Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 15 — The Georgia Bulletin, February 8. 1990
Church Alerts Poor To Tax Credit
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• BY LIZ SCHEVTCHUK
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Because poor workers lack at
torneys and accountants to advise them, the Catholic
* Church will tell them about an important tax break, an of
ficial of the U.S. Catholic Conference said Jan. 31.
For the second consecutive year, the USCC, public policy
- agency of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, join
ed a coalition promoting awareness of the earned income
tax credit — a tax benefit available to low-income workers
with children. The coalition, the Earned Income Credit
• Campaign, kicked off its 1990 effort with a news conference
in Washington.
"Poor people don't have lawyers, accountants or tax con-
. sultants to inform them of tax provisions that will benefit
their families," said Thomas Shellabarger. staff specialist
for urban and economic issues in the USCC Office of
Domestic Social Development.
* Thus, he added, "the church will work to ensure that low-
income families who qualify for these benefits know that
they are available and how to apply for them. The bishops'
conference is committed to getting this information out."
Shellabarger noted that the U.S. bishops’ 1986 pastoral
letter on economic justice called for a more just tax policy.
The earned income tax credit helps those eligible deal with
"a growing tax burden on low- and moderate-income peo
ple," he said. He said the outreach effort will involve such
groups as the nation's dioceses. Catholic Charities pro-
grams for those in need of housing, day care, food or
counseling, and services for refugees and farmworkers.
“All of this activity is designed to help poor families with
children receive what is rightfully theirs," Shellabarger
said. "We want to make sure that poor people know. While
they may not owe the government any income tax this year,
the government may owe them money."
< A worker with at least one child at home and an income of
less than $19,340 is eligible for the tax credit, which ranges
in amounts up to $910 for the 1989 tax year, according to in
formation from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The center, a public interest group specializing in na
tional policies affecting lower- and moderate-income
Americans, is coordinating the public awareness cam-
- paign.
Even workers earning too little to pay taxes are eligible
for the credit, but to receive it they must file an income tax
return. Recipients can either get the money in a check from
the federal government or have it added to their paychecks
by their employers throughout the year. Workers who earn
enough to pay some federal income tax will have their tax
*
burden reduced through the credit, the Center on Budget
and Policy Priorities explained.
At least 11 million working families are believed to be
eligible for the credit, with the federal government
allocating about $6 billion for the program, said Robert
Greenstein, director of the Center for Budget and Policy
Priorities.
He emphasized that only poor working families are eligi
ble for the credits, which are not welfare.
Workers who entered the country illegally would not
receive the credit, he said.
The Earned Income Credit Campaign is targeting
Hispanic and rural poor working families in particular this
year.
"Hispanics working year-round, full time, have the
lowest median earnings of any group in the country," said
Raul Yzaguirre. president of the National Council of La
Raza. citing a study by his organization.
Greenstein noted that about one in four poor rural
families has two workers in the household.
"It’s a crime to think that this money is available and so
many people aren’t aware of it,” said Mayor James Moran
of Alexandria, Va., which is across the Potomac River from
Washington. Moran initiated a program promoting
awareness of the earned income tax credit in Alexandria
and represented the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the news
conference.
The amount of the credit per family "is grossly inade
quate but it’s a very positive step in the right direction,”
said the mayor.
In 1989 after the public awareness campaign was an
nounced. the number of families receiving the earned in
come tax credit increased by nearly 25 percent, Greenstein
said.
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Choir Celebrates
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Sts. Peter and Paul Church will sponsor the
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The theme of the evening of contemporary
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of Walter Boone.
Admission is free and the public is invited.
Signed Mass Planned
Father Bill Hoffman will
celebrate a signed Mass at
2:30 p.m.. March 4 and be
available afterwards for
the sacrament of recon
ciliation at Transfiguration
Church in Marietta.
A reception will follow
the celebration. All are in
vited. For information or
directions, call 977-1442 or
793-3380 (TDD).
Father Hoffman is
available to serve the
needs of the hearing im
paired and can be reached
by calling St. Michael's
Church in Gainesville at
404-534-3338 ( V/TDD1.
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SERVICES
AVAILABLE
CRISIS PREGNANCY
SERVICES - Available
through Catholic Social Ser
vices. Call 881-6571 for help
with medical care, living
arrangements, discussion
of options. Services Free
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CATHOLIC SOCIAL SER
VICES has professional
counseling services avail
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dren, adolescents, adults,
couples andTamilies at the
Catholic Center downtown
and in outlying parishes. In
surance coverage avail
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pointment or information.
“PREGNANT?” Todiscuss
abortion alternatives call
BIRTHRIGHT 451-2273.
Service is free and con
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HISPANIC SERVICES Of
fers assistance to the His
panic community in job
placement, housing, orien
tation, information and re
ferral. Call Vicky Gonzalez
for an appointment or infor
mation at 888-7841. Catholic
Social Services.
COLLEGE SCHOLAR
SHIP and Financial Aid in
formation. Call 993-7552.
BRIDAL
MARSH WEDDING PHO
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498-8879.
HERITAGE HOUSES for
wedding receptions.
767-9931.
BUSINESS
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TRANSLATION SER
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881-6571.
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956-7399.
QUALITY HOME IM
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RELIGIOUS
THANK YOU Saint
Therese, The Little Flower,
and St. Jude for prayers
answered. A.H.B.
THANK
Heart, St
YOU Sacred
Jude. H.M.S.
THANKS to Sacred Heart
of Jesus, St. Jude for
prayers answered. B.K.
THANK YOU St. Jude,
Jesus, Holy Spirit for
prayers answered. Meg.
THANK YOU Blessed
Mother, Sacred Heart of
Jesus, Holy Spirit for
prayer answered. D.M.
THANK YOU Sacred Heart
of Jesus and St. Jude for
prayers answered. K.
THANK YOU Sacred
Heart, Blessed Mother, St.
Joseph and St. Jude for
prayers answered.
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HELP WANTED
COORDINATOR for In-
Home Services. MSW and
elderly community ser
vices experience required.
Start-up project to
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