You are here: home--policy texas catholic voice archives
Welcome to the Texas Catholic Conference, the Official Public Policy Voice of the Catholic Bishops of Texas.
OUR MISSION
The primary purpose of the Conference is to encourage and foster cooperation and communication among the dioceses and the ministries of the Catholic Church of Texas.
A major function of the Conference is to be the public policy arm of the Conference's Board of Directors, the bishops of Texas, before the Texas legislature, the Texas delegation in Congress, and state agencies. The public policy issues addressed by the Conference include institutional concerns of the Catholic Church as well as issues related to Catholic social teachings.
“All human life is sacred to God and therefore is sacred to us.”
Bishop Gregory Aymond, Pro Life Mass
Pro-Life Day in Austin brought hundreds together to pray, learn, and actively promote respect for human life from conception until natural death.
The Day's activities began at 7 a.m. with a prayer vigil at an abortion clinic in downtown Austin. Despite the brisk air, organizers estimated that there were approximately 90 people in attendance, including Dr. Alveda King, niece of the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King.
After the vigil, hundreds gathered at San Jose parish in Austin for a pro-life rosary and Mass, celebrated by Bishop Aymond.
Click the image above to see Pro Life day pictures, as well as excerpts from Bishop Aymond's homily and Dr. Alveda King's speech
“God’s dream is that all human life will be respected,” stated Bishop Aymond during his homily. “We have a dream not just for the unborn but for all human life. We have a dream that the terminally ill will not be in danger of losing their lives. We have a dream that those on death row will be given a chance to repent, instead of taking their life from them. We have a dream that the poor and the homeless and the hungry will be invited to someone’s table….”..click here to read more...
First Texas Cardinal receives praise from Governor Perry
"Honor is given to me but I say that honor is given to the dynamic Catholic presence here in the state of Texas,” said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, who was honored on December 12, at a luncheon hosted by Governor Rick Perry.
“I think what the Holy Father and the Holy See are saying is that the whole south and southwestern part of the United States with its variety of people, obviously a major portion of whom are Hispanic, is a noteworthy and beautiful addition for the Catholic Church in the United States and they wanted to recognize that,” Cardinal DiNardo said..click here to read more..
2007 marks 25 years of a Culture of death in Texas
"Many of us say that we live in a culture of death,” stated Bishop Gregory Aymond during a press conference at the State Capitol.
Click the picture above to watch Bishop Aymond's testimony
Bishop Aymond, speaking on behalf of the Texas Catholic Conference, reiterated Catholic Teaching on the death penalty, stating, “We do not believe as people who believe in Jesus, that it is right to continue this cycle of death. Even if someone has experienced or committed the terrible, egregious crime of taking the life of another, does that give us the right to take their life?"...click here to read more...