Texas Catholic Voice November 2024

Bill filing kicked off in the Legislature on Monday, Nov. 11, and TCCB staff have been assiduously reviewing about 1,700 pieces of proposed legislation. On average, 20% of bills filed become law. Last session that percentage dropped to 15. The process involves a great deal of strategy, and the Speaker of the House and committee chairs have yet to be determined, so many legislators are waiting on this information to file their bills. After the session starts, we will inform the bill authors of our positions before we post them publicly on the website.   

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Recognizing November as National Adoption Month, we are sharing a beautiful initiative to promote adoption, the Heart Gallery. Heart Galleries display beautiful professional portraits to connect children whose parental rights have been terminated with adults, friends and communities who support and celebrate them, including potential adoptive families. These connections are especially critical for teens, sibling groups, and children with higher medical needs.

We encourage our parishes to host the Heart Galleries of Texas. The galleries are regionally based and align closely to the geography of our dioceses. Contact your local Heart Gallery for information about children in your region and how to get involved.  

Melissa Lucio and Robert Roberson Updates

We are overjoyed that the judge who presided over the trial of Melissa Lucio has recommended her conviction be overturned and has found that she is actually innocent and did not kill her daughter Mariah. Judge Nelson and the Cameron County district attorney Louis Saenz agreed that the former prosecution team suppressed evidence and that Mariah’s death was the result of an accidental fall. The case will now go before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals which will determine whether to accept Judge Nelson’s recommendation and vacate Melissa’s sentence.  

After an unprecedented development that halted Robert Roberson’s execution, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that his execution can resume. The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence issued a subpoena for Robert to testify the night of his scheduled execution which led to issues regarding the separation of powers that the Supreme Court ruled must be resolved before his execution could proceed. On Nov. 15, the court ruled “…the committee’s authority to compel testimony does not include the power to override the scheduled legal process leading to an execution.” The court also expressed concern in its ruling about a future abuse of authority that would shift the balance of power of one or more branches of government to another.  

As of today, a new execution date has not been set. We continue to pray for Robert and for a change of the minds and hearts of those who have the authority to prevent the execution of a potentially innocent man.  

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Congratulations to Bishop Edward Burns of the Diocese of Dallas who is the new chairman-elect of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth.  

Our office will be closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 27-29. We wish you all a safe, peaceful and happy Thanksgiving!