Texas Catholic Voice Jan. 16, 2023

Happy New Year, TCV readers! I hope you all had a peaceful and joyful Christmas. Upon our return to the office, we immediately picked up where we left off before the holidays preparing for the 88th Legislature. On opening day at the Capitol, the joy and optimism of new and returning legislators, their families, and visiting constituents was palpable. Now begins the difficult work of trying to make Texas a better place for everyone, not just to live, but also to flourish.  

As in past legislative sessions, the Voice will be sent out weekly and should arrive in your inbox every Monday morning. We will inform you about important bills being heard in committee and issue calls to action, among other news and developments. We continue to work on analyzing bills as they are filed and will post the bishops’ positions on our website after there is a broader representation of the issues. Priority bills for House and Senate leadership are usually not filed until committee chairs are selected, since they hold the power to move bills. Legislators’ requests for committees are due on Jan. 26. 

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and I recently authored an article for Good Faith Media on this modern-day scourge and what the Church is doing to combat it. Children at Risk is hosting an advocacy day on Tuesday, Jan. 24, to ensure that anti-human trafficking legislation is a priority this session. Join us at 10 a.m. on the South Steps of the Capitol for the rally.  

Happy MLK Day! Today we honor Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was a tireless advocate for the dignity of all. USCCB president, Archbishop Broglio, released a statement in which he expresses his hope “that we may achieve Dr. King’s dream of building a society where every person is recognized as a beloved son or daughter of God and treated with the justice and dignity that they deserve.”