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Minnesota Bishops call for budget to prioritize poor, vulnerable in letter |
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By The Catholic Spirit
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Tuesday, 21 April 2009 |
Dear Members of the Minnesota State Legislature:
We know that you are facing difficult decisions regarding Minnesota’s budget. Because our faith tradition calls us to care for each other, both individually and as a state, we believe that Minnesota’s budget should uphold the inviolable human dignity, value and worth of every Minnesotan, and reflect a commitment to the common good. In your deliberations, we urge you to ensure that our state has sufficient revenue to meet the needs of Minnesotans, especially those among us who are poor and vulnerable, since they will be most affected by your decisions.
Minnesota’s budget is a moral document that sets the priorities for our
state. It reflects not only the values and goals of Minnesota, but
determines whether all Minnesotans can meet their basic needs. We are
especially called to place the needs of those living in poverty at the
center of economic concerns. “Like family life, economic life is one of
the chief areas where we live out our faith, love our neighbor,
confront temptation, fulfill God’s creative design, and achieve our
holiness” (Economic Justice for All: A Pastoral Letter on Catholic
Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, 6).
Our state is facing many hardships, including:
• a $4.6 billion deficit in Fiscal Year 2010-11, and an even greater deficit in FY 2012-13;
• the highest rate of unemployment in twenty-six years – 8.9% – with
unemployed Minnesotans outnumbering job openings by 8 to 1;
• 374,000 people – 77,000 of them children – who do not have health insurance;
• a record number of visits to our state’s 300 food shelves – more than 2 million visits last year;
• 308,000 Minnesotans who use food stamps to supplement their food
budgets, which only represents 69 percent of Minnesotans who are
eligible for food support; and
• 482,000 of our sisters and brothers living below the poverty line, which is $22,050 for a family of four.
Economic decisions have human consequences. They promote or erode human
dignity, help or hurt our sisters and brothers, strengthen or weaken
our families and communities, enhance or diminish justice, and build or
undermine the common good. As faithful citizens, we must carefully
examine Minnesota’s budget. Do the spending and revenue raising
provisions of Minnesota’s budget reflect justice? Do they promote the
common good?
In your work to resolve the state’s budget deficit, we ask that you:
1. fully consider the human consequences of spending and revenue raising proposals;
2. place first, never last, those who are vulnerable, especially those living in poverty; and
3. build on our interconnectedness – we are all strengthened when those with the greatest needs are strengthened.
The current budget proposals of Governor Pawlenty, the Minnesota House,
and the Minnesota Senate include significant cuts to the Health and
Human Services budget. Children and seniors, those living in poverty or
foster care, those experiencing hunger, unemployment or homelessness,
or living with severe disabilities or mental illness are most at risk
in budget cuts. If the services for those who are in the greatest need
are cut, many will be forced to live without basic necessities.
The current financial crisis has occasioned vigorous debate concerning
the adequacy of state revenue and the ability of Minnesotans to pay for
services. Given the budget crisis, the use of one-time funds, federal
stimulus dollars, and our state’s increasing deficit, we must consider
whether it is possible to meet urgent needs without increasing revenue.
One way to contribute to the common good is by raising the revenues
necessary to meet the needs of individuals, families and local
communities throughout our state.
We believe that resolving the budget deficit through spending cuts
alone will do great harm to Minnesotans and our economy. We urge you to
support raising sufficient revenue as part of a comprehensive approach
to resolving Minnesota’s budget shortfall. Catholic social teaching
upholds the role of government to assist individuals and communities
when they cannot help themselves. In performing this role, the state is
fulfilling its moral responsibility to promote the common good.
May God bless and guide you in your work to strengthen the common good during this difficult economic time.
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
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Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner
Diocese of Crookston
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Reverend James B. Bissonette
Diocese of Duluth, Diocesan Administrator
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Bishop John M. LeVoir
Diocese of New Ulm
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Bishop John F. Kinney
Diocese of Saint Cloud
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Bishop Bernard J. Harrington
Diocese of Winona
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Coadjutor Bishop John M. Quinn
Diocese of Winona
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Archbishop Emeritus Harry J. Flynn
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
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Bishop Emeritus Victor H. Balke
Diocese of Crookston
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