By Vatican News

As the United States faces the fourth week of a government shutdown, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), released a statement, asking lawmakers and the administration to work “in a bipartisan way to ensure funding of lifesaving programs and an end to the government shutdown.”

Referencing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the USCCB president explained that this government program dedicated to helping needy families is one of those affected by the shutdown.

The archbishop highlighted that “the U.S. bishops are deeply alarmed that essential programs that support the common good, such as SNAP, may be interrupted.” He emphasized that this is “catastrophic” for everyone who relies on SNAP to have food.

All of this, Archbishop Broglio stressed “places the burdens of this shutdown most heavily on the poor and vulnerable of our nation, who are the least able to move forward.” This, he continued, is a consequence that is “unjust and unacceptable.”

Moreover, he pointed out that the U.S. bishops have “advocated for public policies that support those in need.”

Catholic organizations in solidarity

Immediately after the shutdown on 1 October, a number of Catholic organizations called for a quick response to avoid any negative impact to government-funded programs. For example, the President of Catholic Charities USA, Kerry Alys Robinson, stressed that “the reverberations from this latest episode of crippling partisanship will be felt far beyond the halls of Washington.”

On the 27th day of the shutdown (27 October), Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO of Catholic Health Association of the United States, warned that essential programs have led to serious strains on families and individuals. She emphasized that Congress must act “to reach a bipartisan agreement that protects the vulnerable, strengthens the social safety net, and advances critical health priorities”.