Roman Catholic bishops are criticizing the plan of Gov. Susana Martinez's administration to again impose work-related requirements on some low-income New Mexicans trying to qualify for food stamps.
Bishops Sheehan of the Santa Fe Diocese, James Wall of the Gallup Diocese and Oscar Cantu of the Las Cruces Diocese say the plan might be defensible when the economy is strong but that they say it's unconscionable during the current weak economy.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the state in October plans to restore a 20-hour-a-week work requirement for an estimated 26,600 childless adults to get food stamps.
The requirement was suspended in 2009 because of the Great Recession.
The state Human Services Department says the change restores requirements enacted by the federal government in the 1990s.
Information from: Albuquerque Journal.
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