In a letter dated January 20, 1999, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, joined with other local clergy, who are members of the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia, to urge Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to modify the system that will soon move people from welfare to the work force.

The new federal and state welfare reform laws will go into effect March 3, 1999. The signers of the letter wrote, "We are in agreement with the basic goals of the laws and recognize with many others the clear need for reform toward fostering greater responsibility and accountability and building into the system incentives for self-sufficiency. At the same time, we believe that insufficient attention has been given to the measures that will move people from welfare to family sustaining employment."

The signers of the letter made three recommendations:

1) The Commonwealth must take steps to ensure that people are ready to work through complete literacy and life skills training.
2) Full family sanctions for noncompliance with the work requirement should be revised to allow benefits to continue for children.
3) The definition of work should be expanded to include education and training opportunities that develop the skills to make a person competitive in today's work force.

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Editor's Note: The text of the letter sent to Governor Ridge follows:

January 20, 1999
The Hon. Thomas Ridge
Governor
225 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Governor Ridge:

We are writing to express our concern regarding Pennsylvania*s new welfare
system designed to meet the requirements of new federal and state welfare
reform laws which will be implemented on March 3, 1999.

We are in agreement with the basic goals of the laws and recognize with
many others the clear need for reform toward fostering greater
responsibility and accountability and building into the system incentives
for self-sufficiency. At the same time, we believe that insufficient
attention has been given to the measures that will move people from welfare
to family sustaining employment. As the deadline approaches for those who
have been on welfare for 24 months, we have several recommendations for
modifications in the system which will help achieve our goal of moving
people from welfare to the work force.

First, the Commonwealth must take steps to ensure that people are ready to
work. Literacy and life skills training must be completed before a person
can effectively compete in the job market. The availability of day care and
transportation is also of critical concern.

Second, it is shortsighted public policy to punish children for the
mistakes of their parents. With that fact in mind, the full family
sanctions for noncompliance with the work requirement should be revised to
allow benefits to continue for the children.

Third, the definition of work should be expanded to include education and
training opportunities that develop the skills to make a person competitive
in today*s work force.

We strongly urge that modifications be implemented along these lines. We
invite you or appropriate members of your administration to discuss our
concerns and recommendations with us.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely yours,

His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua
Archbishop of Philadelphia

The Rev. Roy G. Almquist, Bishop
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rt. Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., Bishop
Diocese of Pennsylvania - Episcopal Church

The Rev. Dr. Helen Cochrane, Interim Executive Presbyter
Philadelphia Presbytery * Presbyterian Church (USA)

The Rev. James M. Lapp, Conference Pastor
Franconia Mennonite Conference

The Rev. F. Russell Mitman, Conference Minister
Pennsylvania Southeast Conference * United Church of Christ

The Rev. William B. Moore
Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity

The Rev. Larry K. Waltz, Executive Minister
Philadelphia Baptist Association - American Baptist Churches, USA

Bishop Peter D. Weaver, Resident Bishop
Philadelphia Area of the United Methodist Church
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference

The Rev. C. Edward Geiger, Executive Director
Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia

Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747