Some Catholics present the Catholic social teaching as if it were a nice option--but quite secondary to promoting family values. That's a distorted reading of the tradition, in which the dependence of the vulnerable, including vulnerable families, upon social networks, including governmental support, is consistently acknowledged.This article raises the question sharply, especially in light of the current economic crisis: what will happen when parents can't afford to feed their children?What happened in the Depression?

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

Also by this author
© 2024 Commonweal Magazine. All rights reserved. Design by Point Five. Site by Deck Fifty.