As our nation celebrates Labor Day this Monday, September 6, 2010, recommended reading should be the Labor Day Statement by Bishop William F. Murphy, Chairman, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. In “A New’Social Contract’ for Today’s ‘New Things,'” where Bishop Murphy remembered the millions of Americans out of work, as well as the 29 West Virginia mining deaths and 11 deaths and subsequent oil spill from the oil rig explosion in the Gulf, he said Americans “must seek to protect the life and dignity of each worker in a renewed and robust economy.”

Murphy went on to say that work is good for every person. “People without work retain their innate dignity as a human person; they lack, however, one of the major avenues for self-expression and self-fulfillment. Work is that aspect of life that allows us to care for ourselves and those we love and to contribute to the wider society. Thus, through our work and productivity, we provide for ourselves and our dear ones and contribute to the good of our society and to the common good of our nation and world.”

Besides work and workers, the document touches on Catholic Social Teaching, the economy, the market and civil society, wage fairness and more. The entire statement is available in English and Spanish. Click HERE to read the USCCB’s press release.