Church Teaching Solidarity is found in a commitment to the good of one’s neighbour. The good of one is the good of all, and the other is as important as the self. Injustice done to another is an injustice that affects everyone. – 193, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Support for the Marginalized and the Vulnerable
Some people are born into economically stable families, receive a fine education, grow up well nourished, or naturally possess great talent. They will certainly not need a proactive state; they need only claim their freedom. Yet the same rule clearly does not apply to a disabled person, to someone born in dire poverty, to those lacking a good education and with little access to adequate health care. If a society is governed primarily by the criteria of market freedom and efficiency, there is no place for such persons, and fraternity will remain just another vague ideal. Pope Francis – Fratelli tutti, 109
So many needy brothers and sisters are waiting for help, so many who are oppressed are waiting for justice, so many who are unemployed are waiting for a job, so many peoples are waiting for respect. How can it be that even today there are still people dying of hunger? Condemned to illiteracy? Lacking the most basic medical care? Without a roof over their head? The scenario of poverty can extend indefinitely, if in addition to its traditional forms we think of its newer patterns. These new patterns often affect financially affluent sectors and groups which are nevertheless threatened by despair at the lack of meaning in their lives, by drug addiction, by fear of abandonment in old age or sickness, by marginalization or social discrimination… –5 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Disabilities, Mental Health & Addictions
Persons with disabilities are fully human subjects, with rights and duties: “in spite of the limitations and sufferings affecting their bodies and faculties, they point up more clearly the dignity and greatness of man.” Persons with disabilities are to be helped to participate in every dimension of family and social life at every level accessible to them and according to their possibilities… They too need to love and to be loved, they need tenderness, closeness and intimacy according to their capacities. – 148, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Indigenous Peoples & Reconciliation
The relationship of Indigenous peoples to their lands and resources deserves particular attention, since it is a fundamental expression of their identity. These peoples offer an example of a life lived in harmony with the environment that they have come to know well and to preserve. Their extraordinary experience, which is an irreplaceable resource for all humanity, runs the risk of being lost together with the environment from which they originate. – 471, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
The Canadian Catholic Church supports the work of the Truth and Reconciliation commission. We are called to support thriving Indigenous communities in Canada, rooted in their unique cultures and traditions.
Rural Communities
Looking after the common good means making use of the new opportunities for the redistribution of wealth to the benefit of the underprivileged that until now have been excluded or cast to the sidelines of social and economic progress. Too often, social services and infrastructure development suffer from neglect in rural areas. – 299, 300, 363, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Agricultural labour merits special attention… considering the many problems that need to be met in the context of an ever more globalized economy as well as its growing significance in safeguarding the natural environment. Radical and urgent changes are therefore needed in order to restore to agriculture — and to rural people — their just value as the basis for a healthy economy… – 363, 299 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
Refugees & Newcomers
Ideally, unnecessary migration ought to be avoided; this entails creating in countries of origin the conditions needed for a dignified life and integral development. Yet until substantial progress is made in achieving this goal, we are obliged to respect the right of all individuals to find a place that meets their basic needs and those of their families, and where they can find personal fulfilment. Our response to the arrival of migrating persons can be summarized by four words: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. – Pope Francis, Fratelli tutti, 129
In the modern world, where there are still grave inequalities between rich countries and poor countries, and where advances in communications quickly reduce distances, the immigration of people looking for a better life is on the increase. These people come from less privileged areas of the earth and their arrival in developed countries is often perceived as a threat to the high levels of well-being achieved thanks to decades of economic growth. In most cases, however, immigrants fill a labour need which would otherwise remain unfilled… Institutions in host countries must keep careful watch to prevent the spread of the temptation to exploit foreign labourers, denying them the same rights enjoyed by nationals, rights that are to be guaranteed to all without discrimination. – 297, 298, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
We are called to welcome immigrants and refugees with generosity and good will, as if they were Jesus Christ himself. Matthew, Chapter 25
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” 23 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, Lev. 19:33-34)
Democratic Party The Marginalized & Vulnerable
The party states that one in four American adults lives with a disability.
