Detroit — The bishops of Michigan last week made it clear to Governor Rick Snyder and the state’s legislative leaders that a state budget that would eliminate aid for the needy and unemployed is one that falls short of moral responsibilities.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron and the state’s six other diocesan bishops co-signed a letter on April 11 asking the elected officials to “carry out your responsibilities with greater attention to the needs of the poor, the unemployed and other vulnerable persons who make up a large part of the citizens of Michigan.”

The bishops went on to acknowledge the difficult state of Michigan’s economy, and to offer the Catholic Church’s help — through her various social service programs — in trying to meet the needs of Michigan’s poor and vulnerable citizens.

The bishops’ letter lent the Church’s voice to a chorus of others who made known their disapproval of proposed state budgets that would cut deeply into social service programs and aid for the unemployed. Thousands rallied in Lansing last week to protest those cuts and other cuts and taxes associated with the governor’s proposed state budget.

“Various policy proposals addressed in committee and others that have been put forward, if enacted, would adversely impact the state’s destitute and working poor population and will likely create additional hardships for those for whom we are collectively responsible — you as elected leaders, and we, the spiritual leaders, of the people of this state,” the bishops’ letter stated.

Specifically, the bishops pointed out three areas of major concern.

The first is a proposed elimination of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax credit specifically for the working poor. Through the Michigan Catholic Conference, the Church’s public policy arm in the state, the bishops note that a state EITC “does more to lift working families and their children out of poverty than any other policy.”

The second area of concern the bishops pointed out was proposed limits to the family independence program. Limiting assistance to 48 months through this program — as has been proposed — would immediately take away needed aid from more than 12,000 families, the bishops indicated.

Lastly, the bishops voiced concern over efforts to disallow those with past drug-related crimes from receiving state assistance.

The bishops acknowledge that there are more areas of concern, but said they were pointing out “three areas where the state can uphold its responsibility to maintain policies that serve ‘the least of these.’”

Offering their assistance to the elected officials, the bishops said they “are prepared to be a part of the solution.”

“For decades the Catholic Church has operated with professionalism and sound ethical principles a vast and effective network of social services,” the letter said. “With statutory changes these agencies, which exist with a mandate to uphold the dignity of every human person, can be better equipped to accept additional foster care, adoption and other social services — thereby reducing the state’s responsibility and helping to eliminate associated costs.”

On a related note, the Michigan Catholic Conference voiced disapproval on April 13 for a House subcommittee vote that would cut a children’s clothing allowance from $12.8 million annually to $2.8 million annually, and scale back a disability assistance program from $269 to $175 per month.

Tom Hickson, the conference’s vice president for public policy, said in a statement that the cuts were “unacceptable and would only create greater hardships for the poor and disadvantaged children and disabled persons across the state … Both of these policies were created in the 1990s to offer necessary assistance to the most vulnerable and those incapable of working when Governor John Engler reformed the General Assistance program.”