Catholic leaders from across the country come to Capitol Hill to offer hope at a time of fear and uncertainty, to safeguard human life and dignity at a time of economic crisis and continuing war, and to bring “charity in truth” to those in power. Our message reflects old values in new times.

• Put the needs of the poor and jobless first in our public priorities and economic recovery efforts.
• Pass health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.
• Fix a broken immigration system by adopting compassionate and comprehensive reform.
• Invest in long-term recovery and development of Haiti.
• Work toward a responsible transition in Afghanistan.
• Reform and strengthen development assistance to promote a better, safer world.

At a time of economic crisis brought about by irresponsible action, we call for new responsibility and solidarity. We support budget, tax and economic policies that assist and protect “the least among us,” offer decent jobs at decent wages for the unemployed, and increase investment in development and assistance for the poorest people on earth. The everyday experience of Catholic parishes, Catholic Charities, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services makes clear the moral and human costs of the economic crisis, the lack of health care, shortsighted international policies, environmental neglect, and global poverty, hunger, and disease.

We have a number of other important concerns beginning with the consistent defense of unborn human life and assistance to pregnant women and their children, and including other priorities: providing welfare, nutrition and housing assistance for Americans that respects their dignity and gives them hope; U.S. leadership for an effective two-state solution that brings a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; peaceful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan; climate change legislation that protects and assists the poor in our own country and around the world who contribute least to the problem but will suffer the most; and a host of other issues touching human life and dignity.

In a spirit of “faithful citizenship,” we come to Capitol Hill to urge action in three specific areas:

 Human Dignity in Economic Recovery: Creating Jobs and Providing Health Care for All

There are 27 million workers unemployed or underemployed. The number of uninsured continues to increase. There are now nearly 50 million people without health care coverage. New jobs need to be created so that workers can provide for themselves and their families through the dignity of work. At the same time, our nation still needs to reform health care and provide an adequate safety net as the economy recovers.

Catholic teaching insists health care is a fundamental human right, an essential protection for human life and dignity. All people should have access to comprehensive, quality and affordable health care. Health care should not depend on their stage of life, where or whether they work, how much they earn, where they live, or where they were born. Despite the new political context, health care reform remains a national priority and moral imperative. Whatever the legislative process, the Catholic bishops continue to urge

Congress and the Administration to adopt legislation that:

1. ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all;
2. retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights;
3. protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have, removes current barriers to access; and
4. restrains costs and applies them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

Human Dignity of Immigrants: Effective, Compassionate and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The nation’s immigration system is broken and needs fundamental reform and repair. Almost 12 million undocumented persons live “in the shadows” in our country, working in an underground economy, fearful that their loved ones will be taken from them by federal enforcement officials. They work in important industries, such as agriculture, construction, and service. Immigrants contribute much to our economy and society, but they do not enjoy the protection of the law.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) calls for humane reform of our immigration system, including:

1. a legalization program for the undocumented, which includes a path to citizenship;
2. the creation of legal avenues for migration, so that migrant workers can enter and work in the U.S. safely and legally;
3. family-based immigration reform, so that families can reunite in a more timely manner;
4. restoration of due process protections for immigrants; and
5. policies to address the root causes of migration, such as international assistance and economic development.

International Assistance and Development: The Big Picture, Haiti, and Afghanistan

U.S. international assistance is an essential tool to promote human life and dignity, reduce poverty, advance solidarity with poorer nations, and enhance national and global security. U.S. foreign aid has improved the lives of many, but it needs to be better integrated into a comprehensive strategy with trade, agriculture, climate change and other policies to advance human development, reduce poverty, and improve national and global security.

1. improve these poverty-focused programs and increase their funding toward the Administration’s goal of doubling international assistance by 2015: the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); development and humanitarian assistance and emergency programs, including Title II Food Aid; the Millennium Challenge Account; debt relief; peacekeeping; and migration and refugee programs.
2. We thank members of Congress for supporting immediate relief efforts for Haiti and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months to eligible Haitians in the U.S.; and urge substantial and sustained longer-term recovery and development, including: sustaining international assistance; broadening trade preferences (e.g. HOPE I and II); ensuring total debt relief; and extending TPS for additional periods as necessary.
3. Support a “responsible transition” in Afghanistan and early withdrawal of U.S. forces consistent with this goal. Strive to reduce further loss of life; address humanitarian and refugee needs; help rebuild the country; protect human rights; support good governance; and promote sustainable development. Restrain the use of military force and ensure that civilians are not targeted, and address the root causes of terrorism rather than relying solely on military force. Whenever possible, direct development assistance through civilian channels and local projects to promote sustainability.

• A call for accountability to the corrupt Afghan government that suffered a recent electoral debacle
• A stronger Afghan security force and government
• A initial planed withdrawal of US forces by 2011
• A commitment against permanent occupation

By now many Catholic and other faith-based organizations here in the United States have openly criticized the strategy for being vague on the mission and for its focus on a military troop surge. Much of this response stems from the Christian position of promoting peace and non-violence, a position that we as Passionist generally support because of the consistent position of Christ himself as a promoter of peace even in the midst of the violence he experienced with His Passion and death. The Catholic social tradition has supported both the Just War and Non-Violence theory with regards to its position on war and peace.  However Catholic social teaching also reminds us that peace is a value only insofar as it related to justice. In his 1972 Message of Peace titled “If you want peace, work for justice” Pope Paul VI said:

And where other unquestionable forms of Justice have been injured or crushed – be they national, social, cultural or economic – could we be sure that the Peace resulting from such a tyrannical process is true Peace? That it is a stable Peace? Or, even if it be stable, that it is a just and human Peace?

Any analysis of the situation in Afghanistan reveals that the situation is very complicated. Unfortunately there are no simple solutions here. Peace is always desirable, but the lens from which we measure peace demands that we also review its ability to promote justice. Paul VI also qualifies what this peace based on justice looks like in this famous speech of his: “A Peace that is not the result of true respect for man is not true Peace. And what do we call this sincere feeling for man? We call it Justice.”

It is for this reason that I will not be so quick in judging the current strategy of President Obama on the merit of his military surge. The situation in Afghanistan is critical and, not being in a position of evaluating the full scope of global security, I cannot presume to know the resources necessary to achieve a just goal and an actual peace.

What I would critique however is the emphasis of President Obama’s strategy objectives. Especially with regards to the “war of ideas” it is necessary to offer a clear vision and related goals for the promotion of a just scenario where the sincere respect for the people of Afghanistan is evident. This vision cannot be to merely “deny al Qaeda a safe haven” and to “reverse the Taliban’s momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government.” This vision must be rooted in a plan to partner with the Afghan community for the political, social and economic development of the nation.  It is not enough that the President touch on the value of promoting mutual respect and a form a collaborative partnership with Afghanistan when he shared his commitment that the United States would not engage in a permanent occupation. This principle should have been the cornerstone of his strategy.

True development should not come from our own economic or military interest but the interest of the Afghan community and their culture. The 3D (Development, Diplomacy, Defense) Security Initiative suggest in their report, “Missing Elements of a Comprehensive Strategy in Afghanistan,” that a greater surge priority should have been for a development surge and as a model they suggest supporting the Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Program (NSP) which are development projects that are run by local, democratically elected, mixed gender Community Development Councils.

The military strategy needed to win the stability of Afghanistan is beyond my scope of analysis. Think tanks like the Brookings Institute or the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have offered some interesting points on this matter. But if our position is based on a priority for justice, solidarity and compassion for a people who are experiencing social and economic suffering then our own position must prioritize a vision to partner with them in achieving a social and economic development that works for them.