Interfaith group seeks 'ethical commission' to direct recovery effort

Published: 2005-09-26

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- An interfaith group of religious leaders said they would ask the White House and Congress to set up an "ethical reconstruction commission" to direct recovery of Gulf Coast areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The proposal, advanced at a Sept. 23 press conference held by Interfaith Worker Justice, would put former Gulf-area residents to work and assist displaced workers; protect workers' safety and health; ensure adequate family supports for such federal programs as Medicaid and food stamps; expand the network of worker centers for immigrant and other low-wage workers; and restore all aspects of federal contract compliance -- including prevailing wage and affirmative-action requirements. "The underside of a city whose primary business is tourism is that the jobs of so many of its people are minimum-wage jobs washing dishes, making beds, cleaning hotel rooms and waiting tables," said Jesuit Father Fred Kammer, former head of Catholic Charities USA until he left three years ago to become the Jesuits' New Orleans provincial superior. "When you mix poverty with hurricanes, the combination is deadly."

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