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As the month comes to an end, we are continuing to wrap up post-legislative session work and continue on our planning for the next session, as well as interim work. This week, we sent comments to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to advocate for lowering the advisory levels for consumption of fish with mercury. You can read our comments online here. We also sent out two federal action alerts - you can find links to those below.
As we continue to pray for rain in our part of the country, and pray especially for those who earn their living through agriculture, we welcome you to learn more about poverty and hunger through a free faith-based study guide that is now available through the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. You can view the guide online here.
Also, this week is Natural Family Planning week! Learn more about how Natural Family Planning (NFP) enriches the bond between husband and wife by respecting the love-giving and live-giving natures of marriage at the USCCB NFP web page.
Finally, to answer the question, "Did the Texas Legislature pass a pro-life budget?", we welcome you to read this month's Capitol Comments: Life and Dignity in the Budget.
Action Alerts
We sent the following action alerts out this week, click on the alert to view the full alert.
Support Conscience Protections in Health Care Reform Law
Read More:
Put Poor and Vulnerable First in Deficit Negotiations
Read More:
Texas Bishops
Another senseless tragedy
By Bishop Kevin Farrell, Diocese of Dallas
It is impossible to understand what could drive a person to perform the violent actions that have taken close to 100 lives in Norway. One must conclude that the perpetrator was an egomaniac set on destroying those who did not share his twisted point of view.
An extremist of any stripe can easily become so convinced that his point of view is the only correct one that any act of violence is justified in promoting it. Read Full Story >>
A Shepherd's Message: True compassion alleviates suffering while maintaining solidarity with the one who suffers. It does not put lethal drugs in their hands.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston
The Bishops of the United States met in June, as they do each year, for their summer meeting. There was some irony about the place of our meeting: Seattle, Washington, a state where physician-assisted suicide is permitted. One of the documents the Bishops’ Conference was considering was a formal policy statement on that very issue. As Chair of the Pro-Life Committee of the Bishops’ Conference, it was my responsibility and honor to shepherd the statement through its various stages and amendments to its final form and voting. I am pleased to report that the Bishops voted overwhelmingly for its approval. Read Full Story >>
News
Pope Benedict XVI: Abandon the way of hatred
Before reciting the Angelus, the Pope reflected on the importance of one’s conscience is doing good and avoiding evil. He was speaking about the first reading from Sunday’s Mass, which spoke of King Solomon, who had prayed to God to give him a meek heart, meaning a developed conscience to determine between good and evil.
The Pope said, “Solomon’s example applies to everyone…The moral conscience presupposes a capacity to listen to the voice of truth, and to be meek towards its indications.” Read Full Story >>
First-Ever Virtual Pilgrimage to World Youth Day to Assist Those ‘Staying Home’
For the first time ever, individuals can make a virtual pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) using a social media tool developed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Communications Department. USCCB has created a Facebook application and a website for non-Facebook users (http://www.virtualworldyouthday.org/) where individuals can create an avatar and use it to participate in the virtual pilgrimage. The application can be added to any Facebook fan page. A Google map provides visuals of where pilgrims are coming from throughout the world and another shows the pilgrims on a detailed map of Madrid. Read Full Story >>
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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.
The Texas Catholic Voice is the E-Newsletter of the Texas Catholic Conference - The Official Public Policy Voice of the Texas Bishops.
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