Happy Birthday, Archbishop Flynn (and happy retirement, too!)

Friday was Archbishop Harry Flynn's 75th birthday. It was also the date of his official retirement. Instead of hopping a plane to some beach to lounge (or to his cabin in New York State), he spent part of his morning at the State Office Building to speak at a press conference on increasing minimum wage.

The House passed the bill the night before, and it was going to conference committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions. It is expected to be on the governor's desk within the week.

"People keep reminding me that this is my 75th birthday — a fact that hasn't gotten by me; but as I move into retirement I wanted just one more tiem to speak about this very important issue and on behalf of these very important workers," he told the gathered crowd, legislators standing proudly behind him.

"I believe that increasing minimum wage is a matter of justice," he said.

"It is true that the people of this state value hard work, but we also value the dignity of the worker. For me, that means that the life of the worker has to be spent doing more than work."

Many low wage workers work two or three jobs to make ends meet, he said.

"This isn't a dignified life," he continued. "True human dignity means that people not only focus on their material survival but that they have time and opportunity to participate in their social, cultural and spiritual development as well. Family life and participation are key to human dignity and important to our democracy."

Increasing minimum wage would allow people to work only one job and thus, have more time for family and social life, he said.