As the debate about paid parental leave in the U.S. gains steam, Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich is rolling out a new parental leave policy for church employees to better reflect Roman Catholic teachings about family values.
Effective July 1, the nation's third-largest Catholic diocese will offer up to three months of fully paid parental leave to its 7,000 eligible employees — the most generous parental leave policy of any American Catholic diocese, experts say.
Under the new policy, mothers and fathers who work at least 26 hours a week can take three months paid leave, plus three more months without pay. Couples who work for the archdiocese can take a combined six months of paid leave and six months unpaid — adding up to a year at home with their children.
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