Yesterday Nick highlighted the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)'s disparity in media strategy communicating their positions on economic justice and those about abortion and same-sex marriage. This story, about Archbishop Timothy Dolan weighing in on a bill to increase the minimum wage in New York City, is a positive example of just what he was calling for.

At a Monday rally for the bill, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities, read a statement from the Archbishop acknowledging the current economic crisis facing the country and advocating a path to recovery.

Despite Sullivan's explicit statement that the archdiocese does not take a "specific position" on the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, supporters are welcoming the Catholic voice, hoping that it will add moral and political strength to the bill.

"We're going to speak about how this economic crisis continues to hurt everybody in society, particularly the poor," said Msgr. Sullivan, highlighting the importance of the bill. "We need to make sure there are decent jobs with decent wages."

The New Jersey Bishops have also just released a statement on poverty and their plans to combat it. Both they and Archbishop Dolan should be applauded for so clearly speaking out in support of these important issues.