From Father Tony:

This Monday marks the official end of the Summer with Labor Day celebrations. Each year the Bishops of the United States issue Statement regarding Labor. Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is the author of this year’s statement. Bishop Murphy’s reflection is inspired by the late Msgr. George Higgins, commonly known as the “labor priest” who worked for more than half a century for workers’ rights as a bridge between the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the labor movement. Bishop Murphy describes how Msgr. Higgins might address current economic stresses such as the mortgage foreclosure crisis and high gas prices, writing, “Above all, Msgr. Higgins would be concerned about the worker, the person, and the family whose lives are affected by a host of factors. Bishop Murphy reminds Catholics to use Catholic social and moral teaching to assess issues of economic justice, human life and dignity as they prepare to vote in November, and he cites the emphasis in “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” on the need to form a correct conscience in decision-making that is based on the truth of the human person and human society.” I encourage you to read the statement.