Economic Justice

WASHIGNTON—Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, expressed disappointment in today’s Supreme Court decision on Janus v. AFSCME. The 5-4 decision struck down an Illinois law that required non-union workers to pay fees that go to collective bargaining, overturning a 1977 law that required employees to pay “fair share” fees.

Bishop Dewane’s full statement follows:

California’s Legislature this week approved a new $183 billion dollar State Budget and in the process established priorities that encompass “profound moral questions about who are we as a society, how we view our future and whether as a people we can look beyond our own self-interest to the interest of the larger society.” (In Search of the Common Good) 

During the next few weeks, the California legislature will focus on the state budget.  With a supermajority, California Democrats will be in full control of the process but it is unlikely to be smooth sailing for them.

State tax revenue is coming in significantly below projections.  A recently enacted gas tax increase has put some Democrats on the hot seat.  Even within the Democratic Party business interests have helped elect more “moderate” Democrats who do not always have the same priorities as the state party.

“Be attentive to the needs of the poor, the suffering, the lonely, for whoever has chosen to love Jesus cannot but love his neighbor.”

                                                                                                                        -Pope Francis, December 18, 2014