Mass. Religious Leaders Bless Minimum Wage Hike

Reading Patch ^ | 3/20/14 | Jason Claffey

[BlatherNaut]

Local religious leaders have given their blessing for an increase to the state's minimum wage.

The Massachusetts Catholic Conference this week released a statement supporting the increase. Lawmakers are considering raising the minimum wage from $8 an hour to $10.50.

"Insufficient compensation for labor violates the dignity of the worker and that worker’s family," the statement reads. "A just wage supports the individual, families, and society as a whole."

The statement was signed by Archbishop Sean O'Malley, Fall River Bishop George Coleman, Worcester Bishop Robert McManus, and Springfield Bishop Timothy McDonnell.

[BlatherNaut]

Cardinal O'Malley and his fellow bishops note in their statement that "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has maintained for some time an unemployment rate of around 6.8%, which is higher than the national average", yet endorse a job-killing minimum wage hike.

[fwdude]

Oh, Mother!

[cuban leaf]

If they cared, they would raise the minimum wage to $100 an hour. Then everyone would be very well off and poverty would be ended once and for all.

I wonder why they don’t do that?

;-)

[MeshugeMikey]

Local religious leaders have given their blessing for an increase to the state’s minimum wage.

there is a clear difference between Worshipping GOD and Worshipping Mammon

I think I know these “folks” allegiances

[txrefugee]

You’d think with the moral climate of MA being what it is, religious leaders would have more important issues to concern them than the minimum wage.

[ladyjane]

These churches love to poke their noses into politics.

They should have their tax exempt status revoked.

[headstamp 2]

How about the church making up the difference for employers then.

[winner3000]

If they just knew how destructive the minimum wage is for the most vulnerable unskilled laborers and those who are new to the labor force. The problem is that they don’t seek advice from economists on the right. Since everyone who they speak to is on the left, they are left with a false sense of certainty about their position.

[ecomcon]

And why not? It’s not their money.

[ravenwolf]

The bigger the wage hikes the more it costs to run a business, the more the consumers have to pay for their necessities.

Not to mention that many business,s will not do any new hiring until they absolutely have to.

[ravenwolf]

I wonder why they don’t do that?

---

Right, you would think any one could catch on to that.

[from occupied ga]

With the exception of sex and reproduction, the USCCB’s philosophy as stated on their web site reads like the platform of the liberal wing of the Democratic party. Gun control - all for it. Wealth redistribution - all for it. Global warming - when you strip out all the sanctimonious bullsh!t they believe it’s man caused. Socialized medicine - Except for abortions and birth control all for it. ETC.

[jonno]

Insufficient effort made to educate one’s self and/or children (sloth), coupled with an expectation of free handouts (abuse of charity) is foolishness at best, a mortal sin at worst...

[jonno]

These churches love to poke their noses into politics.

Because, like dear leader, many in the clergy have not had to hold down a paying job, or make payroll.

They exist in a vacuum, separated from the real world - like so many faculty lounge dilettantes...

[lastchance]

Spoken like people who have never had to look for work in a tight job market while lacking even the most basic of skills and having received only a mockery of an education.

[JoeFromSidney]

There are two topics Church leaders should be forbidden to speak on: economics and warfare. On the first, "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not envy thy neighbor's goods" are sufficient. Beyond that, they are out of their depth. On the second, the Just War Doctrine is sufficient. It is rooted in the Bible: St. Paul's comments about the law written on the hearts of men. Again, when they go beyond that, they are out of their depth. They should realize their limits.

[from occupied ga]

Because, like dear leader, many in the clergy have not had to hold down a paying job, or make payroll.

Too true. They lack the perspective that actually working for a living and feeling the pressure of supporting a family brings to their grandiose wealth redistribution schemes.

[from occupied ga]

The problem is that they don’t seek advice from economists on the right.

They're so comfortable in their economic ignorance and smugly arrogant in the absolute knowledge that their socialistic mindset is correct they wouldn't believe it anyway. It isn't as if the facts are hidden. None so blind as those who will not see.