and the broader Catholic social teaching = which=20 shaped it are complex and nuanced. They do not lend themselves to = simple=20 ideological identification. Some in our own community welcome the=20 tradition's teaching on private property, the limits of the state, = the=20 advantages of free markets and the condemnation of communism, but = resist=20 the focus on the poor, the defense of labor unions, the = recognition of the=20 moral limits of markets and the responsibilities of government. = Others=20 welcome the teaching on the "option for the poor," the duties of=20 government to protect the weak, the warnings against unbridled = capitalism,=20 but seem to ignore the centrality of family, the emphasis on = economic=20 initiative, and the warnings against the bureaucratic excesses of = a=20 "social assistance" state. Our social tradition is a moral = framework, not=20 a partisan platform or ideological tool. It challenges both right = and=20 left, labor and management to focus on the dignity of the human = person and=20 the common good rather than their own political or economic = interests.

In the words of Centesimus Annus, we promote "a society of free = work,=20 of enterprise and of participation. Such a society is not directed = against=20 the market, but demands that the market be appropriately = controlled by the=20 forces of society and by the State, so as to guarantee that the = basic=20 needs of the whole of society are satisfied."

A Look Around

In this brief message, we do not offer an overall assessment of = our=20 economy, but we need to acknowledge that some things have changed = and some=20 have not. As reported in the Statistical Abstract of the United = States:=20

Americans living in poverty have increased from 33 million = to almost=20 37 million, even though our economy has been growing in recent = years.=20 Economic forces, family disintegration and government action and = inaction have combined to leave more than a fifth of our = children=20 growing up poor in one of the richest nations on earth.=20
Joblessness, hunger and homelessness still haunt our nation. = Millions of people are actively looking for work and cannot find = it.=20 Over the past ten years there has been a sharp increase in the=20 percentage of people who work full-time but cannot lift their = family out=20 of poverty. At present this represents 18% of all workers.=20
The poor and the middle class face growing economic = insecurity.=20 Wages are stagnating despite recent gains in productivity, and = companies=20 seeking to cut costs are turning to part-time and temporary = workers,=20 often at the expense of family income.=20
In the past ten years, some 234,000 family farms have been = lost, and=20 the overall poverty rate for farmers continues to hover around = 20=20 percent. Some rural towns are disappearing, and agricultural = land and=20 food processing have become increasingly concentrated in fewer = and fewer=20 hands.=20
Discrimination, lack of jobs, poor education and other = factors have=20 left African Americans and Hispanics far more likely to be = jobless and=20 poor. Forty-four percent of African American children and 36% of = Hispanic children are growing up poor.=20
Over the past 15 years, the gap between rich and poor in = America has=20 grown wider. In 1993, it is reported the highest earning 20% of=20 households saw their income increase by about $10,000. In = contrast, the=20 20% of households at the bottom of the income range saw their = income=20 decrease by $1,200. At a time of modest economic growth, many = families=20 are experiencing declining real wages.=20
Family and social factors continue to contribute to poverty = and=20 economic stress. It is reported that a child born to a mother = who is=20 married, with a high school diploma, whose husband works or has = a job=20 herself has an 8% chance of growing up in poverty. A child born = to a=20 mother who is not married, without a high school education and = without a=20 job in the family has an 80% chance of growing up in poverty. = Clearly,=20 the disintegration of families, the absence of fathers, high = divorce=20 rates, the failures of education and the reality of joblessness = are=20 crucial factors in our economic problems. And just as clearly, = strong=20 families contribute to the economic, social and moral health of = our=20 nation.=20
The nation continues to pile up debt, burdening both our = economy and=20 our children. Government deficits, corporate speculation and = excessive=20 consumerism contribute to an ethic of "buy now -- pay later" = which=20 violates principles of stewardship and responsibility. The gross = federal=20 debt has grown from $1.8 trillion in 1985 to $4.7 trillion in = 1994.=20
Economic issues are increasingly global issues with growing = foreign=20 competition, interdependence and trade. In a post-Cold War = world, much=20 has changed, but for many it is still a world of too much = poverty and=20 not enough development. The number of chronically hungry people = has=20 risen from 500 million in 1985 to 800 million now. 1.3 billion = people,=20 many of them children, live in desperate poverty around the = world.=20

Our current economy is marked by considerable paradox. Profits = and=20 productivity grow, while many workers' real income and sense of = security=20 decline. Parents, of even modest means, wonder whether their = children will=20 live as well as they do. Some businesses cut jobs and prosper = while their=20 workers pay the price for downsizing. Government seems to pile up = debt,=20 cut programs and feed public cynicism all at once. At a time of=20 diminishing government help for poor workers and families, = Congressional=20 spending for new weapons exceeds the Pentagon's request, justified = more by=20 employment needs than defense criteria. We seem a very long way = from=20 "economic justice for all."

