Bishops Release Economic Justice Letter

The U.S. Roman Catholic bishops on Monday released the third and final draft of a controversial letter on the economy, with new emphasis on education and the relationship between the economy and family life.

The document retains the core message of earlier drafts that commits the church to providing justice for the poor, which the letter calls “the single most urgent claim on the conscience of the nation.” Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland of Milwaukee, chairman of the document’s drafting committee, released the 45,000-word pastoral in Washington.

Letter to Be Debated

The revised version is “the text that we will debate, amend and vote on” when the nation’s 300 bishops meet in November, Weakland said. The first draft was released in November, 1984.

The letter, in all its drafts, differs from Reagan Administration philosophy by recommending greater government intervention in the market process. Having a job is an economic right--not just a goal--owed to every American, the letter says. It calls for a government job-creation program, which the Reagan Administration has dismissed as useless, if not detrimental.

The latest version reflects the thousands of consultations, hearings and discussions that have been held since the document was first released.

“Economic and social policies as well as the organization of the work world should be continually evaluated in light of their impact on the strength and stability of family life,” the new draft says.

The letter, now titled “Economic Justice for All: Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy,” urges a stronger commitment to education for the poor and stresses that education can overcome “powerlessness and marginalization.” It reaffirms commitment to Catholic parochial schools--particularly in the inner city--but asserts that Catholics have a “duty as citizens” to support the improvement of public schools.

Third World Debt

The new draft takes a stronger position on the “urgency” of Third World debt and the tendency of most Americans to ignore its effect “on the lives of people already disadvantaged.” In calling on Third World countries to look at the reasons why they have not achieved and sustained economic growth, the revised pastoral emphasizes a need to shift priorities away from arms expenditures and toward human needs.

Although the letter will not be binding on American Catholics, it will serve as a basis for U.S. Catholic teaching on economic matters and thus could have a significant effect on views of the 52 million men, women and children who make up the nation’s largest religious denomination.