An interesting article in the New York Times on the effects of job loss on family life seems to confirm the tradition of Catholic social thought about the importance of work--a living wage--to family life.Also interesting is the apparent thesis that a mother's job loss isn't as devastating as a father's loss of a job of comparable income. It seems to be based on two things: 1) mothers spend more time with their kids --and they're less harried; and 2) a father's self-identity is more connected with being a provider.

Cathleen Kaveny is the Darald and Juliet Libby Professor in the Theology Department and Law School at Boston College.

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