There is no consensus on what explains these trends. The = decline of=20 manufacturing jobs, rapid technological change, the globalization = of the=20 economy, the diminished influence of labor and trade unions, the = erosion=20 of the minimum wage, and the costs of health insurance all have=20 contributed to the declining real family income. A growing income = gap is=20 fed by economic decisions that put profits ahead of people and = lead to=20 inadequate wages, reduced benefits, fewer jobs, and less job = security.=20 Meanwhile, individual choices and immoral behavior that contribute = to=20 increasing out-of-wedlock births, violence, drug use and the = changing=20 family structure are having a significant impact on both families = and the=20 economy. We know poverty and economic injustice results from=20 discrimination and destructive personal behavior, from unwise = decisions of=20 corporations and the unresponsive behavior of the public = sector.

Our Catholic tradition speaks to these concerns. Ten years = after=20 Economic Justice for All, our community's greatest challenge is to = encourage those with economic power to shape their decisions by = how they=20 affect the stability of families and the opportunities of people = who are=20 poor, while at the same time calling on all individuals to make = personal=20 choices that strengthen their families and contribute to the = common=20 good.

A Look Ahead: Questions for the Future

As we observe this anniversary, we wish to encourage lively = dialogue=20 and principled action on a wide variety of issues and concerns, = including:=20

How can our nation work together to overcome the scandal of = so much=20 poverty in our midst, especially among our children?=20
How can our Church take a leadership role in calling those = in=20 positions of power to promote economic growth, job security, = decent=20 wages, and greater opportunities?=20
How can our community shape the priorities of our culture to = promote=20 greater personal responsibility and better economic choices?=20
What are the moral responsibilities and limitations of = markets, the=20 state and the voluntary sector? How can business, labor, various = levels=20 of government and mediating structures like churches, charities = and=20 voluntary groups work together to overcome economic injustice = and=20 exploitation in our communities?=20
How can the dignity and rights of workers be protected and = enhanced=20 in an economy where increasing competition, frequent downsizing = and less=20 unionization have left many workers at risk?=20
How can U.S. workers and enterprises survive and thrive in a = world=20 where other nations compete by offering their workers = subsistence wages=20 and minimal benefits?=20
How can our nation's economic power in the world be used to = build a=20 more just global economy? How can trade and development policies = offer=20 hope to a still hungry and suffering world?=20
How can we address the enormous economic pressures which = undermine=20 families and the family factors (e.g., absent fathers, teenage = mothers,=20 high rates of divorce) which leave so many children poor? How = can we=20 support families in their essential moral, social and economic = roles?=20
How can our society make concern for the "least among us" = and the=20 common good the central consideration in the development of = budget,=20 environmental and other national policies?=20
How can we assess our own work ethic, productivity, = consumption and=20 lifestyles in light of the needs of a hungry world?=20
How can the nation address the diverse social and economic = forces=20 which leave both inner-city and rural communities as places of=20 disproportionate poverty and discouragement?=20
How can we address the racial discord that exists in our = nation=20 today? How can we overcome the growing racial and ethnic = distance=20 between different communities and the continuing impact of=20 discrimination in economic life?=20
How can the Church practice in its own life and institutions = what it=20 preaches to others about economic justice, human dignity and the = rights=20 of workers?

There are many more questions that could be raised, but these = are=20 examples of issues where Catholics can apply the Church's = teaching, share=20 our experience and voice our hopes in civil dialogue and = principled action=20 on economic justice. In addressing these and other questions, we = believe=20 the Catholic community can be a bridge-builder in several ways. = Our=20 community crosses lines of class and race, politics and ideology.=20 Catholics are at the center and fringes of U.S. economic life. We = are=20 CEO's and Senators, union leaders and small business owners, = migrant farm=20 workers and homeless children. Ten years after the pastoral, we = need to=20 help our Church renew its sense of solidarity and our society = rediscover a=20 sense of national community, pursuing the common good rather than = our own=20 narrow economic and other interests.

