Catholic voters must include poor in voting plans

Remarking on welfare, health care, housing and debt relief is David Hamilton, associate director of the New York State Catholic Conference. The Catholic Conference represents the state's bishops on public policy matters.

"There is a widening gap in this country between the `haves' and the `have-nots'; and in no state is that gap wider than New York," Mr. Hamilton began. "While wealth is not bad, the Catholic voter should be concerned about how wealth is distributed, and how the least among us are treated and valued in society. In that regard, public policy -- especially toward the poor -- is a significant indicator of how society values vulnerable individuals and families."

He quoted Matthew's Gospel, in which Jesus notes, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, that you would do to me."

WELFARE

"This requires a continuous effort to improve workers' training and capability...as well as careful controls and adequate legislative measures to block shameful forms of exploitation," the Pope added.

In their 1995 statement on political responsibility, the U.S. bishops agreed, saying: "We support genuine welfare reform that strengthens families, encourages productive work and defends vulnerable children....We oppose abandonment of the federal government's essential role in helping families overcome poverty and meet their children's basic needs."

Mr. Hamilton stated that political candidates who claim welfare reform has been successful by citing numbers of closed cases are "missing the point. Rather than focusing on closing welfare cases, a voter should ask about policies that provide access to education and job training, as well as supportive services such as child care and transportation, that individuals need to enter into and stay in the labor market.

"Even with expansive supports, there are some who will never be able to work, due to disability, age or illness, and government must help these individuals live in dignity."

HEALTH CARE

"We must take reasonable care of them, taking into account the needs of others and the common good," it states. "Concern for the health of its citizens requires that society help in the attainment of living conditions that allow them to grow and reach maturity: food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment and social assistance."

A report published by the Woodstock Theological Center in 1993 includes the following statement by Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association CEO Bernard Tresnowski: "The government should not attempt to do more than it can reasonably accomplish. Its primary role is to assure access to healthcare services to citizens who lack it and to pay the fair cost of those services. Beyond that, government should oversee the healthcare market to ensure safety and quality, and to correct any deficiency."

Mr. Hamilton called access to "comprehensive, life-affirming" health care "a matter of social justice. When individuals and families are denied access to treatment, minor ailments can develop into serious, costly and even life-threatening conditions.

Even people who have health insurance "may face high co-payments, as in the case of prescription drugs," he said. "Many policies also place restrictions on access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. The Catholic voter should consider a candidate's position on access to affordable health care. Healthcare services should never include services which destroy life, whether mandatory contraception, abortion or euthanasia."

HOUSING

In their 1988 statement "Homelessness and Housing" (part of their document on political responsibility), the bishops note that "major goals for national housing policy" should include preservation of effective policies to maintain low-cost housing, production of programs to increase the supply of such housing, participation of the housing's consumers in helping themselves and opportunities to combat discrimination in housing.

The Catechism simply comments that "the political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it and to ensure especially...the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing, and the right to emigrate."

The rising cost of housing in the past few decades "has forced some families into crowded, unsafe living arrangements," Mr. Hamilton responded. "Too many individuals and families have been forced into a haphazard system of public shelters or living on the streets."

He proposed that Catholic voters "consider a candidate's support for housing vouchers to low-income individuals and families," as well as "investment to support the development of affordable housing in all communities. Government policy should also address the need to provide supportive services and health care to help aging New Yorkers and those with disabilities to live in their communities, rather than being forced into nursing homes for expensive care."

DEBT RELIEF

In "the spirit of the book of Leviticus," the Pope said, "Christians will have to raise their voice on behalf of all the poor of the world proposing the Jubilee as an appropriate time to give thought...to reducing substantially, if not canceling outright, the international debt which seriously threatens the future of many nations."

Last year, the U.S. bishops echoed his request in "A Jubilee Call for Debt Forgiveness." In it, they said, "The debt crisis should be measured in terms of its human costs and moral consequences....We hope the Jubilee Year 2000 marks a new beginning in the way policy makers view debt relief, bringing new attention to the role debt relief can play in promoting human development in the poorest countries."

Mr. Hamilton noted that the U.S. Catholic Conference has supported federal legislation intended to provide debt forgiveness to foreign countries. Catholic voters, he said, should ask candidates about their support for debt relief.

"More than 30 very poor countries owe more than $100 billion, mainly to other governments and international organizations," Mr. Hamilton said. "Voters should determine whether candidates support Congress investing $435 million to finance debt relief for the poorest nations."

He also posed a question: "At a time of great prosperity in our nation and state, how can we not extend debt relief to those with far less than us?"

CONCLUSION

Conscientious voters, he said, "should not only learn about a candidate's position regarding Catholic concerns, but the voter should educate the candidate about our positions and concerns. When we educate ourselves and advocate with candidates and elected officials, we can help create a society devoted to economic justice and peace."

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