Editorial

State challenges: Continue to help vulnerable despite economic problems

Dealing with a severe state deficit tops the list of challenges facing the Wisconsin Legislature. Already Governor Jim Doyle and legislators are attempting to hammer out solutions to the state's fiscal woes.

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Despite the economic problems, our state must continue to meet the needs of all its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable: the poor, sick, elderly, disabled, and children. Even in a good economy, they need our help. But in a poor economy, they hurt even more and their needs are greater.

Helping the poor. The Catholic Church - following the teachings of Jesus Christ - has always had a special empathy with the poor. Some call it a "special option for the poor." How we treat the least of our brothers, we learn, is how we treat Christ.

Translating Catholic teaching into public policies is not always easy or comfortable. Some might find it downright revolutionary!

Handy guide. But the church does provide us with guidance as we walk through the maze of the political landscape. For those interested in becoming more informed and/or involved in the legislative process, this week's Catholic Herald offers a handy guide: an eight-page Capitol Report [print edition only] developed by the staffs of the five Wisconsin diocesan newspapers in cooperation with the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.

I encourage our readers to pull out this supplement and save it for reference. It includes information on important issues facing the legislature in such areas as respect for life, education, human services, health care, criminal justice, rural life, and state/local relationships. The section also has a directory of state legislators along with contact information.

Catholics at the Capitol. The supplement also talks about the work of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) and its staff. The WCC is the public policy arm of the state's Catholic bishops and works in the legislative and public policy arenas.

The WCC invites Catholics from around the state to attend "Catholics at the Capitol" on Tuesday, April 29. It's a day of education and a chance to advocate for social justice and human dignity. Fr. Bryan Hehir, president of Catholic Charities USA, will give the keynote address. He will focus on ways the church serves as a voice for justice, even in trying times. (See the Capitol Report for registration details.)

As Wisconsin faces economic challenges, we must not lose sight of our responsibilities to help the most vulnerable persons in our society. I encourage concerned citizens to educate themselves about the issues, get involved in the debates, and help find solutions. Begin by reading the Capitol Report this week.

Mary C. Uhler, editor