Congress can promote the common good and contribute to a more just society by ensuring the federal minimum wage promotes family formation and stability, said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami and Dominican Sister Donna Markham, Ph.D., in a letter to Congress, July 27.
Echoing Pope Francis’ repeated calls for an economy of inclusion, Archbishop Wenski, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Sister Markham, President of Catholic Charities USA, said that “[a]n economy thrives only when it is centered on the dignity and well-being of the workers and families in it. As pastors and service providers, we see every day the consequences when society fails to honor this priority.”
They noted that the federal minimum wage does not support family formation and stability among low-wage workers, which increases demand for social services and reliance on the social safety net to make ends meet. They concluded by affirming that “[p]rotecting low-wage workers and promoting their ability to form and nurture families are shared responsibilities and critical to building a more equitable society.”
The text of the letter can be found online: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/labor-employment/usccb-ccusa-letter-to-congress-on-wages-2015-07-27.cfm
