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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.
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First reading |
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Responsorial Psalm |
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Gospel |
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Video Reflection |
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Saint of the Day |
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Criminal Justice Reform Issues
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We support fiscal and moral reform in our state’s criminal justice system with an emphasis on ending the death penalty and supporting successful rehabilitation and reintegration of those re-entering society.
Criminal Justice Reform Priorities
Abolish the use of the death penalty in Texas.
Support a moratorium on the death penalty in Texas.
Support a ban on executions of people who were mentally retarded at the time of the offense.
Increase funding and support for the chaplain corps within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), including ensuring access to inmates by all chaplains.
Increase probation funding for the TDCJ, including increased funding for training of corrections officers.
Provide an equitable pay scale for correctional officers.
Support full implementation & funding for the Indigent Defense Act.
Support the creation of an Innocence Commission in Texas.
Support the creation of a Public Defenders office in Texas.
Support opt-out of ban on drug felons receiving food stamps and student loans in order to facilitate reintegration.
Click here to download all 81st Legislative Session Priorities
Click here to look at Criminal Justice Reform legislation that the TCC supported or opposed during the last legislative session.
Statements of Bishops
Public Testimony & Letters
Letter requesting clemency for Kenneth Foster
Letter requesting clemency for Cathy Henderson
Letter to House of Representatives on Jessica's Law
FAQ
Why is the Church opposed to the death penalty?
Click here to visit our FAQ page
Resources
Death Penalty Resource page
Restore Justice The purpose of RestoreJustice.com is to offer a place of compassion and assistance, resources and services and educational information for anyone who is affected by crime - victims of crime, offenders and their families, corrections staff, chaplains, criminal justice system employees and management, and advocates for restorative justice.
Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty Hosted by the USCCB, this web site includes information about the Church’s involvement to end the death penalty.
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criminal justice reform issues