In addition, our tradition emphasizes both rights and = responsibilities,=20 promotes increased charity and insists on greater justice, = advocates=20 greater personal responsibility and broader social responsibility. = We=20 recognize the vital roles and limits of markets, government and = voluntary=20 groups. We hope in this anniversary year we can get beyond some of = the=20 false choices and ideological polarization in the economic debate = and join=20 in a renewed search for the common good.

We can be the advocates of a renewed social contract between = employers=20 and employees, between recipients and providers of assistance, = between=20 investors and managers that seeks long term progress over short = term=20 gains, that offers respect and security in exchange for = responsibility and=20 hard work, and that protects the vulnerable, especially our = children.

A Call to Renewed Commitment

We hope that this anniversary period can be a time of prayer = and=20 reflection, discussion and dialogue, advocacy and action. Economic = justice=20 begins in our homes and families, in our individual choices and = household=20 priorities. Unless we teach our children basic values of honesty,=20 compassion and initiative they will not be equipped to deal with = the=20 "counter values" of selfishness, consumerism and materialism so = prevalent=20 in our society.

We urge Catholic publications to re-focus on economic issues = and their=20 moral and human implications. We urge Catholic educational = institutions to=20 redouble their efforts to share our teaching, to help their = students=20 develop concern for the poor and for justice, and to contribute to = the=20 common good by their research and educational activities. We urge = national=20 and diocesan organizations to integrate themes of economic justice = in=20 their ongoing convenings, publications, = advocacy=20 and other activities. And most especially, we encourage Catholic = parishes=20 to continue to weave our teaching on economic life into their = prayer and=20 preaching, their education and formation, their outreach and = advocacy.

We do not ask Catholic communities to set aside their ongoing = ministry=20 to focus on economic justice. Rather, we ask leaders to further = integrate=20 these principles and tasks into the worship, formation and service = they=20 offer on a daily basis. The pursuit of economic justice is not an = option=20 or add-on for Catholics; it is part of who we are and what we = believe.

The Catholic community will continue to carry out the message = of the=20 pastoral in many different ways -- in the service and advocacy of = Catholic=20 Charities, the relief and development efforts of Catholic Relief = Services,=20 the empowerment and education of the Campaign for Human = Development, to=20 cite a few. Through our own National Conference, our State and = Diocesan=20 structures, the Catholic community is called to continue to = educate and=20 advocate for children and families on issues ranging from real = welfare=20 reform to school choice, from the rights of workers to sustainable = development. We need to strengthen and build on these and other = impressive=20 efforts.

However, it has always been clear that the pursuit of greater = economic=20 justice is not carried out primarily by the statements of = religious=20 bodies, but in the broader marketplace -- where investments are = made,=20 contracts are negotiated, products are created, workers are hired = and=20 policies are set. The search for economic justice is also carried = forward=20 in the public square. In this election year, while others are = campaigning=20 for office, let us campaign for the poor and vulnerable and for = greater=20 economic justice. Let us ask those who seek to lead and represent = us how=20 they will govern and vote on key issues of human life, human = dignity and=20 economic justice. And let us as citizens and believers continue to = advocate for people who are poor and vulnerable in our = communities, nation=20 and world.

We renew our pastoral's call for believers to shape their = choices in=20 the marketplace and public arena according to the values of the = Scriptures=20 and the moral principles of the Catholic Church. Whatever our = economic=20 status, political identification or ideological preferences, we = are called=20 as Catholics to work for an economy more respectful of human life = and=20 human dignity. In our work and citizenship, our economic, = political and=20 personal choices we must reach out to "the least of these" and = seek the=20 common good.

We may differ on specifics and priorities, but let us come = together --=20 across economic, ideological and ethnic lines -- to work for a = society and=20 economy offering more justice and opportunity, especially for the = poor.=20 Differences over how to move forward will give rise to legitimate = debate,=20 but indifference to the need to build a more just and open economy = is not=20 an option for Catholics. Every Christian is called to follow Jesus = in his=20 mission -- and ours -- of bringing "good news to the poor, new = sight to=20 the blind, liberty to captives and to set the downtrodden free." = That was=20 the call of our pastoral letter almost ten years ago and still is = our task=20 today.