The party advocates:
– aggressive enforcement of federal mental health and substance abuse parity laws, to prevent unlawful discrimination by health insurers and care providers
– hiring of more mental health and addictions professionals, especially in rural areas, and expanding access through Medicaid
– expanded support for incarcerated persons suffering mental health or addiction issues
– strict enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act
– a holistic approach to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and increasing SSI benefits for millions of Americans, eliminating waiting periods for SSDI
– increases federal funding to expand accessible transportation and accessible, integrated, and affordable housing.
Mental Health & Addictions
The party advocates:
– ending over-prescribing of pain medicines
– expanded mental health support for incarcerated persons
– eliminating incarceration for drug use alone and increasing harm reduction interventions and treatment diversion programs
Native American & Tribal Peoples
The party advocates:
– honoring and strengthening US trust obligations to Tribal Nations consistent with US laws and treaties
– working with Tribal Nations on a nation-to-nation basis to empower Indigenous peoples, increase economic development in Tribal Nations, and protect Tribal lands and assets
– a surge in funding to the Indian Health Service to fight COVID, and to help economic recovery
– restorative justice to address boarding school trauma, and increased funding for the Bureau of Indian Education
– substantial funding increases to address Tribal housing needs
– promotion of Indigenous culture and languages
– pursuing environmental and climate justice, including for Indigenous peoples, and will invest in clean water and wastewater infrastructure
– investing in sustainable and regenerative agriculture
– mandatory full funding for the Indian Health Service
– increasing public investment in Tribal broadband infrastructure
Rural Communities
The party advocates:
– doubled investments in community and rural health centers, and expanded mobile health units
– expanding USDA ownership and loan programs, to encourage new and beginning farmers, ranchers, and foresters, including particularly farmers of color
– limiting foreign ownership of farms, to protect families and food security
– preventing states from blocking municipal or co-op, publicly-owned broadband internet; Increase federal support for municipal broadband
– expansion of local and regional markets for family farmers and ranchers
– zero-emissions agriculture industry
– investment in sustainable, low-carbon and organic agriculture
– enforce labor and environmental protections for farm workers
– 10-20-30 funding, to provide 10% of federal funding to communities in which at least 20% of population has lived beneath the poverty line for 30 years or more
Refugees & Newcomers
The party states that immigrants are essential to our society and our economy, that they enrich American culture, grow the nation’s food, care for our loved ones, serve in our armed forces, and provide critical health care services.
The party advocates:
– rescinding the state of emergency declared at the US-Mexico border
– termination of discriminatory travel and immigration bans, and corresponding legislation
– expansion and streamlining of protections for Dreamers and parents of American citizen children
– permitting asylum for victims of gang and domestic violence, as well as LGBTQ+ people who are safe in their home countries
– providing roadmaps to citizenship for millions of undocumented workers, caregivers, students, and children
– expansion of annual visa caps for victims of human trafficking
– end workplace and community immigration raids
Green Party Supporting the Marginalized
The Disabled
The party states that:
– the physically and mentally challenged are people who are differently abled from the majority, but who are nevertheless able to live independently
– the mentally ill are people with serious mental problems who often need social support networks
– physically and mentally challenged people have the right to live independently in their communities
– the mentally ill also have the right to live independently, circumscribed only by the limitations of their illness
– these people are their own best advocates in securing their rights and for living in the social and economic mainstream
– current Medicaid policy forces many challenged people to live in costly state-funded institutions, excluding and alienating them from society and the workforce, and denying them the chance to use their potentials
– as a result of diminishing funds for care for the growing number of the mentally ill often result in their homelessness, vagrancy and dependence on short-term crisis facilities, and increases the necessity of placing them in long-term, locked facilities
The party advocates:
– full enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act to enable all people with disabilities to achieve independence and function at the highest possible level
– Government assurance that children with disabilities are provided with the same educational opportunities as those without disabilities
– increased rehabilitation funding so that persons with disabilities can pursue education and training to reach their highest potential
– participation by the differently abled in allocation decisions of state rehabilitation department fund
– ratification of the United Nations Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities as well as the Optional Protocol
– funding for in-home support services to allow the differently abled to hire personal care attendants while remaining at home
– adequate funding to support community-based programs that provide out-patient medical services, case management services and counseling programs
– making it easier for the chronically mentally ill to apply for and receive Supplemental Security Income
– mainstreaming the differently-abled
– increased teacher training in regard to the needs of differently abled students
– discouragement of stereotyping of the mentally and physically challenged by the entertainment industry and the media
– funding for programs to increase public sensitivity to the needs of the mentally ill and differently abled.
