Catholic News Agency Features Jubilee USA and Eric LeCompte in Article on Letter to President Trump

Jubilee USA Network and Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA, were recently featured in Catholic News Agency regarding the joint letter between the USCCB and Jubilee USA written to President Trump on debt relief, moving new forms of economic aid and changes to the financial system to address poverty and stabilize food as well as fuel prices. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here

U.S. bishops and Jubilee USA urge Trump to pursue debt relief during 2025 Jubilee Year

By: Tessa Gervasini

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Jubilee USA Network this week sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to pursue global debt relief initiatives that will economically serve both developing countries and the United States. 

In the letter, Bishop Abdallah Elias Zaidan, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Eric LeCompte, the executive director at Jubilee USA Network, argued that “building on the successes” of relief initiatives introduced by Trump during his first term could lower global debt."

 

Read the full letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network here.

Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.

Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch here.

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OSV News Reports on USCCB and Jubilee USA Joint Letter to President Trump

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in OSV News regarding the joint letter between the USCCB and Jubilee USA Network written to President Trump on debt relief, moving new forms of economic aid and changes to the financial system to address poverty and stabilize food as well as fuel prices. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here

US bishops ask Trump in joint letter to pursue global debt relief in the Jubilee Year

By: Kimberley Heatherington

"In a world economy rocked by the whiplash of American trade tariffs that has spared few countries, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network, an interfaith development group, have a proposition for President Donald J. Trump: Forgive some debts."

 

Read the full letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network here.

Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.

Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch here.

 

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Catholic World News Reports on USCCB and Jubilee USA Joint Letter to President Trump

Jubilee USA Network and Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA, were recently featured in Catholic World News regarding the joint letter between the USCCB and Jubilee USA written to President Trump on debt relief, moving new forms of economic aid and changes to the financial system to address poverty and stabilize food as well as fuel prices. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here

USCCB committee chairman calls on President Trump to lead the way on international debt relief

"The chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, joined by the executive director of the Jubilee USA Network, thanked President Donald Trump for his actions on behalf of international debt relief in his first administration and called for additional actions during the 2025 jubilee year."

 

Read the full letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network here.

Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.

Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch here.

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LiveWire Calgary Cites Jubilee USA's Interfaith Work and Preparation for G7

Jubilee USA Network was recently featured in LiveWire Calgary, as one of the groups representing interfaith communities and bringing the conversation around international debt relief and the 2025 Jubilee year to the G7 in Calgary. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here

Interfaith community offers alternative conversation on economy during G7

By: Aryn Toombs

"Among the groups involved in bringing those conversations to Calgary are Kairos Canada, which represents faith groups from the Anglican, Catholic, Christian Reformed, Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Quaker, and United Church communities, alongside Jubilee USA, which represents both Jewish and Catholic voices.

The Calgary Interfaith Council is also participating through facilitating interfaith prayer services at the forum, and having CIC board member Reverend Tony Snow lead groups to visit Treaty 7 territories around Calgary and participate in Indigenous-led land ceremonies."

 

Read more here

 

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US Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Encourage President Trump to Build on Bipartisan Debt Relief Policies from Trump's First Term

Faith Leaders Share Focus of the Jubilee Year as Upholding Teachings of Popes St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis

Washington DC - The US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network wrote President Trump encouraging him to build on debt relief efforts from his first term to address poverty and stabilize food and fuel prices.

“Debt relief and restructuring make effective economic and security policy, strengthening our country’s global leadership,” shared Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, writing on behalf of US Catholic Bishops as Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace and Eric LeCompte the Executive Director of interfaith development group Jubilee USA Network. "These policies, which cost us little, contribute significantly to the stability of our trading partners, reduce food and fuel prices here at home, and support American jobs and exports." 

The letter comes during the Holy Year of Jubilee 2025 celebrated by the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches and supported by interfaith groups. The year for Christians marks the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ as a time of reflection and action to address poverty. 

