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, 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.

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