Never have I been more disappointed in our government leaders than I am today.

Year after year, government agencies contract with Catholic Charities and other non-profit human service providers to care for the state’s poor and vulnerable residents.

We take this responsibility seriously and we do a good job—protecting abused children, providing housing for homeless families, delivering hot meals to disabled seniors, and finding jobs for those moving from welfare to work.

The work that we do out of our Gospel mission to love and care for the poor improves society, and should receive the whole-hearted support of government leaders.

Yet, each year when we ask for a “cost-of-doing-business adjustment” to cover the rising costs of health care, salaries, facilities, heating and transportation—increases that every business and every consumer faces–we are met with a cold shoulder.

In a stunning decision by the Illinois legislature, Catholic Charities and other social service providers received what amounted to a mere half-percent increase for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002. Touted by lawmakers as a “2 percent” increase, it does not become effective until April 1, 2002.

We have been told that a slowing economy and declining tax revenues prevented our receiving the 4 percent increase sought by Cardinal George and other religious leaders. Nevertheless, the General Assembly managed to pass a $53 billion budget May 31—the largest state budget in history. This budget is laden with money for special projects favored by Gov. Ryan and Illinois legislators.

But apparently, despite my many meetings with state legislators, the children, elderly, disabled and poor of our state do not have enough political influence to bring their critical needs to the top of the priority list.

As a result of this abysmal state budget and shortfalls in our contracts with the City of Chicago, Catholic Charities was forced on July 1 to reduce the agency’s work force by 68 full- and part-time positions, the largest layoff in our history.

We had hoped that we could balance our budget without affecting our employees or our clients. Unfortunately, we were forced to take the painful step of making staff reductions and limiting some services.

These cutbacks come at a time when a weakening economy will increase demand for our services. More than ever, we need your help to minimize the impact of these reductions by praying for the staff and clients of Catholic Charities, providing financial support or volunteering in one of our programs.

We also need your support to advocate for the poor and vulnerable by contacting the governor and your state legislators. Please tell them to put needy children, families and elderly first by raising the cost-of-doing-business adjustment for human service providers.

With the help of every concerned citizen, we continue to have hope that our faithful efforts on behalf of those most in need will bear fruit.



Boland is administrator of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of
Chicago.