Response to the Catholic bishops’ letter on the U.S. economy

Abstract

The U.S. Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter Economic Justice for All: Catholic Social Teaching on the U.S. Economy in 1986. This is a report of a research project designed to evaluate the impact of the pastoral letter using a mail survey and personal interviews. The study found that exposure to Catholic social thought, including this pastoral, a religious commitment to action for justice, and a sense of religious meaning to one's daily work were significantly associated with attitudes toward social and economic issues discussed in the letter. Implications include the need for outreach to church communities on social justice education and action; new research on participatory justice; and expanded attention to the role of work in individual development and in community life.