Restorative justice
HB 190: Ensure payday and auto-title lenders verify ability to repay before issuing a loan
Testimony by Rachana Chhin Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops are in support of HB 190. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops have regularly advocated for payday lending reform in the last few sessions. This is rooted in both scripture’s exhortation not to lend at usurious interest and Catholic Social Teaching’s preferential option for the poor…
Read MoreHelp save Juan Castillo’s Life!
Juan Castillo is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, May 16 by the State of Texas. Join our Texas bishops, fellow parishioners, Catholic Mobilizing Network and hundreds of people of goodwill in raising our voices to save a life! Help by clicking here to send a letter to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles asking…
Read MoreHB 64 & HB 1537: Death penalty serves no purpose in Texas today
Michael Barba The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops support HB 64 and 1537. We thank Reps. Dutton and Farrar for filing this legislation. Analysis of Capital Punishment. There are four goals or ends of punishment which the bishops use to analyze whether a punishment is legitimate and should be applied: 1. the punishment results in the…
Read MoreHB 316: Punishment appropriate for the actions
Michael Barba The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops support HB 316. We thank Rep. Canales for filing this legislation. Analysis of HB 316. There are four goals or ends of punishment which the bishops use to analyze whether a punishment is legitimate and should be applied: 1. the punishment results in the rehabilitation of the…
Read MoreHB 3054: improve the rights of juries serving death penalty cases
Mary Helen Russell I’m testifying in support of HB 3054 on behalf of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. The Bishops are meeting today across the street in preparation for their advocacy day tomorrow, which is why the Executive Director, Jennifer Allmon, is unable to be here to deliver this testimony. However, the issue is…
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…
Read MoreRethinking The Death Penalty Events Coming To The Texas Capitol In October
The public and moral consequences of capital punishment will be the subject of a one-day conference entitledJourney To Mercy – Rethinking The Death Penalty In Texasbeing jointly hosted by the Texas Catholic Conference on Friday, October 23, in the Texas Capitol in Austin. The conference is an opportunity to re-examine the state’s system of capital…
Read MoreCorpus Christi Passes New Law Regulating Payday and Auto-Title Lenders
Consumer advocates from across the state celebrated the Corpus Christi City Council’s passage of a payday and auto-title lending ordinance on August 11. Modeled on similar ordinances passed by 25 of the largest municipalities across the state, the Corpus Christi ordinance looks to “reducing abusive and predatory lending practices” by payday and auto title loan…
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