![[home]](/sdwp/images/new_usccb_logo.gif){kind=logo}
"To choose life ... involves rejecting every form of violence: the violence of poverty and hunger, which oppresses so many human beings, the violence of armed conflict, which does not resolve but only increases divisions and tensions; the violence of particularly abhorrent weapons such as anti-personnel mines; the violence of drug trafficking; the violence of racism; and the violence of mindless damage of the natural environment.
Pope John Paul II
Arrival Statement
St. Louis, Missouri
January 26, 1999
In the midst of the partisan conflict and moral confusion surrounding the impeachment debate, Pope John Paul II came to our land and challenged America to pursue "a life of dignity for all." In this new Congress, Catholic social ministry leaders echo his call to defend life, to seek justice, to relieve debt and to live in peace and solidarity. Our message to Congress reflects the themes of the coming Jubilee. We seek fairness and security for workers and those in retirement. We seek cancellation of the debts which crush the lives and dignity of the poorest people on earth. We seek to promote peace by urging the US to ratify The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and to commit to sign the treaty banning landmines.
This agenda reflects both our moral convictions and our concrete experience. We believe the moral measure of our society is how we care for "the least of these." We believe the poor and vulnerable have a priority claim on our consciences and our common resources. Decisions about social security and wages, budget priorities and surpluses, global economic and foreign policy ought to put the poor and vulnerable first.
Our moral urgency is intensified by our experience in serving those in need here at home and around the world. We see first hand the human consequences of hunger, poverty and debt -- the lives lost, the families destroyed, the dignity denied. In our relief, development and mission efforts around the world, we care for those whose lives are threatened by too much debt and not enough development, by landmines and other weapons.
Domestic Agenda
"... power is responsibility: it is service, not privilege. Its exercise is morally justifiable when it is used for the good of all, when it is sensitive to the needs of the poor and defenseless."
Pope John Paul II
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
January 27, 1999
The Catholic community works on a wide variety of national issues -- work and welfare, expanding health coverage, housing, nutrition, agriculture and civil rights. At this time we focus on two key issues of economic justice:
- Social Security: We urge members of Congress to guarantee that workers, especially average and low wage workers, have a predictable income for themselves and their families at times of retirement and disability or the death of a family members. Any proposals in social security should protect those who can lease afford to risk their financial security in these times and assure that any additional burdens do not fall on those least able to pay.
- Minimum Wage: As the economy continues to grow, we need to ensure that low wage workers benefit, and that the gains made in the last few years are maintained. Therefore we support an increase in the minimum wage and efforts to index the minimum wage.
International Agenda
"... open wide your hearts to the ever increasing plight and urgent needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters throughout the world."
Pope John Paul II
Arrival Statement
St. Louis, Missouri
January 26, 1999
The Catholic community is involved in many international issues -- the pursuit of a just peace in the Balkans, the Middle East and Northern Ireland; urgent questions of religious liberty and human rights; issues of foreign trade and development, the challenges of global economic and environmental policy, etc. At this time, we focus on three major issues:
- Debt: We strongly support legislation to be introduced in this Congress to relieve the debt burden on the poorest countries in order to help them address the poverty of their people. This Congress must act to address the terrible human costs of debt by increasing U.S. support for debt relief and improving the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPCI) of the World Bank and IMF.
- Arms Control: This is still a dangerous world. The nuclear threat has receded but has not gone away. The U.S. must demonstrate leadership by ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. This treaty can thwart the development of new nuclear weapons and the efforts of other nations to obtain them. U.S. ratification is essential for credibility in our efforts to combat nuclear proliferation. It can also be a step toward negotiating an effective global ban on nuclear weapons.
U.S. leadership is also required on landmines. We urge Members to co-sponsor and support legislation requiring the United States to take the steps necessary to sign the treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.