Welcome to this year's first interim edition of the Texas Catholic Voice! During the interim we'll keep you apprised of TCC news and events, action alert opportunities, news from the Texas Bishops, the US Bishops, and other issues relevant to our Catholic faith and
faithful citizenship.
We again thank all of our faithful citizens who advocated with us during the legislative session, and as a post-session highlight, we welcome you to view our online facebook album of the Texas Bishops during Advocacy Day here.
2011 Scripture Seminar Save-the-Date
Save the date! The 2011 Scripture Seminar will feature Rev. J. Patrick Mullen, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at St. John's Seminary College in Camarillo, California, who will speak on the Gospel of Mark. The Seminar will be help October 17-18, 2011 at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. We will be offering online registration and payment this year, we'll let you know when that is available. For more information, visit our Scripture Seminar web page here.
TCC Featured on Relevant Radio Show "It's All About Life"
TCC Executive Director Jeffery Patterson was featured on Austin's Relevant Radio program "It's All About Life," on July 8 talking about the results from the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature.
Patterson was joined by TCC Communication Director Maria Huemmer to discuss successes in passing the sonogram law, the prohibition of taxpayer funds for abortions in county hospital districts, and in making available "Choose Life" license plates for state drivers. The conversation also touched on other legislative issues involving health care, immigration, and the opportunities for faithful citizenship.
You can listen to a recording of the show on the Austin Catholic New Media web site here.
To learn more about our outcomes from the 82nd regular and special sessions, view our Outcomes Report here.
Pope Names Bishop Alvaro Corrada Del Rio to Puerto Rico Diocese
 Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, SJ of Tyler, Texas, as bishop of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Bishop Corrada was appointed auxiliary bishop of Washington in 1985, and apostolic administrator of Caguas, Puerto Rico in 1997. When he was named an auxiliary bishop for the Washington Archdiocese, he became the first Puerto Rican native to be named a bishop for the U.S. mainland.
"The Diocese of Tyler has been very well served by Bishop Alvaro Corrada del Rio, who worked tirelessly to improve the diocese's pastoral and fiscal structures, especially on behalf of the poor and distressed through Catholic Charities," said Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. "He has dedicated his 37 years of priesthood to serving the people of God across the nation, from New York to Washington, D.C. to Texas – and now back to his native Puerto Rico. In his work as a pastor, school teacher, retreat master and counselor, Bishop Corrada has always presented himself as a servant to all those in need. It has been a blessing for me to work with him on issues of concern for the Texas Catholic Conference. Bishop Corrada, your episcopal service to the people of the Lone Star State since 2000 has offered hope and Christ's power to others. May your days as the Bishop of Mayaguez be fruitful and blessed." Read Full Story >>
Action Alerts
Support Ban on Funding Elective Abortion in the District of Columbia
National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA)
Beginning with fiscal year 1989, Congress has approved the Dornan Amendment to prevent all congressionally appropriated funds, federal and local, from being used for elective abortion in the District of Columbia. The policy has remained in place every year except fiscal years 1994 to 1996 and, most recently, 2010. The ban was restored for fiscal year 2011. It is anticipated an amendment will be offered to remove the ban on all public funding of elective abortions in the District of Columbia. Click here to access an action alert to ask your US Representative to support a ban on funding elective abortion in DC.
Texas Bishops
Are These Truths 'Self-Evident?'
Column by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, Archdiocese of San Antonio
Every year as we celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July, we hear patriotic speeches based on the opening words of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” These powerful words stir one’s soul and express what many consider to be the best about the United States of America.
However, did the signers of the Declaration of Independence truly mean that all people are created equal? Read Full Story >>
Erosion of Religious Freedom
Bishop Kevin Farrell, Diocese of Dallas
Religious freedom is more than the freedom to worship. Religious freedom is the right to hold and publicly express religious values and practice those values freely especially in our own institutions. The fundamental concept that religion is a beneficial and valuable institution in our society is eroding. From being salutary, religion is seen as a good organization among many, then something entirely private and finally as exerting a negative impact on society. Read Full Story >>
USCCB News
Subcommittee on Church in Latin America Approves $2 Million in Grants
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America approved funding for 86 projects, worth over $2.1 million in grants, to aid the pastoral work of the Church in 20 countries throughout the hemisphere. The decision was made during the subcommittee’s meeting June 13, in Seattle.
“We continue to respond to the needs of the Church throughout Latin America,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, chair of the subcommittee. “We are working extensively with the Church in Haiti and in Chile as they continue to address the needs resulting from the earthquakes in 2010. In Haiti, we are helping build churches, schools, and convents that are designed and built to withstand future earthquakes.” Read Full Story >>
Whac-a Mole Immigration Policy
Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, Director of Media Relations, USCCB
The U.S. government and Congress play their own version of Whac-a-Mole when it comes to immigration. The results are about the same as when people play with mallets and pop-up moles at an arcade: lots of noise, mindless excitement and no productivity. Smack a mallet in one place and up pops a mole elsewhere. The players can toss dollars at the game and pound themselves into a frenzy but never really win.
Whac-an-Immigrant has been through many incarnations. There has been -- whack! -- the border blockade strategy begun in the 1990s. The effort, known as Operation Gatekeeper in California, Operation Hold-the-Line in Texas, and Operation Safeguard in Arizona, concentrated border patrol agents in cities, driving migrants into remote regions of the desert. Travel became harder, smuggling networks became stronger and thousands of migrants died in the American desert. The visceral drive for a better life exceeded the will to keep the stranger out, and the immigrants still came. Read Full Story >> |
In the Voice...
Upcoming Events
Family Fiesta of Life Conference Archdiocese of San Antonio
July 29-30, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church The Archdiocese of San Antonio's Family Fiesta of Life Conference will take place July 29-30, at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. Friday night’s program begins with an hour of praise and worship with Christian musicians “Body of Christ Ministries,” followed by Eucharist Adoration and Benediction. Saturday’s program includes family Mass with Bishop Oscar Cantu and presentations by Patrick Coffin, emcee and host of national radio show Catholic Answers LIVE and Vicki Thorne, international speaker and founder of Project Rachel. Brian Butler, a regular speaker on Theology of the Body for Teens, will meet and connect with teenagers. Click here to learn more. El Congreso de la Familia Arquidiócesis de San Antonio
el 9 de julio, en el Centro de Convenciones Henry B. Gonzalez
El programa incluye la Santa Misa con nuestro Arzobispo Gustavo Garcia Siller y presentaciones del Padre Guadalupe Santos de Guadalajara, México, Armando Duarte, Director del Instituto de la Familia Juan Pablo II de México, Jake Samour, Director de la Pastoral de Matrimonios y Vida Familiar de la Arquidiócesis, Valentina Alazraky de Roma, Italia (testigo en la Beatificación de Juan Pablo II), Lic. Rosa Romo de Roma, Italia, y en concierto Nana Angarita. Abrá adoración del Santísimo, confesiones, oración de sanación familiar, consejería matrimonial y mucho más. Obtenga más información aquí.
The Texas Catholic Voice is the E-Newsletter of the Texas Catholic Conference - The Official Public Policy Voice of the Texas Bishops.
Share this email *|SHARE:Facebook,Twitter|*
|
