The financial resources of several dioceses rivaled or exceeded those available to publicly traded companies like Shake Shack and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, whose early participation in the program triggered outrage. Federal officials responded by emphasizing the money was intended for those who lacked the cushion that cash and other liquidity provide. Many corporations returned the funds.
Overall, the nation s nearly 200 dioceses, where bishops and cardinals govern, and other Catholic institutions received at least $3 billion. That makes the Roman Catholic Church perhaps the biggest beneficiary of the paycheck program, according to AP s analysis of data the U.S. Small Business Administration released following a public-records lawsuit by news organizations. The agency for months had shared only partial information, making a more precise analysis impossible.
24 Feb 2021
The U.S. Bishops’ Conference (USCCB) has again voiced its opposition to the Equality Act, warning it would “discriminate against people of faith” and “inflict numerous legal and social harms on Americans.”
In a strongly worded letter to the U.S. Congress, the bishops assert the Equality Act would impose “novel and divisive viewpoints regarding ‘gender’ on individuals and organizations” while “dismissing sexual difference and falsely presenting ‘gender’ as only a social construct.”
The Feb. 23 letter, signed by five leaders of the USCCB, notes sex and gender “can be distinguished but not separated,” while denouncing underlying “ideologies that attempt to sunder what are inseparable aspects of reality.”
The faith-based office, founded under President George W. Bush, evolved over the past two decades, but it became moribund under President Donald Trump, who preferred to talk only with evangelical leaders who supported him.
Biden signals willingness to dialogue with bishops and other faith leaders
Melissa Rogers, restored to the White House faith partnerships office, listens to all sides of a dispute. Melissa Rogers. Courtesy photo
(RNS) In restoring the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on Sunday (Feb. 14), President Joe Biden sent a Valentine’s message to Catholic bishops and other faith leaders, signaling his openness to a dialogue with them on important public policy issues.
This attitude will not be popular with many in the president’s base, and it may also be a fool’s errand if the bishops remain as intransigent as they’ve shown themselves to be in the early going.
An AP investigation has found that scores of Roman Catholic dioceses in the U.S. had more than $10 billion in cash and other readily available funds when they received at least $1.5 billion from the federal government's small business relief program.