Indigenous Peoples
The party states that:
– it has great respect for Native American cultures, especially their deference for community and the Earth
– it recognizes both the sovereignty of Native American tribal governments and the Federal Government’s trust obligation to Native American people. Native American nations are just that — nations — and should be treated in like fashion, with the special circumstance that they are located within the United States
– the federal government is obligated to deal in good faith with Native Americans; honor its treaty obligations; adequately fund programs for the betterment of tribal governments and their people; affirm the religious rights of Native Americans in ceremonies (American Indian Religious Freedom Act); provide funds for innovative economic development initiatives, education and public health programs; and respect land, water and mineral rights within the borders of reservations and traditional lands
The party advocates:
– efforts to broadly reform the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make this vast agency more responsible and more responsive to tribal governments
– just settlement of the claims of the thousands of Native American uranium miners who have suffered and died from radiation exposure, and condemns the stance of secrecy taken by the Atomic Energy Commission during this era and its subsequent claim of government immunity, taken knowingly and immorally at the expense of Native people
– because Native American land and treaty rights often stand as the front line against government and multinational corporate attempts to plunder energy, mineral, timber, fish, and game resources; pollute water, air, and land in the service of the military; expand economically; and consume natural resources, the party advocates legal, political, and grassroots efforts by, and on behalf of, Native Americans to protect their traditions, rights, livelihoods, and sacred spaces
– support for the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, their ways of life, and all other rights of free peoples
– adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN, actively supported by the federal government and by governments worldwide
Local & Rural Communities
The party states that:
– successful local communities nurture everyone of all ages, generate good jobs and housing, and provide public services; creating cities and towns that educate everyone, encourage recreation, and preserve natural and cultural resources; building local governments that protect people from environmental hazards and crime; and motivating citizens to participate in making decisions
The party advocates:
– reforms that give communities more control over their own local economies
– economic decentralization, including community-based economics whose aim is local prosperity and self-sufficiency
– protecting local businesses from the predatory pricing practices of chain and “big box” stores
– incentives for co-operative enterprises, such as consumer co-ops, workers’ co-operatives, credit unions and other institutions that help communities develop economic projects
– allowing municipalities to approve or disapprove large economic projects case-by-case based on environmental impacts, local ownership, community reinvestment, wage levels, and working conditions
– allowing communities to set environmental, consumer, human rights, labor, health and safety standards higher than federal or state minimums
– investment in the commons: rebuild infrastructure; improve mass transit
– support for local living wage laws
– establishing local currencies such as Time Dollars, Ithaca Hours and BerkShares, to strengthen local economies
– place of origin labeling
– corporate “good character” laws, requiring corporations, when applying for a permit, to disclose all violations of law they have committed, and empowering officials to deny permits based on such information
Immigration & Newcomers
The party states that:
– the current controversial influx of immigrants in this country has been largely due to unfair US trade policies. If it were economically possible to provide for their families many would choose to remain in their native countries
– any immigration policy should be seen a way to address all people’s humanitarian needs as we undo the damage to local communities and chart a course toward sustainable local economies
– it stands firmly for social justice for all those living in this country regardless of their immigration status
– it accepts as a goal a world in which persons can freely choose to live in and work in any county he or she desires, while recognizing that this would be impractical without reciprocity between nations
– it acknowledges the rights of countries to know the identity of persons seeking to enter, and to limit who can come in to protect public safety
– the U.S. needs a complete overhaul of its immigration laws
– millions of people are living and working in the U.S. with no legal status, making them subject to extreme exploitation and abuse; and immigration raids are terrorizing the immigrant community and breaking up families
– immigration issues must be considered from an international standpoint, taking into account international labor and environmental standards, and human rights
The party advocates:
– recognition that there cannot be any true solutions to the conflicts created by immigration until we are able to organize globally to overcome the power of multinational corporations, which seek to drive down workers’ living standards everywhere. International cooperation and solidarity among labor organizations are essential to combat this trend.
