LIFE MATTERS FROM THE USCCB
The 2011-2012 Respect Life Program features eight pamphlets in a series called Life Matters. Each presents convincing support for the teachings of the Catholic Church on major pro-life issues, with facts and reasoning drawn from science, history, law, sociology, and other secular sources.All 8 pamphlets are available in English and Spanish. (Abortion, Contraception, Death Penalty, Embryo Research, Love and Marriage, Persons with Disabilities, Reproductive Technologies, To the End of our Days)
Each pamphlet is accessible as a pdf for a bulletin insert.
82nd Texas Legislative Session
Governor Perry opened the session with requests for two issues to be dealt with as “Emergency Legislation”. The Sonogram bill, which is supported by the Texas Bishops is moving through the process and has passed in both houses. Differences between the Senate and House versions will be resolved in a conference committee. This is a great step forward in acknowledging the personhood of every unborn child. The Governor also placed legislation on Sanctuary Cities on the fast track. Our Bishops oppose this legislation along with many other immigration bills that have been introduced. You can find out about the Bishop’s legislative agenda and their position on bills by visiting the Texas Catholic Conference website at www.txcatholic.org
On the Federal level, the chairs of the Pro-Life Activities Committee, the Domestic Justice and Human Development Committee and the International Justice and Peace Committee have all written letters to the Congress regarding some specific legislation and the budget discussions. Those letters are available below. We encourage you to contact Senators Cornyn and Hutchison and your Congressman in Washington offering your support for the position of the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- Texas Bishops Recommend Balanced Approach to Budget Including Rainy Day Fund
- Protect Life Act (USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities)
- Domestic Concern (USCCB Committee on Justice and Human Development)
- International Letter (USCCB and Catholic Relief Services)
Practice Faithful Citizenship
- Texas Catholic Conference
- Campaign to End Global Poverty
- Justice for Immigrants Campaign
- Catholic Charities USA Advocacy
Our Mission as Faithful Citizens
Discipleship demands that all Catholics work with others to build a civic society aligned with Catholic Social Teachings in which all people are able to reach their fullest calling in both personal and community life. The Faithful Citizenship Committee of the Diocese of Austin exists to promote this mission.
We align ourselves with the USCCB who believe: Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith.... Because this commitment to social justice is at the heart of who we are and what we believe, it must be shared more effectively.
The Faithful Citizenship Committee in line with the USCCB seeks to address the pressing need to educate all Catholics on the Church's social teaching and to share the social demands of the Gospel and Catholic tradition more clearly.
If Catholic education and formation fail to communicate our social tradition, they are not fully Catholic.
- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from The Catholic Bishops of the United States
Catholic Identity
In the Bishop’s document, we are told that “In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation.”(p. 13). It further states that Faithful Citizenship is about more than elections. It requires ongoing participation in the continuing political and legislative process.
To participate in the political and legislative process as a faithful citizen requires that first of all our political positions be grounded in our faith. For this the Bishops point us to “Scripture and the Catholic Social teaching” and specifically mention “the themes at the heart of our Catholic Social Tradition.” These themes are:
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
- Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
- Solidarity
- Caring for God’s Creation
In addition to this new document on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has published the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church which gives us a more complete picture of the Catholic Social teaching. The Bishops point to the full scope of the Social Teachings as the proper grounding for being faithful citizens. It is not a matter of making selections.
Second to be a faithful citizen it is important to be informed about how the social teachings apply to the issues that are either being considered or should be considered in the political arena.
Third being a faithful citizen cannot stop there but calls for us to be “active and responsible participants in the political process.”
To support the effort for all of us becoming faithful citizens the bishops say “Forming their consciences in accord with Catholic teaching, Catholic lay women and men can become actively involved: running for office; working within political parties; communicating their concerns and positions to elected officials; and joining diocesan social mission or advocacy networks, state Catholic conference initiatives, community organizations, and other efforts to apply authentic moral teaching in the public square. Even those who cannot vote have the right to have their voices heard on issues that affect their lives and the common good.” (p.16)
The purpose of the Faithful Citizenship committee is to lead and support implementation of the themes of our Catholic Social Traditions throughout the institutions of the diocese to help all Catholics meet the responsibilities required to be a faithful citizen.
Faithful Citizenship Resources
US Catholic Bishops Faithful Citizenship Web Site
Faithful Citizenship Presentation (2008)
We have a new Faithful Citizenship resource for Parishes! It is designed to promote more awareness of Faithful Citizenship in parishes and homes. You can view an insightful Power Point presentation or in PDF format.
DVD
We’re pleased to announce that the Faithful Citizenship DVD is now available for shipping from USCCB Publishing. It is designed to provide a lively but brief overview of the bishops’ statement for use by small groups, in classrooms, at conferences, and in other settings.
The DVD includes three ten-minute segments—one for adults in English, one for adults in Spanish, and one for teens in English. To order, go to http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=981.
The three segments of the Faithful Citizenship DVD can also be viewed on the Faithful Citizenship Web site at www.faithfulcitizenship.org.
Register to Vote!
Contact your local county to register to vote in the November elections. Parishes are encouraged to hold non-partisan voter registration drives at their parishes. Persons can be deputized by the county to become voter registrars. Contact your local county to find out procedures. For more information on ways that parishes can encourage non-partisan political participation visit the Texas Catholic Conference web page at www.txcatholic.org/documents/guidelines_for_pastor.pdf