Pilgrimage to Rome with CLN and the Labor Leaders from Chicago

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This week, Labor Leaders from Chicago, plus a few others from around the country, will journey to Rome as Pilgrims. 2025 is a Jubilee Year and the theme chosen by Pope Francis was “Pilgrims of Hope.” At a time when working people in the United States are under attack like never before from their own government: with hundreds of thousands of Federal Employees having Collective Bargaining Rights stripped away, even more laid off, the agencies designed to protect workers like the NLRB defunded and powerless, and a federal budget that strips millions of the poor from having health care, this is the time that we need hope, fraternity and humility.

We know that no matter the time that we are in, no matter the power of those that are attacking workers, we are not alone. We will never be alone. Christ lived as we lived, in the home of a worker. Our Church teaches us to stand In solidarity with workers, immigrants and the poor.

While in Rome, union leaders from the Chicago Federation of Labor, UNITE HERE, Service Employees International Union, Teamsters, International Association of Machinists, Laborers Union, and the Catholic Labor Network will have a true pilgrimage together: attending a Mass everyday, touring holy sites throughout Rome, passing through 3 of the Holy Doors, meeting with the Dicastery for Integral Human Development to discuss The Future of Work – Labor after Laudato Si, Artificial Intelligence and Migration, meeting with Italian Unions about Faith and Organizing, and the high point – a private Audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

It’s my hope that these shared experiences over the next six days will lead all us who are attending to be able to find hope in these difficult moments, give us the encouragement to continue working for justice and provide us with moments of grace where we can renew our individual faith, trust in Jesus and give us the encouragement to share the Gospel and the teachings of the Church with the world.

We are all sinners beloved by God, and without the humility to ask for his help we are all on our own. As Pope Francis liked to say, “Pray for me.” But pray for all of us on this pilgrimage together. Pray that we all are able to renew the struggle for the Dignity of Workers in this World together.

 

Please follow along for more pictures and reflections from those on pilgrimage on our Facebook and Instagram pages!

 

You Can Put a Priest in the Union Hall, on the Picket Line, and in the Pulpit

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On Labor Day, we launched A Labor of Love—our first-ever appeal to revive the Church’s labor ministry. If you’ve already contributed, thank you: your generosity is already at work. If you haven’t yet joined us, let me share why your support is so urgent.

We recently told the story of Alex, a worker who was robbed of his wages when he wasn’t paid in full for cement work he had completed. His story is not unique. Workers’ dignity is strengthened when they know they have the support of their priest and local Church leaders.

That’s why we’re working to revive our Labor Priest Ministry—so that priests can stand alongside workers on the picket line, in the union hall, and in the pulpit.

“I didn’t know the Church actually cares about these things.”

During a recent Catholic Labor Network listening session, Fr. Michael, a long-time diocesan priest and CLN member, shared about a workshop he led for labor union leaders across the country. Afterward, several union members—some in tears—told him the same thing:

“I’m Catholic, but I didn’t know the Church supports workers and their right to unionize.”

For too many, our Church’s strong tradition of supporting workers’ rights remains hidden. Yet since Rerum Novarum in 1891, the Church has consistently taught that work has dignity, that wages must be just, and that workers have the inherent right to organize and collectively bargain.

Through the support of members and donors, the Catholic Labor Network has lived out the teachings of Rerum Novarum by:
 ✊ Walking alongside striking workers in Catholic hospitals and schools;
 📖 Teaching Catholic Social Teaching on labor to hundreds; and
 🤝 Partnering with bishops and universities to lift up the Church’s voice on worker justice.

For thirty years, we’ve accomplished much with volunteers and part-time staff. But the needs of workers—and the call of our faith—demand more.  And we need you to join us.

Thank you to all who have already made a gift.  Your generosity is already being put to work.  For those who have not been able to contribute yet, there is still time.

Your support today will:

  • Train priests to preach and minister to workers;
  • Equip Catholic institutions to become ethical employers;
  • Stand in solidarity with all workers; and
  • Proclaim Catholic Social Doctrine and the Joy of the Gospel.

At the heart of this work is Catholic identity. Will the Church in our lifetime be known as a faithful friend of workers? With your help, it can.

👉 Make your gift today to put a Labor Priest on the picket line and in the pulpit!

Will You Stand Up Against Wage Theft?

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Alex is a concrete worker in Nashville. Five years ago, Alex and his crew poured long days into laying concrete at a local public school and a university campus. But when the job was done, they did not receive the pay they were owed.