In 1997 ahead of the previous Holy Year of Jubilee 2000, Pope John Paul II and interreligious groups called world leaders to relieve the debts of poor countries. Faith groups would form a bipartisan campaign resulting in more than $130 billion in debt relief for developing countries to aid education, healthcare and other social services.

"Millions of kids could go to school and millions of people could receive healthcare because faith groups moved world leaders because of the Jubilee 2000 efforts," noted LeCompte who advises Catholic Bishop Conferences and other faith groups on economic policies in line with faith teachings.

In June, Pope Francis doubled down on John Paul's message calling for Jubilee 2025 as a time for debt relief and new economic processes to address poverty. Francis would reiterate the debt relief focus of Jubilee 2025 this past Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and World Peace Day.

The letter from the Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA sent to the White House thanked the President for successfully introducing new global debt relief initiatives and crisis responses during his first term that supported billions of people in the United States and around the world.

"On average, many developing nations currently spend more than 40% of their revenue on debt payments, while nearly 800 million people are hungry and almost 700 million live in extreme poverty," stated LeCompte.

Ahead of IMF, South Africa G20 and Canada G7 meetings, the letter to Trump highlights Pope Francis' call for a global bankruptcy-like process that echoes a scriptural call for financial stability. The US hosts the G20 in 2026 and the G7 in 2027.

“Faith groups are organizing for five years of advocacy to move world leaders on debt policies that protect the vulnerable and ensure the economy is working for everyone," noted LeCompte.

On December 23rd, with the Vatican, interreligious and development groups launched debt relief campaigns in 160 countries.

 

Read the full letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network here.

Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.

Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch here

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Eric LeCompte Featured in OSV News Speaking on Medical Debt

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in OSV News speaking on the costs of medical care and the cycle of debt. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here

‘This is a miracle to them’: How the church is helping to erase medical debt

By: Kimberley Heatherington

"Eric LeCompte — executive director of the Jubilee USA Network, a coalition of religious, development and advocacy groups that has secured more than $130 billion in debt relief for the world’s poorest economies — agreed.

“Knowing so many families who have struggled with being able to afford medical care, the No. 1 piece of advice that hospitals and pharmaceuticals and others are giving to people is, go start a GoFundMe in order to pay for your medical bills. I think that’s absolutely tragic — and in many ways, is actually sinful,” he said."

 

Read more here.

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Puerto Rico Catholic and Evangelical Faith Leaders Urge Island's Governor to Avoid Bailing Out Puerto Rico's Electrical Company Debt Holders

Washington, DC - Puerto Rico religious leaders sent a letter to Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón to avoid paying out billions in debt that creditors are suing the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority over.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who has jurisdiction on the island's bankruptcy proceedings, initially ruled that bondholders had $2.4 billion in secured claims but a superior court ruled that such claims amount to $8.5 billion.

“The level of repayment bondholders demand can only be achieved through the redeployment of committed federal aid, Commonwealth funds or future revenues, all of which are needed by the Puerto Rican people,” said Archbishop Roberto O. González Nieves, of the Archdiocese of San Juan, and Rev. Heriberto Martinez Rivera, General Secretary of the Puerto Rico Bible Society writing also in his capacity as coordinator of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Coalition on the Debt of Puerto Rico.

The US territory reels from a devastating debt crisis and a series of natural disasters including hurricanes and earthquakes. The Catholic Archbishop and Evangelical leader stressed that using public money to pay private debt would unravel Puerto Rico's bankruptcy agreement and the island's chance to tackle the 60% child poverty rate.

“These creditors are playing a game that abuses the people of Puerto Rico,” said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development organization Jubilee USA Network. "The creditors want to be bailed out by taking away social services from the people of Puerto Rico."

PREPA operates at a loss, which means that it does not have the funds to repay bondholders unless the central government of Puerto Rico transfers funds for that purpose or the utility increases user fees. The payments would also come at the expense of much needed investments on upgrading the electric infrastructure.