– undocumented immigrants who are already residing and working in the United States, and their families, should be granted a legal status which includes the chance to become U.S. citizens. Persons should be excluded from this process only if they present a clear and present danger to other members of our society
– any such path to citizenship should include a recognition of past, uncredited payments into the Social Security System
– permanent border passes to all citizens of Mexico and United States whose identity can be traced and verified
– easily-attainable work permits for citizens of Mexico and United States
– all persons fleeing political, racial, religious, or other types of persecution must be welcomed and given permanent resident status, with particular attention being given to those minorities who are political exiles and refugees and those whose lives would be at risk if asylum is not granted
– family reunification must be a priority in accepting applications for permanent residency
– permanent residency should not be denied based on political views, racial or national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or any other arbitrary basis
Libertarian Party The party states that its core belief is “respect for the life, liberty and property rights of each individual. This means that no one may initiate force against another, as that violates those natural rights. While many claim adherence to this principle, only libertarians apply the non-aggression axiom to the state.”
The party has published no official statement concerning its positions regarding:
– Supporting the marginalized or vulnerable
– Relations with Indigenous Americans
– Rural communities
– Immigration and newcomers
Republican Party The Marginalized & Vulnerable
Disabilities
The party advocates:
– guaranteeing access to education and tools necessary to compete in the mainstream of society
– promoting inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Small Business Administration’s certification program for government contracts
– banning non-consensual care for people with disabilities, including newborns, elderly, the infirm
– restoration of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ban on the use of controlled substances for physician-assisted suicide
Native American & Territorial Peoples
The party states that the federal government has a unique government-to government relationship with and trust responsibility for Indian Tribal Governments, American Indians, and Alaska Natives, and that these obligations have not been sufficiently honored; that ineffective federal programs deprive American Indians of the services they need, and long-term failures threaten to undermine tribal sovereignty itself
The party acknowledges the participation of territorial inhabitants, and seeks to promote its growth
Native Americans
The party advocates:
– economic self-sufficiency for Indians
– rather than one-size-fits-all approaches to tribal relations, expansion of local autonomy where tribal governments seek it, and encouragement of economic opportunities, top-flight education, modernization of the Indian Health Service, and building of essential infrastructure in cooperation with tribes
– equitable participation in federal programs to preserve culture and language
Territorial Peoples
The party advocates:
– infusions of private venture capital for territorial investment
– development of local energy options
– consideration of territorial economic stability in trade agreements with other Pacific nations
– exemptions from harmful economic laws, like minimum wage
– appointment of a commonwealth and territories committee to provide holistic review of federal regulation
– the right of Puerto Rico to be admitted as sovereign state
Rural Communities
The party advocates universal broadband connectivity, particularly through public-private partnerships
Refugees & Newcomers
The party states that:
– it is the natural home for those who come in search of freedom and justice
– the greatest asset of the American economy is the American worker
– it believes that the immigration system must protect American working families and their wages, for citizens and legal immigrants alike
The party advocates:
– building of the wall along the US-Mexico border and protecting all points of entry from illegal immigration
– enforcement requirements for workplace verification of employee status, through the E-verify program
– use of the SAVE program to ensure that no public funds are given to illegal aliens
– increased penalties for repeat immigration offenders
– ending federal funding for illegal ‘sanctuary cities’
– reviewing and updating of guest worker visas to protect American jobs
– barring of refugees who cannot be fully vetted, particularly those from homes that have been breeding grounds for terrorism
Points to Ponder Points to Ponder: Solidarity
Mental Health & Addictions
To what extent would further deregulation, decriminalization and legalization of controlled substances give individuals further freedom to “develop their potentialities, become aware of their dignity and prepare to face their unique and individual destiny” (St. John Paul II, On the Hundredth Year (Centesimus Annus) #39), or lead to additional abuse and suffering? How could desirable outcomes be achieved, through efforts of federal, state, and local agencies, educational institutions, and private benevolent groups, and through support for and encouragement of the family?
Refugees & Newcomers
– Catholics are enjoined by both the Old and New Testaments to welcome strangers in their midst, and to look after those in need as they would look after themselves. What can or should be done to ensure that those in need are offered refuge in the United States?
– What is being done, and what, if anything, should further be done to ensure that refugees and newcomers are safe, healthy, and enabled to flourish in the United States?
Rural Communities
– What is being done, and what, if anything, should further be done to ensure vibrant, healthy rural life in America? Of those measures, what should be done at the federal level? By the states? By businesses, residents, and civil associations in rural areas?
– Territorial areas are also of concern. What special circumstances are faced by those living in America’s territories, and how should their needs best be assessed?