U.S. BISHOPS LABOR DAY MESSAGE SPEAKS OF JOBS FOR WORKERS............

On this Labor Day 2012 in America, the annual message of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops speaks to the dignity of human labor making three basic points.  They proclaim, 1.) The Broken Economy Leaves Too Many Without Decent Work;  they announce  2.) A Call For Economic Renewal And Support For Workers;  and they call for  3.) Building A More Just Society.  Expressing concern about the 12 million unemployed in our country, and millions more either underemployed or no longer seeking employment; the Bishops also call our attention to the 46 million of our citizens living in poverty; and the 16 million American children growing up poor in our country.  They recognize the rightful place of debate over deficits and debts in political campaigns. but remind us of the moral imperative for our nation to use the blessing of our economic resources and power as a country to address the poverty confronting our country.  The Bishops call for an national economic renewal that is family and worker focused, concerned with creating jobs for all who desire to work.  They call upon all persons and institutions in our society, to overcome shortcomings in living up to their responsibility to advance the opportunity for human labor that is fair and just, naming religious, business, civic groups, and unions, as sharing in this role, even as they affirm the positive role unions can play to help provide for this teaching and carry this action; while admonishing them to avoid polarization and partisanship that conflicts with the attainment, acknowledging the contribution they can and do make to social justice when focused on the common good, not narrow self interests.  The Statement urges business, religious, labor, and civic, groups to defend the dignity of the human worker and their ability to claim the right to sharing in the workplace and the wider national economy.  The American Bishops speak to Building a more Just Economy by reflecting on the moral and human dimensions resulting from too much poverty and too little work, as the need for a partnership between business, labor, and government, and they call on our leaders to address these needs and               request that our citizens ponder the message, "Forming Consciences For A Faithful Citizenship" their Election Year Pastoral Letter.  "Economic decisions and institutions should be assessed according to whether they protect or undermine the dignity of the human person.  Social and economic policies should foster the creation of jobs for all who can work with decent working conditions and just wages.  Barriers to equal pay and employment for women and for those facing unjust discrimination must be overcome.  Catholic social teaching   supports the right of workers to organize, join a union, bargain collectively, and to exercise these rights without reprisal.  It also affirms the right to freedom, initiative, and private property.  Workers, ownewrs, employers, and unions, should work together to create decent jobs, build a more just economy and advance the common good". ('Faithful Citizenship' #76)   Thus on this Labor Day, we renew our mutual commitment as Catholic-Christian putting our Faith in Action, to being in solidarity and subsidiarity with workers and the unemployed in promoting and furthering the opportunity to work and as we pray and stand for the dignity of human labor a national ability to build an economic life that respects and appreciates workers and increases the opportunity for productive work............Fr.  Troy