The letter reminds the governor that in 2025 Christians celebrate a Jubilee Year whose focus is on debt relief for the benefit of all people around the world.

"Puerto Rico's religious leaders are following the call of this special Jubilee Year," noted LeCompte who advises the Vatican and Catholic Bishops Conferences around the world. "These unjust debts must be cancelled and we must prioritize ending child poverty."

Read the full letter here.

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National Catholic Reporter Interviews Eric LeCompte on Continued Push for Debt Relief

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in the National Catholic Reporter speaking on the push for debt relief during Jubilee 2025, amidst the hospitalization of Pope Francis and cuts to USAID. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here.

Despite pope's hospitalization and Trump's USAID cuts, Jubilee Year push for debt relief continues

By: Christopher White

Pope Francis may be hospitalized and U.S. President Donald Trump may be wreaking havoc on foreign aid, but one of the Catholic Church's leading crusaders for debt cancellation believes those factors are all the more reason to double down on efforts to alleviate poverty during Jubilee 2025. 

"The reality is that Pope Francis and the Catholic Church have already laid out the focus for the Jubilee Year on debt relief and economic relief to deal with poverty and climate issues," said Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network, an alliance of faith-based development and debt-relief advocacy organizations.


Read more here.

 

 

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Religious Leaders in Kenya Tackle Debt

Kenyan religious leaders roped in to tackle the country’s rising debt

By: Anthony Langat

Islamic Relief Kenya is arming faith leaders with the necessary knowledge to better advocate for sustainable financial decisions by the government in a bid to stave away the worsening debt crisis.

 

Read more here



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Eric LeCompte Speaks on US Role in World Bank and IMF

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently cited in Devex speaking on U.S.’s role in the World Bank and IMF under the new Trump administration. Read excerpt below and follow link to full article.

 

World Bank under Trump: Whats next for US Influence and funding? 

By: Adva Saldinger

 

Personnel choices will play a critical role in shaping U.S. policy towards the World Bank. During Trump’s first term, Malpass surprised many observers by not only negotiating a capital increase but later becoming the institution’s president.

Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network, which works on debt and poverty issues, noted that early appointees to key Treasury Department roles indicate a belief in the U.S.’s role in the World Bank and IMF. But some key roles may take time to fill.

“There may or may not be different kinds of challenges to multilateralism,” he said, adding that, as before, engaging with the IMF and the World Bank will be important for the Trump administration.

Another early indicator of funding will be Trump’s first budget request. While Congress often disregards presidential budget requests, it can signal priorities and policies. How much money the administration requests for IDA, and how much Congress eventually approves will be a first key test. The Biden administration pledged $4 billion over three years at the IDA replenishment in December.

Read more here




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Support #Jubilee2025, Gifts Doubled Now

In the last 6 months, we organized #Jubilee2025 launches on 6 continents to support new Jubilee debt relief campaigns in more than 160 countries. We joined Pope Francis at the Vatican a few days ago as he lifted support for our campaigns to win debt relief and changes to the financial system to end poverty, address inequality and heal our planet.

Our Vatican City Jubilee launches on December 23rd and 24th, follows more than 6 months of Jubilee interfaith and labor movement launch events that we organized and supported in Brazil, across Africa, Azerbaijan, from San Diego to Chicago to Washington DC and in Rome.

Because of your support, our Jubilee 2025 efforts focus in the coming year on the G20 in South Africa, the G7 in Canada, COP30 in Brazil and moving legislation in New York, the United Kingdom and Washington DC. Please donate to support our global and local organizing. All gifts are doubled through the end of 2024.

Because of your partnership, together we:

  • Supported organizing on our Jubilee issues for the upcoming South Africa G20, the Canada G7, the UN in Brazil and legislative changes in New York, DC and London. These efforts are critical as your gift now means that we are ready for the US to host the G20 in 2026.

