Issues
88th Legislature Immigration Bills
88th Legislature Immigration Bills For years, burdens of an unworkable system of immigration have fallen heavily on states and communities along the US-Mexico border. The human and moral cost of ongoing federal inaction to create an effective set of policies to ensure safe and orderly migration is tragically reflected both in an unprecedented number of persons…
Read MoreTexas Catholic Conference of Bishops supports parental choice in education bills
AUSTIN — Recognizing education is one of the best means to escape poverty and that parents are best suited to determine the right educational choice for their children, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) supports a set of bills increasing parental choice in education. The bills have been filed by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, Sen.…
Read MoreLetter to Attorney General Paxton about Blaine amendments
The anti-Catholic history of Blaine amendments Today we submitted a letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton outlining the anti-Catholic history of Blaine amendments and the constitutionality of parental choice Education Savings Accounts in Texas. Thank you to Nicole Garnett and the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative for assistance. Read the letter here
Read More88th Legislature Parental Choice Bills
88th Legislature Parental Choice Bills The bishops’ criteria for supporting parental choice legislation includes the following: a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable, ensuring students with the greatest academic and financial need are first in line; academic accountability which requires accreditation and the administration of a norm- or criterion-referenced assessment each year (current practice…
Read MoreSupport Family Educational Relief Program, SB 1968
My name is Jennifer Allmon, and I am the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of SB 1968. The Texas bishops believe parents are the primary and principal educators of their children and therefore must be free to determine the best educational environment for their children. To ensure quality…
Read MoreKeep Religious Liberty: Oppose SB 1669
My name is Lisette Allen and I am the Director of Education at the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in opposition to SB 1669. The Texas bishops support school choice and religious liberty that respects the independence and autonomy of private and religious schools, while also fostering strong public-school options. We are concerned with…
Read MoreSupport SB 1646 (Perry) | HB 4014 (Hefner)
The bishops seek to promote strong, stable, and healthy families, and oppose direct threats to innocent life, from conception to natural death. Our opposition to hormonal therapies and surgeries that aim at cross-sex transitioning or gender reassignment comes from this concern for the health of children and their families. For these reasons we support SB…
Read MoreReform of Texas Advance Directives Act HB 3099 (Coleman) | SB 1944 (Lucio)
All human life, no matter how disabled or critically ill, is of inherent dignity and incomparable worth; all are entitled to adequate healthcare. A balanced approach to end-of-life care equally respects the rights of patients in the natural process of dying and the conscience of healthcare professionals providing their care. The Texas Advance Directives Act…
Read MoreNo Abortions Funded by Taxpayers: Support HB 1173
My name is Shannon Jaquette and I am the Policy Analyst at the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of HB 1173. Last session the legislature had the wisdom and foresight to pass legislation to protect taxpayers from subsidizing abortion through preferential contracts and property deals. Despite the fact that time and time…
Read MorePromote Criminal Justice Reform: Support HB 1340
My name is Rachana Chhin, and I am the Legislative Counsel of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of HB 1340. The TCCB support criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners, responds to the needs of victims of crime, and encourages rehabilitation and forgiveness for those re-entering society. HB…
Read More