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In The Voice…
Bishop McCarthy Awarded Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award
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Bishop McCarthy with TCC staff |
Bishop John McCarthy, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Austin, was recently awarded the Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award from the Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors. This award honors an individual or individuals who have made unique contributions to the achievement of the Catholic vision of social justice…click here to read more…
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Immigrant advocates want to see a change in who controls the debate
By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After the failure last year of a bill that seemed so close to passing that people started planning how to implement it, supporters of comprehensive immigration reform are regrouping, preparing to take on their opponents who have been dominating public debate on the issue.
Frank Sharry, a leader of the comprehensive reform movement and longtime director of the National Immigration Forum, is leaving that organization to launch a new one, America's Voice, with the goal of "taking off the gloves" in responding to opponents of comprehensive reform.
"There is a concerted effort by the opponents of immigration to demonize immigrants," Sharry said at the annual gathering of Catholic social ministry workers in Washington in late February. "They use talk radio and distorted facts. Those who demonize don't have the facts, but they have had the upper hand in the debate."
"The current system respects neither the rule of law nor the right of families to seek improvement in their lives," he said. "It's about time we had an immigration system that embodies both traditions, upholding the law and the right to seek better opportunities -- (which is) a human right, not a legal right."
"The Catholic Church has been so prophetic in taking on this issue," Sharry said, noting that the church has a 2,000-year perspective on migration, which it views as a fundamental right of people who wish to improve their lives.
Sharry's new role will in part be to fight back at arguments such as the Mexican border with the U.S. must be walled off and deportations escalated before any other steps are taken to deal with immigration problems, including years-long waits to immigrate legally and the lack of any legal immigration option for most people.
Supporters of a broader approach to immigration reform include the U.S. Catholic bishops, other churches' governing bodies, labor unions, and business, ethnic and civil rights organizations.
They want a bill that includes a process to legalize the estimated 12 million people here illegally, offers more visas for unskilled laborers and streamlines the system for reuniting families at the same time enforcement is improved…click here to read more...
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Vatican statement clarifies validity of baptisms
By Regina Linskey
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Doctrinal and ecumenical officials at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said the release of a Vatican statement addressing the validity of baptisms was to answer bishops' questions and to provide consistency in the church's practice.
"I think if you are over the age of 45 to 50 you have nothing to fear" regarding the validity of baptisms, said Father Tom Weinandy, a Capuchin Franciscan who is executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat of Doctrine. Those in the younger generation shouldn't "have a huge amount of fear" either, he added.
According to the statement released by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Feb. 29, a baptism administered "in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer and of the Sanctifier" or formulas that do not say "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is not a baptism at all. If the baptism is invalid, so are the other sacraments the person may have received, such as matrimony.
"If you are not validly baptized," and thus not validly married, "a person needs to get rebaptized and remarried," explained Father Weinandy.
However, unless a witness at the baptism knows that an incorrect formula was used, "it is assumed they used the right formula," he said. "The presumption is the obvious truth that the baptism is valid."…click here to read more…
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Bishop Zurek Installed 8th Ordinary of the Diocese of Amarillo
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On February 22, 2008 Bishop Patrick J. Zurek was installed as the eighth ordinary of the Diocese of Amarillo.
“It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm from the people of Amarillo for their new Bishop,” stated Andrew Rivas, executive director for the Texas Catholic Conference. “To have such a strong pastoral leader in such a faith-filled community will be a blessing for the entire state.”…click here to read more…
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Upcoming Events
Gathering: Catholic Charities, Catholic Social Action, Parish Social Ministry: Poverty and Racism: Through the Lens of Homelessness, Health, and Child Welfare
Undocumented Hispanic Immigrants in the United States: Benefits, Problems, and Prospects
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The Texas Catholic Conference (TCC) is the association of the 15 Roman Catholic dioceses of the State of Texas, and is the Official Public Policy Voice of the Catholic Bishops of Texas. For more information on the TCC, visit TXcatholic.org.
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bishop mccarthy receives fagan award, bishop zurek installed in amarillo