Invoices went unanswered. Phone calls were ignored. As a small business owner, Alex couldn’t afford a lawyer. As a subcontractor working in a system with multiple layers of contractors, he was left waiting—ultimately owed nearly $50,000 in back pay and withheld wages. To make sure his employees got paid, Alex had to take out a personal loan.

(Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash)

When the Catholic Labor Network learned that Alex was Catholic and active in his parish, we stepped in. We connected him with his pastor, who joined with others to publicly support Alex when he confronted the school board and contractors. Sadly, even with broad support, Alex was never paid in full.

Stories like Alex’s are not rare. Wage theft is one of the most common forms of worker exploitation in our country. It robs workers and families of their paychecks, steals their time, and violates their God-given dignity.

The Catholic Labor Network has members across the country ready to help workers like Alex and his crew. But our reach and capacity are limited. That’s why we are launching our first-ever fundraising campaign: A Labor of Love.

A Campaign to Revive, Renew, and Reignite

Our goal is to raise $150,000 to:
 ✝️ Revive the Church’s labor ministry
 ✝️ Renew our God-given vocation to work
 ✝️ Reignite Catholic solidarity among all workers

This campaign is not just about funding programs—it’s about ensuring that the Church continues to stand with workers, both in moments of struggle and in building a more just future.

Throughout the month of September following Labor Day, we give special thanks for the gift of work—and for every worker whose labor feeds our families, builds our schools, and sustains our communities.

👉 Will you join us in this labor of love? Your prayers, your passion, and your donation today will help us serve workers like Alex and defend the dignity of all who labor.

Make a Gift Today

Together, we can revive the Church’s prophetic voice on labor and ensure that no worker is forgotten.

CLN Statement on the Election of Pope Leo XIV

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The Catholic Labor Network (CLN) joyfully welcomes the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the 267th Bishop of Rome. As the first American-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV brings a unique blend of pastoral experience, theological depth, and a profound commitment to social justice that resonates deeply with our mission to uphold the dignity of work and the rights of workers.

Pope Leo XIV’s extensive ministry in Peru, where he served as a missionary, parish pastor, and diocesan leader, reflects his dedication to serving marginalized communities and advocating for social equity . His leadership in the Augustinian order and his role in overseeing bishop appointments demonstrate his capacity to guide the Church with wisdom and compassion.

The choice of the name “Leo XIV” signifies a continuity with Pope Leo XIII, whose seminal encyclical Rerum Novarum laid the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching by affirming the rights of workers to organize and the importance of just labor conditions. This legacy is vital as we continue to address contemporary challenges facing workers worldwide.

Scripture reminds us, “The laborer deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7), and the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “work is for man, not man for work” (CCC 2428). Pope Leo XIV’s papacy offers renewed hope that these principles will be upheld and advanced, ensuring that the Church remains a steadfast advocate for the rights and dignity of all workers.

We at the Catholic Labor Network look forward to collaborating with Pope Leo XIV in promoting the Church’s social doctrine and supporting initiatives that protect and empower workers. May his leadership inspire a global commitment to justice, solidarity, and the common good.

A Letter to President Trump concerning Federal Employees

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Dear Mr. President,

The Catholic Labor Network (CLN) is a Catholic nonprofit and private association of the faithful in the United States that unites clergy, religious, laity, and people of goodwill to advance the principles of Catholic Social Teaching on the dignity of work and the rights of workers through prayer, education, and action.

We write with deep concern regarding Executive Order 14099, Exclusions from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program, issued on March 27, 2025. This order would significantly limit the ability of more than one million federal employees to exercise their fundamental right to collective bargaining. We respectfully urge you to rescind this executive order.

From the time of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum in 1891, the Catholic Church has consistently affirmed the moral and human right of workers to organize and bargain collectively. This teaching is not limited to private-sector employment. The Church has long held that the dignity of workers is not dependent on whether their employer is public or private; rather, it is a reflection of their inherent human dignity.

In Laborem Exercens, Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “The important role of union organizations must be admitted: their task is to defend the existential interests of workers in all sectors.” This includes public servants who dedicate their labor to the common good—educators, health professionals, public safety officers, and countless others.

Your administration has voiced a commitment to defending the dignity of work and uplifting working families. This Executive Order, however, directly undermines that commitment and contradicts long-standing Catholic teaching on the rights of workers.

On behalf of our members and supporters—Catholics committed to justice in the workplace and the common good—we respectfully and prayerfully urge you to rescind this order and reaffirm the right of federal employees to organize and bargain collectively.