Recently, Brother Lawrence Hayes, OFM, Provincial Minister of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province sent a letter to all brother friars and Franciscan-hearted friends.  He finds a reflection written by Most Reverand John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, N.M., for America Magazine (June 3, 2025) as timely and well-argued. We are asked to read Archbishop Wester’s article, “Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ betrays the poor. The church must oppose it.”, not with a partisan lens (Republican vs. Democrat) but rather from the perspective of Catholic Teaching, particularly the social teaching doctrine of the church.  

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Archbishop Wester writes:  
“The church and the bishops of the United States should lead the way in speaking against this bill and calling on Catholics to work for its defeat. Because of its overall effects on those who are most in need, passing this budget would be a moral failure for American society. Unless the church opposes it in the clearest possible terms, we will squander the credibility of our witness to the Gospel.”

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At the Casa, we try to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis, who saw Christ in every person, especially those most in need. We are asked to stand with the vulnerable. The Franciscan Action Network (FAN), a collective of Franciscan voices that seeks to address societal concerns, suggests that “budgets are moral documents that reflect our values and our commitment to the common good.” When we choose to prioritize the needs of one segment of society over another, we cannot “betray the Gospel call to love our neighbor and to care for ‘the least of these.’” 

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Describing what will happen if this bill passes, one example Archbishop Wester cites is relevant to the outreach work of the Casa’s Hunger Action Ministry: 
“A reduction in spending for food assistance to the nation’s poorest by an estimated $300 billion over 10 years, will adversely impact 40 million low-income persons, including 16 million children. As many as 5.4 million per year could lose food assistance from the proposed budget cuts.”

He then explains the “historic cruelty” of this bill and how it violates principles of Catholic teaching. He notes the human costs: millions falling into poverty and relying on underfunded churches and private charities for assistance; more people living without health care, traumatized families and undernourished children. 

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What to do?

The Senate current deadline to pass this budget reconciliation bill is July 4.  Brother Hayes suggests two ways to respond:

1.    Franciscans Ask for a Moral Budget!  

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2.    US Catholic Bishops addresses harmful provisions in the Reconciliation Bill. Call on Your Senators to Address Unjust Immigration Provisions in the Reconciliation Bill. Ask your senators to remain consistent in protecting human life and dignity and promoting the common good.