JUNEAU, Alaska (CNS) -- The $444 million cut from Alaska's $8.3-billion state operating budget that took effect July 1 is having "a direct negative impact on the most poor and vulnerable in our state," said Alaska's Catholic bishops.
Saying the "first principle of Catholic social teaching is to support the life and dignity of the human person," the bishops in a July 26 statement said Catholic social services agencies, "along with other faith-based denominations and private nonprofits, can barely keep up with the current needs of people who live on the margins."
In the statement, titled "In Defense of the Poor and Vulnerable," they said that as the state's Catholic bishops, "we are called to advocate and defend or speak against government policies and programs that directly affect the lives and dignity of the poor and vulnerable."
"We call upon all our elected officials to restore funds to agencies and services that provide for the needs of our children, our elders, the poor, the vulnerable and the homeless," they said.
"We ask Alaskans to reach out and contact their elected officials in support of restoring funds for services to the poor and vulnerable in our state," they added.
"Where will these moms and their children go?"
The statement was signed by Bishop Andrew E. Bellisario of Juneau, which is the state capital; Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of Fairbanks; and retired Archbishop Roger L. Swietz of Anchorage.
"Across Alaska, thousands of low-income families now face new struggles through funding cuts to agencies that operate food pantries, shelter programs, and early childhood education," the bishops said. "The millions of dollars cut statewide to homeless services will force the most vulnerable onto the streets. Cuts to senior housing grants and to the senior benefits program adversely affect our elders."
Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy made the budget cuts through line-item vetoes, telling reporters earlier this year sacrifices were needed to resolve an expected deficit of $1.6 billion for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. AP quoted him as saying: "This budget is going to impact all Alaskans."
Much of the funding was cut for food banks, senior citizens and the public university system, which had its budget cut by 41%. Medicaid reductions mean health care providers also will receive less revenue, so workers are expected to be laid off.
In their statement, the bishops gave examples of how budget cuts for social services will be felt, citing how Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage will be forced to reduce its capacity from 240 beds to 100.
"Where will the other 140-plus homeless go?" they asked. "The shelter has now closed during the day to cut costs, forcing more people to wander the streets."
They pointed to the impact on Clare House, also in Anchorage, which provides shelter to 90 at-risk women with children and to expectant mothers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"(It) will be forced to reduce services to nighttime only. Where will these moms and their children go?" the bishops asked. "Currently the shelter also provides day care for their children allowing these women to work."
"We must not forget the many dedicated employees and volunteers working at all our social service agencies throughout Alaska," the bishops continued. "They are an important part of the solution in assisting people to move out of poverty.
"We need to support these dedicated servants of the poor, not penalize them by laying them off from their jobs. After all, they work on our behalf," they said. "They assist those who are clinging to the last rung of the ladder in our society, many of whom, without assistance, have only to look forward to destitution and despair."
The Alaska bishops pledged to "continue to do our part to fund our agencies as best we can with our resources, our time and our talent, together with all those willing to support us."
"We will continue to collaborate with our local and state governments because we realize it is all of us, working together, who contribute to the solution of taking care of the most vulnerable in our state," they added.
Their words are boilerplate romanticism. If they read the Bible ( him who does not work, neither shall he eat..2 Thess.3:10)...and they had balance to their words and held some not all poor responsible for conquering the bottle or the oxy or the hanging out then gov. leaders would have more of a reason to listen. Since the advent of mass media, clergy leaders have been doing the romanticism schtick for image...that’s how we got three Popes on the death penalty issue alledging that prisons are safe all over. Google Brazil prison riot today...the largest Catholic country. End romanticism...bring back masculine honesty.
William Bannon---
What kind of work would you recommend for children, the elderly, and the infirmed?
Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians 3:10 under unique circumstances. Many Thessalonians believed that the coming of Christ was imminent so they saw no reason to work or build their community. Many stopped working. This idleness led to gossip, interference with others, disputes, and the beginning of the breakdown of the community.
Paul wanted the Thessalonians to mind their own business and to work to bring the community together. The issue of work and food was actually a secondary issue here. Paul warned them not to take advantage of the Christian obligation to feed the hungry.
Paul’s comments to the Thessalonians were exceptional in a distinctive situation. People seize on Paul’s quote to avoid performing their Christian obligations. Nothing illustrated this better than at a Congressional hearing when some Republican Congressmen refused to provide an increase in much needed food stamps as testified to by many large charities, including Catholic Charities. One of the Congressmen even justified his no vote by quoting Thessalonians about no work and no food. Yet these same Congressmen were receiving huge farm subsidies from the government.
Jesus’ teaching on these issues are very clear as he taught us over and over again to feed the hungry and to help the poor. Thessalonians is not permission to ignore the Gospel of Christ and the overall themes of the Christian Scriptures.
William Bannon---
BTW, what is masculine honesty? I thought honesty is honesty. I was unaware that honesty has a gender.