I have spoken of our responsibilities in the labor movement to promote solidarity at home and abroad. Now, if I may, I would like to speak about the Church. First, I would like to thank the Church for its service and struggle in behalf of working women and men in the United States and throughout the world. In our organizing efforts, we receive strong support from religious institutions and religious leaders, especially the Catholic Church. The pay is low.
Conditions are often unsafe.
And women working in the fields regularly suffer sexual harassment. The organizing campaign is being supported by many religious leaders of all faiths, including many Catholic bishops. But, still, we must strengthen the relationship between the labor movement and the Church. Our close ties came naturally when our Church was disproportionately working class and consisted largely of immigrants, such as my own mother and father. In those days, priests and union leaders were natural allies.