Unemployment and Poverty

"In our Catholic parishes, schools, charities, hospitals and other ministries, the poor, the underemployed and the unemployed are not issues, but people with names and faces.  It is an essential part of our work as Catholics to build a more just society and economy. We feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, educate the young, welcome refugees and care for the sick and vulnerable. The Church serves and stands in solidarity with those who are poor and jobless, helping them break the cycle of poverty and act on behalf of their own families and communities."

"I hope we can use our opportunities as pastors, teachers, and leaders to focus public attention and priority on the scandal of so much poverty and so many without work in our society. In order to assist you in these ongoing efforts, the Administrative Committee has asked the bishops' conference to provide you, diocesan staffs and other leaders with resources and materials for preaching, educating the faithful and advocating on behalf of the poor and jobless..."

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, September 15, 2011

Letter to Bishops on Economic Situation

Preach

The following prayers, homilies and bulletin articles were developed in collaboration with Fr. Michael Seavey, a priest of the Diocese of Portland ME, as practical guidance for clergy and parish leaders to inspire  messages of hope, reconciliation and concern for others during the Lenten Season.

Prayers

• Lenten Prayers

Homilies

• Scrutiny Homilies Cycle A
• 3rd Week of Lent Cycle B
• 4th Week of Lent Cycle B
• 5th Week of Lent Cycle B

Bulletin Inserts

• 3 Lenten Bulletin Inserts

Educate

Tools for Educating and Advocating on Poverty and Unemployment

• Tools Handout

Poverty USA (An Initiative of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development) - Also, Like Us on Facebook!

Statements and Primers

• A Catholic Framework for Economic Life
• A Place at the Table: A Catholic Recommitment to Overcome Poverty and to Respect the Dignity of All God's Children
  A Pastoral Reflection of the U.S. Catholic Bishops 
• Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
• Primer on Poverty, an Option for the Poor, and the Common Good
• Primer on Labor in Catholic Social Thought
• 2012 Labor Day Statement
• Reflections on Poverty in America
  

Reports

• The Deficit "Super Committee" and Protecting the Poor at Home and Abroad
• USCCB Report on the Debt Ceiling Debate

Marriage & Unemployment Resources

• When Unemployment Hits Home: Seven Ways to Help Your Marriage
• How the Financial Downturn Affects Marriage
• Living Simply: A Lasting and Fulfilling Way of Life

Advocate

USCCB Legislative Action Center

Bishops letter to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction (the “Supercommittee”)

Government Resources

• US Census Bureau 2010 Poverty Report
   - Full Report
   - Official Press Release (Executive Summary)
   - State and Local Poverty Statistics Summary
  
• Local Poverty Data from the American Community Survey
   - Enter a location on in the search bar on the right 
   - Click on the "Narrative Profile" to download a summary of the statistics
• National Monthly Unemployment Report

Nonprofit and Faith-based Resources

• Circle of Protection
• Faith Advocates for Jobs 
• Fighting Poverty with Faith (Catholic Charities USA)

Articles and Other Resources

Catholic News Service article on Poverty Report