Post Bulletin: Jason Adkins: Catholic Church delivers social, economic benefits

An estimated $5 billion statewide economic impact suggests that government should empower, not obstruct, religious institutions.

At a time when people are losing trust in institutions generally, and, more specifically, fewer people see the social good of religious institutions, a new study highlights why the positive impact of faith communities extends well beyond the walls of the sanctuary.

In "Fruits of the Vine: The Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota," new social science research methods are deployed to show the significant economic benefits — more than $5 billion — that the Catholic Church and her affiliated ministries provide to the state of Minnesota.

One need not be religiously affiliated to see that faith-based institutions help drive local economies and make an important contribution to the common good. Elected officials at all levels should ensure that faith-based institutions have both the liberty to worship and the freedom to serve others without onerous mandates that impede their mission.

The Catholic Church’s role in serving the poor, educating the next generation, and providing health care is well-documented. In Minnesota alone, Catholic schools generate $1.45 billion in economic benefits and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually by providing a high-quality education to students.

Catholic hospitals and health care centers produce $3.2 billion in economic benefits and treat patients of all backgrounds, offering a lifeline to many in rural and underserved areas where government-run services are insufficient. For comparison, Mayo Clinic reported $5.7 billion in expenses in 2022.

Minnesota Catholic parishes, charities, shelters, and food pantries reach the most vulnerable and provide services in ways that government simply cannot replicate. Parishes alone serve nearly 1.2 million people every year and inject nearly $10 million into the economy.

Besides the traditional ways in which we think about the contribution to the commonwealth of the Catholic Church, "Fruits of the Vine" gives us another, more objective measure of broader impact on the common good, namely, how the Church and other faith-based institutions drive local economies by providing jobs, undertaking capital projects, and creating magnet effects when people visit shrines or attend weddings. Together, the Church’s capital campaigns and magnet effects contribute more than $130 million in economic benefits.

We serve all people not because they are Catholic, but because we are Catholic.

Yet, in recent years, we have seen a growing trend of government policies that sideline or actively hinder religious institutions from fulfilling their mission. From regulatory burdens that restrict the outreach of faith-based service providers to healthcare mandates and efforts that force religious organizations to violate their deeply held beliefs in hiring and employment, these policies ultimately harm the very people they claim to help. The reality is that government cannot — and should not — be the sole provider.

"Fruits of the Vine" should serve as a primer on the significant economic and societal contributions that the Catholic Church provides to our country.

The Church offers these solutions — not in the form of government programs, but through tangible, person-centered services that foster human dignity and social cohesion. Our leaders should recognize that instead of creating obstacles for faith-based organizations, they should be clearing the way for them to do what they do best: serve the common good.

For policymakers in Washington, state capitals, and city halls across the country, the message is clear: Faith-based institutions like the Catholic Church are not retrograde institutions, or adversaries to progress who supposedly believe weird things about sex, but instead vital community partners that play an outsized role in strengthening society, driving economies, and saving taxpayers money.

By respecting religious liberty and empowering faith-based organizations, we can build a healthier, more united nation — one that recognizes the essential role of institutions that serve not for profit, but for love of neighbor.

Jason Adkins is the executive director and general counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Church in Minnesota, which commissioned the study. To read "Fruits of the Vine: The Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota," visit  www.mncatholic.org/fruitsofthevine.

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Read the op-ed on Rochester Post Bulletin website.