Pope Francis in Assisi: for an economy at the service of the person"Families have to feel the support of the administration."The United States celebrates Labor Day on September 4. This day invites reflection on the country's economy, which has prompted the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to issue a press release talking about the current situation of families.
The note is signed by the president of the Committee for Domestic Justice and Human Development, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, but conveys the message of the entire episcopate of the country, summarized in the need for "radical solidarity with working families".
The state of the economy
The USCCB statement begins by pointing to economic improvements. On the one hand, inflation is slowing, while workers' wages have risen. At the same time, unemployment is down and new jobs are being created.
However, as the bishops point out, there are "more families who feel they are worse off than last year." Rising prices have prevented households from saving and rents continue to rise. Added to this are the costs of health care, the high cost of which leads many families to forego visits to the doctor.
Policy measures
Faced with this situation, the USCCB is clear: "We must do more to support families. A more favorable economic system will respond to their authentic mission, the bishops believe. They state that "the purpose of the economy is to enable families to thrive." To that end, the bishops' conference suggests some bipartisan measures, including:
-Strengthen the Child Tax Credit. Many families are currently excluded from this assistance;
-Promote paid family leave. The United States is one of the few countries that does not guarantee this permit.
Social measures
On the other hand, the bishops encourage citizens to dialogue about the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people. families and to seek solutions in their communities. They also recognize the work of trade unions, which Pope Francis also acknowledged in an audience with leaders of these organizations.
The USCCB statement concludes by stressing that there is still much work to be done to be truly in solidarity with working families. "Let us pray and act to this end, always listening to the Lord who fulfills the good news when we hear his word each day."
