Texas Catholic Voice September 2024

The unofficial end of summer is upon us, and we are now gearing up for the 89th legislative session which kicks off on Jan. 14.

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, and legislators and legislators elect may begin filing bills on Monday, Nov. 11.

Once again, we will be advocating for parental choice, which made tremendous headway last session. The Church teaches that parents have the right to choose the kind of education that fits their children’s needs, and a parental choice program would expand educational options for families whose current choices are limited by income and zip code.  

Resource for public school parents

Regardless of whether the legislature passes school choice, most Catholic children in Texas will continue to be educated in public schools. We want to encourage and support all Catholic parents in taking an active role in their children’s education. To that end, we created a resource guide, available on our website, for parental engagement in public schools with a particular focus on human sexuality instruction. The guide includes: 

• An overview of public-school governance, including school boards and advisory groups 
• Texas laws all public-school parents should know
• An overview of secular sex education and Texas public school human sexuality curriculum 
• Catholic resources on the meaning and purpose of human sexuality 
• Action steps 

We especially want to call attention to the section on Texas laws, as the opt-in mandate for human sexuality instruction in public schools expired on Aug. 1, 2024. We are grateful for the updated guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) urging districts to continue opt-in, but it is no longer a requirement. We urge parents to inquire now about their district’s policy for this school year and be prepared to opt-out if necessary. Meanwhile, we will continue to advocate for reinstating the opt-in language next session.  

Upcoming Executions

Travis Mullis and Garcia White are scheduled for execution on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1 respectively. Robert Roberson is scheduled for execution on Oct. 17.

Our Church’s teachings find the death penalty inadmissible in all situations, even cases such as Travis Mullis’ and Garcia White, where there is no credible doubt.

However, serious questions surround Robert Roberson’s case, and several advocacy organizations and legislators are bringing attention to the strong possibility he was wrongfully convicted.

We pray for all  affected by violence, including the families and friends of those murdered, and those on death row, and an end to the death penalty. 

Vote and Civilize It

If you will be 18 by Election Day (Nov. 4), have become a citizen of the United States, or moved or changed your name since the last time you registered to vote, you have until Oct. 7 to register or re-register. For more information, visit www.texas.gov/living-in-texas/texas-voter-registration

If you have not already done so, please sign the Civilize It pledge and share it with others. Between now and the election in November, we will be promoting this effort on our website, social media, and in the Texas Catholic Voice.