Texas Catholic Conference supports Strengthening Amendment to Religious Freedom Resolution

Austin, Texas --- The Catholic Bishops of Texas are supporting a May 11 amendment by Representative Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) to strengthen a House Joint Resolution regarding religious freedom (HJR 135). The amendment clarifies what action would constitute a breach of religious freedom and also broadens its applicability to all organizations, not solely religious organizations. 

“It is vital that the legislature supports the right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, because it is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person,” stated the Texas Catholic Conference, the Bishops’ policy arm, in a floor memo to the House members (see below for memo), referring to paragraph 1738 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common good and public order.”

In late March of this year, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the retired archbishop of Washington, testified on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on protecting religious freedom for all. “When the very right of conscience is attacked, the ability to exercise religious beliefs is subverted,” said Cardinal McCarrick. There are well known contemporary examples where the state would force religious groups and individuals to choose between following their religious beliefs and practices and following the dictates of law.”

The Texas Catholic Conference is the association of the 15 Roman Catholic dioceses of the State of Texas and is the official public policy voice of the Bishops of Texas. For more information on the Texas Catholic Conference, visit www.TXCatholic.org.

Support Rep. Hochberg’s Amendment to HJR 135, offered May 11

The TCC is the statewide association of the 15 Roman Catholic dioceses in our state and it is our responsibility to advocate for the public policy positions of the active Bishops of Texas. It is vital that the legislature supports the right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, because it is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common good and public order (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1738).

The amendment language that Representative Hochberg is suggested on Wednesday, May 11, on HJR 135 improves the current version in the following ways:

• It includes clearer and stronger language through the phrase “substantial burden” when determining the applicability of a breach of the right to the exercise of religious freedom;

• It broadens the applicability of the law from only “religious” organizations, which is narrowly defined, to all organizations, allowing any organization to have religious exercise, not only faith-based organizations; and

• The language “substantially motivated” is an improvement over “based on.”

The Bishops support HJR 135, and urge members to support the corrective amendment offered by Representative Hochberg on May 11.