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Bishop Timothy McDonnell of the Diocese of Springfield has joined other Catholic bishops of Massachusetts in calling for an increase in the minimum wage.

(MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN FILE)

SPRINGFIELD - The Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts have issued a letter that calls upon the state Legislature to increase the minimum wage in Massachusetts.

“It is the belief of the Catholic Bishops that a raise in the minimum wage is an important step toward fairness and justice, and we urge the legislature to address this growing concern this session,” the statement reads.

The letter, made available to the press Wednesday afternoon, is authored by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, and bishops Timothy A. McDonnell of the Diocese of Springfield, George W. Coleman of the Fall River diocese, and Robert J. McManus of the Worcester diocese.

The state's bishops are making their position known at a time when the state Legislature is considering raising the state’s minimum wage from the current $8.

The state Senate last fall approved a bill to raise the minimum in stages to $11 per hour by 2016, which would make it the highest in the country. Increases after that would be tied to increases to the consumer price index for the Northeast.

In the last week, House Speaker Robert DeLeo has said he supports a House measure that would raise the minimum wage in stages to where it would be at $10.50 per hour by 2016.

Gov. Deval Patrick has also called for increasing the minimum wage as well. At his State of the Commonwealth address in January, the Governor said "To those who are reluctant to raise the minimum wage, I ask only that, before you resolve to oppose it, consider whether you can live on it."

Voters in Amherst on Wednesday night are scheduled to vote on a special town meeting article that seeks to raise the minimum wage for Amherst to $15 per hour.

The bishops does not express support either the House or Senate plan or even give a number figure for what they feel the new minimum should be. Their letter notes that the bishops do not claim to be economists, and it will be up to others to determine how to raise the wage in a way that does not harm small business-owners.

The letter does, however, link the matter of minimum wage laws with the larger question of social justice and the dignity of the workforce.

“Insufficient compensation for labor violates the dignity of the worker and that worker’s family,” the letter states. “A just wage supports the individual, families, and society as a whole.”

The letter notes the state’s unemployment rate of 6.8 percent, which is higher than the national average, and that the minimum wage has not risen since 2008. It also notes that a full-time employee making $8 an hour will have a gross income of $16,640.

“This is hardly enough to pay for basic necessities such as food and rent, let alone support a family,” the letter reads.

It notes that the catholic church is one of the state’s largest social service providers, and its ministries witness daily the struggles of the working poor who need assistance to pay their for their rent, utilities, food and transportation.

“Low-wage workers are often trapped in the desperate cycle of poverty,” the statement reads. “Any economic policy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should be informed by the inherent dignity of every capable man and woman working for the betterment of their own livelihood and that of their family and society.”

Roman Catholic Bishops Statement on Minimum Wage uploaded by Patrick Johnson