Proposed tax legislation under consideration in Congress needs many changes to avoid further harming the poor, the U.S. bishops have said.
“Doubling the standard deduction will help some of those in poverty to avoid tax liability, and this is a positive good contained in the bill,” they said. “However, as written, this proposal appears to be the first federal income tax modification in American history that will raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy. This is simply unconscionable.”
The bishops’ Nov. 9 letter to Members of Congress concerned the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. It was signed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, who chairs the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, who chairs the Committee on International Justice and Peace; and Bishop George V. Murry, S.J. of Youngstown, who chairs the Committee on Catholic Education.
Citing the non-partisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, the bishops said that under the current version of the bill households with income between $20,000 and $40,000 per year would see tax increases in 2023, 2025, and 2027. In 2025, taxes will increase on most taxpayers earning between $10,000 and $20,000.
“At the same time, significant tax breaks to the very wealthy – including millionaires and billionaires – are projected for each year,” the bishops’ letter continued.
They found positive aspects of the bill in areas of education and child tax credits.They warned the budget deficit could be used as an excuse to limit or end “programs that help those in need, programs which are investments to help pull struggling families out of poverty.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
It is sad that this letter will go mostly unread. Political progressives won’t pay attention to any religious “authority” no matter what they say. Religious conservatives will hear about the letter but will dismiss the message because it demands too much that’s outside their political worldview.
Most people don’t fall into either of those groups. But you are right. Most people, most Catholics won’t read the letter if they even hear about it. People read headlines.
The link to the letter is at the bottom of this page.
https://www.usccb.org/news/2017/17-218.cfm
I read the letter. I didn’t know there were all these different tax cuts. Really, I think people want a simpler tax system. Doubling the standard deduction seems like a good place to start. But they are saying that it won’t help enough to make up for the deductions they are getting rid of.
Things should be simple and sensible.
Yes Bishops continue the failed welfare state and take more money from people who have earned it. You are nothing more the bolsheviks in miters
Thank you! It took only 25 minutes for you to confirm the second part of the statement I posted at 1:34. The first part of my statement probably won’t get such confirmation because political progressives don’t visit cal-catholic.
Well aren’t you the smug one.
Bohemond, you may be on to something. You earned the money and you should be able to keep it, and not redistribute it to those less lucky. Oh! Wait a minute. Something doesn’t sound right here. What does the Bible say? 1) your hard earned money is to be shared with the less fortunate, 2) give ten percent of after tax money to the church, 3) it’s not really your money, it’s just on loan, 4) because you were saved by the cross, you are expected to do good work with the poor, and we could go on. No, we shouldn’t give all our money to the government to distribute, but one function of the government is to collect taxes and use it to tend to the poor.
“your hard earned money is to be shared with the less fortunate” Bob One means give to government they know whats best.
“it’s not really your money, it’s just on loan”from Bob One’s collectivist mindset all glory and money to state
” because you were saved by the cross, you are expected to do good work with the poor” Bob One states that we should all be social workers in order to get to heaven
This is a pathetic statement coming from men who pay no taxes, live in paid for residences, collect handsome stipends, and yet think more money should go to the black hole of government
All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Isaiah 55:1 By the way, I pay taxes, I paid for my house, cars, etc. I put my kids through college. I don’t feel like I’m sponging off the dole. Life has changed, its not the same as back in the 40s & 50s. We no longer have the institutions that took care of those with mental problems, the basic skill jobs of the old fashioned factories, or the need for many jobs that supported our middle class. Its hard out there. Most people are one paycheck away from being on the street. We need to be able to help them.
Bob One: All the Hail the Divine Government comply and obey…..
What’s the matter Bob One $5 Trillion welfare state is not big enough for you