Bishops' conference layoffs spark wave of concern and speculation

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The headquarters of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. (Wikimedia Commons/Farragutful)

BY CAMILLO BARONE

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The recent announcement of significant layoffs within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development has sparked a wave of concern and speculation among the Catholic community and the broader public, particularly regarding the implications for the office's ongoing projects and initiatives.

"Needless to say, I am deeply disappointed by this latest development at the conference," said Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Washington, who sits on the subcommittee of the bishops' Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). Tyson said he was "saddened" that he heard first about the layoffs only when NCR reached out to him for comments, and not from the U.S. bishops' conference leadership itself.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is part of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development.

"Selective staff reductions in CCHD may leave the incorrect impression that CCHD staff is at fault. But the CCHD staff is not at fault," Tyson said. "And after our strong backing of CCHD, the optics of a staff reduction seem to contradict our message of strong support."

In a June 25 email to NCR, Chieko Noguchi, executive director of the Office of Public Affairs at the bishops' conference, said, "Staff were notified of changes to the structure of the USCCB's Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development. This reorganization will allow the Conference to align resources more closely with recent funding trends."

Noguchi confirmed this included the loss of jobs, but added, "Since this is a personnel matter, I'm not able to share further information at this time."

Read the rest: https://www.ncronline.org/news/bishops-conference-layoffs-spark-wave-concern-and-speculation