Catholic Bishops Oppose Parts of Senate's Tax Reform Draft

Earlier this week, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued a letter (full text) (press release)  criticizing the current version of the Senate's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  The letter calls for the Senate to amend its draft "to better ensure a just and moral framework for all."  While supporting some aspects of the bill, the Bishops expressed concern over a number of the provisions, analyzing them in light of six moral principles the Bishops had set fort in a statement on tax reform last October. Many of the criticisms focus on "care for the poor and concern for families."  Among the specific concerns expressed were opposition to repeal of the Affordable Care Act mandate without more comprehensive health care reform; concern that families with more than three children will find themselves in a worse tax situation that at present; concern that stricter rules regarding children’s social security numbers for the Child Tax Credit will make it difficult for immigrants to receive the benefit; and inadequate tax incentives for charitable giving.