A more welcoming society for babies, children and families must work on many levels. Catholics should be leading that charge.
Economics
Posted inNews Analysis, Politics & Society
Biden’s vow to ‘cut child poverty in half’ is ambitious. But is it ambitious enough?
While the overall child poverty rate may be historically low after a recovery from the pandemic, there are more specific measures of economic vulnerability for children that are still alarming.
Posted inPolitics & Society, The Moral Economy
It’s easy to hate ‘the media.’ But local journalism is essential (and holy) work.
Journalism gets attention when it breaks big stories about institutions like Enron and the Catholic Church. But they can only do that work if they are consistently read — and broadly trusted.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
The current minimum wage is not just, according to the Catholic church. $15 wouldn’t be either.
After adjusting for rising costs of living, a full-time federal minimum wage worker today earns 18 percent less than what her counterpart earned 11 years ago—$15,080 annually in 2021, compared with $18,458 in 2009.
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
Prince Albert of Monaco: Together we can save our common home
The evidence of severe climate change is everywhere; but we still have the opportunity to reinvent ourselves, to stimulate the creation of new activities, thanks to innovative and sustainable solutions, both for nature and for humankind.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Biden wants to go big on infrastructure. Catholic leaders are hopeful it will help the poor
At first glance, a White House proposal aimed at improving infrastructure and creating jobs might not seem like a natural topic of discussion for Catholic leaders. But the American Jobs Plan has some theologians and activists hopeful.
Posted inDispatches, Politics & Society
Pope Francis warns us: Covid-19 is not the only global crisis we’re facing right now
The debt crisis in the developing world threatens a staggering impact on the world’s most vulnerable people. “We’re approaching the greatest wave of debt crises and debt restructurings the world has ever seen.”
Posted inFaith, Faith and Reason
I’ve been a priest for 50 years and still struggle with the problem of evil
The dispossession Christ experienced in his crucifixion is an act of solidarity with the dispossessed of the world.
Posted inFaith, Vatican Dispatch
Facing a growing budget deficit, Pope Francis cuts pay for cardinals and other top officials
In an effort to reduce a budget deficit exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vatican is cutting salaries for 6,000 higher-level employees.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
Biden’s new child allowance is a breakthrough for families. Mitt Romney’s plan is even better.
The new Covid relief package attacks child poverty by providing cash to low-income and working-class parents. Patrick T. Brown writes that this is a goal that should unite policy makers from both parties.