Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has voiced profound concern regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, recently approved by the United States Congress.
The legislation, which aims to overhaul the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year, received support from lawmakers primarily along party lines after extended negotiations. While proponents tout the bill as a means to boost economic growth and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, it includes significant changes to tax structures, social programs, and federal funding allocations.
In a statement following the bill’s passage, Archbishop Broglio highlighted damaging consequences that he believes will adversely affect the most vulnerable members of society. He criticized aspects of the legislation that he argues undermine human dignity and the common good.
According to Archbishop Broglio, the bill contains “unconscionable cuts to healthcare and food assistance, tax cuts that increase inequality, immigration provisions that harm families and children, and cuts to programs that protect God’s creation.”
The archbishop emphasized that he and his fellow bishops have consistently urged lawmakers to focus on helping families in need, calling for changes to the bill that would prioritize support for the poor and vulnerable.
Earlier versions of the bill included provisions that were more favorable from a Catholic social teaching perspective, such as stricter restrictions on federal funding for abortion providers, enhanced parental choice in education, and limitations on federal funds for gender-transition procedures. However, many of these provisions were significantly weakened or eliminated in the finalized legislation.
The USCCB reported that limits on federal funding allocated to organizations like Planned Parenthood were reduced to just one year. The education component, which initially promised broader parental choice, saw notable scale-backs, while the previously stipulated restrictions on federal financial support for gender-transition procedures were omitted entirely.
Archbishop Broglio warned about the tangible effects these legislative changes will bring to the population, stating, “People will lose access to healthcare and struggle to buy groceries, family members will be separated, and vulnerable communities will be less prepared to cope with environmental impacts of pollution and extreme weather as the provisions come into effect.”
He urged for proactive steps to mitigate these adverse consequences: “More must be done to prevent these devastating effects.”
In light of the bill’s passage, the USCCB president called on Catholics and all individuals of goodwill to strengthen their efforts to support those who are now at an increased risk.
Archbishop Broglio stated, “The Catholic Church’s teaching to uphold human dignity and the common good compels us to redouble our efforts and offer concrete help to those who will be in greater need.” He affirmed that the bishops will persist in advocating for legislative changes that will create better opportunities in the future for those in need.
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