  • We won bipartisan Jubilee support in Congress for $21 billion in global pandemic funds to support developing countries.

  • Our coordinated Puerto Rico efforts continue to move hundreds of million in relief to reduce child poverty and aid the island

  • Together, we expanded development bank aid to alleviate poverty

  • Our paper series and events featured a Nobel laureate, former ministers and high-level experts to develop and present recommendations to the IMF and World Bank on improving global debt policies. These recommendations and meetings are transforming the IMF and World Bank
  • We won zero-interest loans and lower interest rates on other loans for developing countries

  • After our calls from religious leaders and our strategic organizing, development aid expanded to $100 billion over the next three years. Our work with the US made history with a $4 billion commitment, the largest of all donors. This was only possible and further expansion of aid is only probable with your support now

  • Our powerful New York organizing and legislation on global debt relief and for protection of taxpayers and pensions moved forward. A piece of our legislation passed the New York Senate. With your partnership during #Jubilee2025 we can finally pass our historic Jubilee legislation into law

Your gift and increased support is vital now as our ambition and organizing will achieve, again, the improbable: Changes to the financial system to win hundreds of billions to end poverty, address inequality and heal our planet.

On pilgrimage,

 

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director
Jubilee USA Network

[email protected]
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

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Launched! New Jubilee 2025 Campaigns

Partner,

We are launching Jubilee campaigns in more than 160 countries for the next five years. Because of your support, our Jubilee 2025 efforts focus in the coming year on the G20 in South Africa, the G7 in Canada, COP30 in Brazil and moving legislation in New York, the United Kingdom and Washington DC.

On Christmas Eve at the Vatican, we joined Pope Francis at St. Peter's as he included our Jubilee interfaith and labor movement calls in his homily. He raised our calls for global debt relief to end poverty, address inequality and heal our planet. On Monday, December 23rd, the Vatican Press Office and Dicastery for Communications hosted Caritas Internationalis and Jubilee USA Network to launch our global campaigns at a press conference in Vatican City off of St. Peter's Square.

Watch our recorded press conference and Vatican Jubilee 2025 launch with Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, H.E. Ronald Lamola of South Africa, Lucy Esipila, Victor Cervantes Genina, Eric LeCompte, Caritas Africa and Caritas Oceania.

This Vatican City Jubilee launch follows more than 6 months of Jubilee interfaith and labor movement launch events that we organized and supported in Brazil, across Africa, Azerbaijan, from San Diego to Chicago to Washington DC and in Rome.

Other Jubilee2025 Selected Launch Event Links:

Joint Africa Partner and Jubilee USA Network Resources:

African Faith Leaders Petition G7/G20 Finance Ministers

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar Statement to IMF/ World Bank Annual Meetings 2023

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar Statement to 56th Conference of African Finance Ministers

Interfaith African Faith-Based Institutions Statement to Leaders Meeting in Nairobi for the International Development Association Heads of State Summit

Interfaith Africa Religious Leaders "Heralding a Debt Jubilee in 2025" Statement

Special #Jubilee2025 and Jubilee movement interview at Brazil G20 Interfaith Forum with Jubilee USA's Eric LeCompte: Eric LeCompte G20 Interfaith Forum Interview

Pope Francis, Holy See and Vatican Jubilee 2025 resources:

Selected Press Articles and Media Resources:

For the last 3 years, Jubilee USA Network carefully organized for this moment with African and southern partners and international faith groups for our launches of #Jubilee2025. As we move forward and win our next five years of global strategic campaigns, find special resources and interfaith prayer and action resources at www.JubileeUSA.org

Gratefully,

Aldo Caliari
Senior Director of Policy and Campaigns
Jubilee USA Network
[email protected]
www.jubileeusa.org/support-us

PS. Please make a tax-deductive donation to Jubilee USA before the year end. Your donation is doubled now.

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