Texas Catholic Voice July 2026
In this issue:
- First TEFA payments given to families
- Four years after Dobbs
- Religious liberty is America’s first freedom, Pope Leo XIV says
- Save the date for Advocacy Day 2027
- And more!
A Message from Jennifer Allmon, Executive Director
First TEFA payments go out to families
The first installment of the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) awards -- 25% of the total award for each student -- was received by almost 73,000 students on the Odyssey platform last week. The funding was sent to students’ parents who opted in to the TEFA program, had selected a private school by June 1 and whose enrollment was confirmed by the school by June 15.
These students will receive another 25% of their total award on Oct. 1 and the final 50% of funding on Feb. 1, 2027. Also distributed on Wednesday was the full $2,000 annual award to homeschool and other eligible nonpublic students.
The TEFA Marketplace opened last week as well. The marketplace is designed for participating families to have a secure online platform to use TEFA funds to buy approved products and services from participating private schools, service providers and vendors.
The marketplace has more than 54,000 education products and services from almost 2,400 approved vendors. Allowed purchases on the marketplace include private school tuition, textbooks, instructional materials, tutoring and other approved education expenses.
Families with students on the TEFA waitlist shouldn't give up hope! Several thousand students have been moved from the waitlist and into the TEFA program as students began to opt out, choose homeschooling or had their special education confirmed. With those students added to the program, over 107,000 students have been awarded TEFAs so far. We expect more students to move off the waitlist after the July 15 deadline for students to confirm their school enrollment. These new families will have 4 weeks from their award notification date to select their school or select homeschool to get their funding.
The Texas Comptroller has launched a new TEFA News & Updates web page with the latest announcements, lottery updates, deadlines, funding information, family stories and more. This will be a helpful resource for both Texas private schools and families participating in or on the waitlist for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program. You can find it here.
Four years after Dobbs: the current state of affairs in Texas
Four years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese has a video series that examines trends in pro-life ministry and advocacy and discusses the future of the pro-life movement. Our Executive Director Jennifer Allmon was featured in the video entitled Abortion & Public Policy, available at: https://archgh.org/prolife.
After the Dobbs decision, abortion facilities were shut down in Texas (thanks to the Human Life Protection Act), essentially ending surgical abortion in Texas. Since 2003, the Texas Legislature has provided more than $600 million for the Thriving Texas Families program (and the former Alternatives to Abortion program) which primarily promotes healthy pregnancies and childbirth.
While we are grateful for all that the Texas Legislature has done to protect life, we still have work to do to build the culture of life and reduce medication abortion.
We do not support a movement called “equal protection” which seeks to remove the exception to prosecution for women who have abortions. While the unborn child is equal in dignity to any other human person, the equal protection movement requires women who seek abortion be subject to the death penalty. For Catholics, this is unacceptable on two fronts. First, we do not support any expansion of the death penalty. Secondly, we understand abortion to be a societal sin, one for which we all bear some responsibility, not just the pregnant woman.
Women will fear seeking help or healing if by doing so, they put themselves at-risk of being charged with a capital crime that is punishable by death. What is a woman to do if she experiences complications from an abortion? What if she took one pill and regrets it and wants to reverse it? What if she is thinking about taking them, but would like to see an ultrasound at a pregnancy center first? What if she regrets her abortion and seeks healing through a Project Rachel retreat? All of these doors for help would be closed to her because it would be seen as too risky.
This is not how we build a culture of life and it is not the appropriate response to the evil of abortion. Our pro-life work continues – meeting moms where they are, serving them with love and welcoming their children with joy.
Pope Leo XIV offers prayers on 250th anniversary of United States
Pope Leo XIV expressed his prayers for all Americans in a letter commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, with the hope that "the Spirit of 1776 continue to inspire hope and unity as the United States of America moves into the future."
The Holy Father emphasized the key elements of American identity, religious freedom and human dignity, which stem from the Christian faith and have shaped our laws and society for the good. He emphasized the varied ways that Christians have brought the light of Christ to our society through charitable works and service to the poor and vulnerable. He closed by saying, “May this milestone renew the shared commitment to the promise of freedom, justice, opportunity and democracy. May Americans honor the courage and vision of those who came before them by strengthening their communities, respecting their differences and working together toward a more perfect union.”
Upcoming executions
- LeJames Norman, Sept. 16, 2026
- Ramey Ker’sean Olajuwa, Sept. 23, 2026
- Jamaal Howard, Oct. 7, 2026
- John Rubio, Nov. 12, 2026
We pray for the victims of violence and their loved ones, for those on death row and for an end to the death penalty.
Pray with Pope Leo
For respect for human life
Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.