Issues
Legislative highlights: Justice for Immigrants
National Migration Week, which has been observed for more than a quarter of a century, carries renewed importance this year. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and Archbishop José H. Gomez, president and vice president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, offered these thoughts in their message: “Migration is, more than anything, an act of great hope.…
Read MoreNovena for life begins Jan. 21
A modern adaptation of an ancient Catholic prayer allows people to prepare spiritually for the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States, Roe v. Wade. The nine day prayer, titled “9 Days for Life,” is organized by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Texas Catholic Pro-Life Day falls…
Read MoreCatholic Church commits to ongoing work for refugees
AUSTIN — Catholic charitable and social services will continue to work with other nonprofits serving refugees in Texas, as the state government announced its intention to step away from its role. Speaking on behalf of two dozen Catholic organizations and his fellow Catholic bishops in the state, Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth said,…
Read MoreExecutive Director provides testimony to state’s Investments and Financial Services Committee
AUSTIN — The Catholic Church’s experience of clients with outstanding payday and auto-title loans has led the Texas bishops to become champions for reform of the unregulated payday and auto-title lending industry. In testimony before the Texas House’s Investments and Financial Services Committee, the executive director of the bishops’ state conference explained that better consumer…
Read MoreTexas Bishops encourage tax credit scholarship program
AUSTIN — Texans can benefit from the insights coming from the 20 tax credit scholarship programs which exist around the nation, the executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference testified to the state’s Senate Education Committee in Austin. “We have the opportunity to develop a program that replicates the success in other states while avoiding…
Read MoreStatement in response to Catholics for Choice campaign
On Monday, full-page advertisements ran in the San Antonio Express-News, the Houston Chronicle, and the Dallas Morning News from a Washington D.C.-based entity called Catholics for Choice. Despite what is implied by its name, Catholics for Choice is not a member-oriented organization and has no affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. Instead, it is financed…
Read MoreHelp stop predatory loan practices
In our charitable ministries we see the high cost of being broke every day. We hear the same stories of debt and despair throughout the state of Texas, where virtually no regulation means thousands of Texans are trapped in the never-ending payday and auto-title lending cycle of debt. Payday loans are marketed as short-term small…
Read MoreStay of execution granted for Jeff Wood
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has issued a stay of execution for Jeff Wood. Their action today prevents a gross miscarriage of justice. The public outcry against this execution illustrates broad agreement on the injustice and basic unfairness of the Texas law of parties.
Read MoreRobert Pruett granted stay; Jeff Wood’s case needs support
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals hasstayed the execution of Robert Pruett“pursuant to the appeal pending in the DNA case.” Pruett was scheduled to be executed on Aug. 23 despite significant doubts about the reliability of his conviction. Meanwhile, Jeff Wood, who has not ever killed another person, is still scheduled to die Aug. 24 for a…
Read MoreA call for justice
The state of Texas intends to kill two individuals within 24 hours on Aug. 23 and 24, 2016. In both cases, there are strong indicators that the defendants may be innocent. A gross misuse of justice does not serve the victims, our society or those who have been sentenced to death. Please consider joining the…
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