May Newsletter 

The latest from CCO - legislative update, action alert, special feature, upcoming Eucharistic events, and prayer.

Learn more about CCO: View our brochure or visit our website.

Legislative Update

HB 50 Sent to Governor DeWine 
House Bill 50 to create a certificate of qualification for housing (CQH) for the formerly incarcerated passed the House and Senate and was sent to Governor DeWine for his signature. The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in support of the bill sponsored by Representatives Latyna M. Humphrey (D-Columbus) and Bil Seitz (R-Cincinnati), noting that “Restoration demands that we respond to the victims of crime with care and compassion, but the full administration of justice is impossible unless we also attend to the dignity of those returning from prison. … Becoming a tenant is one of the most important steps a formerly incarcerated person takes in their reintegration, and failure to do so dramatically increases the likelihood of recidivism.”
 

CCO Testified in Support of HB 460, the GROW Act
House Bill 460, the Getting Rehabilitated Ohioans Working (GROW) Act, would allow for the automatic sealing of certain criminal records. The Catholic Church calls for public policies that ensure justice while directing the criminal justice system to achieve its ends of rehabilitation and restoration. This bill does both without compromising the demands of reparation following a criminal conviction. View the full testimony here >

Action Alert

The Religious Worker Visa Program (RWVP) allows religious organizations to sponsor workers from abroad to fill critical positions for which there are no qualified domestic candidates. Without these workers, many communities would not be able to get their spiritual and temporal needs met. The RWVP primarily relies on two visas: (1) the temporary religious worker (R-1) visa; and the (2) the employment-based, fourth preference (EB-4) visa for special immigrants. Ohio dioceses sponsor priests and religious sisters to staff parishes and serve the faithful through social services and other evangelization efforts. Since April 2023, the RWVP has been crippled by a dramatically expanded backlog in the EB-4 visa category, and a Catholic priest applying for an EB-4 visa today is looking at a wait time of at least fifteen years. The practical result is that all religious workers on R-1 visas will eventually be forced to depart the United States, unable to continue their ministries.

Learn more about the change impacting special immigrant religious workers >

Urge Congress to Safeguard Children in Need and Ensure Communities Have Access to Religious Workers (USCCB Alert)
In June 2023, the Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act (S. 1885/H.R. 4285) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The bill would relieve the backlog currently confronting special immigrant juveniles by exempting them from the annual caps for the employment-based, fourth preference (EB-4) visa. Passage of the bill would simultaneously free up visas for others in the EB-4 category, including immigrant religious workers depended upon by many Catholic dioceses and other religious organizations throughout the United States. Currently, the wait time for an EB-4 visa exceeds five years for all applicants. 
Send a Message to Legislators >

Special Feature

Dignitas Infinita, Death Penalty & Dignity of the Incarcerated 

Dignitas Infinita ("Infinite Dignity") highlights several relevant grave violations of human dignity. This month, we focus on the death penalty and the dignity of those who are incarcerated.

Paragraph 34 reminds us of offenses contrary to human dignity taught by the Second Vatican Council, including genocide, abortion, and euthanasia. It adds the death penalty to these offenses by stating, “Here, one should also mention the death penalty, for this also violates the inalienable dignity of every person, regardless of the circumstances. In this regard, the firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences.”

The paragraph continues, “It is also fitting to reaffirm the dignity of those who are incarcerated, who often must live in undignified conditions. Finally, it should be stated that—even if someone has been guilty of serious crimes—the practice of torture completely contradicts the dignity that is proper to every human being.” No person is beyond the healing and merciful love of God. Offenders deserve an opportunity for redemption and to live in humane conditions while atoning for their crimes. Look at the conversions of St. Paul and Alessandro Serenelli as examples of profound transformation after gravely violating the dignity of others.

Seeking to respect the dignity of those incarcerated and assist in their redemption, the Catholic Conference of Ohio has testified in support of the following bills concerning the death penalty and reintegration of the formerly incarcerated.

• SB 101 (in Senate Committee) & HB 259 (in House Committee) to abolish the death penalty in Ohio.
   
• HB 50 (sent to Governor DeWine) to create a certificate of qualification for housing (CQH) for the formerly incarcerated.
   
• SB 198 (in Senate Committee) provides returning citizens with state identification cards and documentation relating to work experience, education, and trade skills upon their release.
   
• HB 460 (in House Committee), the Getting Rehabilitated Ohioans Working (GROW) Act, would allow for the automatic sealing of certain criminal records. The bill aligns with paragraph 37 of Dignitas Infinita, “… it must be recognized that ‘there is no poverty worse than that which takes away work and the dignity of work.’”

Reflection: God’s mercy and love, shown through Jesus’ death on the Cross, flows to all, no matter who our current laws deem worthy or unworthy of life or humane treatment. Do we cast away the concerns of those who have incarcerated loved ones? Do we care for those victimized by a crime and allow for structures of rehabilitation for offenders, or do we seek vengeance? 

Upcoming Eucharistic Events

Our Eucharistic Mission in a Polarized World - May 23 to Oct. 24
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Social Action Office is holding a series of events from May 23 to October 24 with Fr. Aaron Wessman, Glenmary Home Missioners, based off his book The Church's Mission in a Polarized World. You can attend each event in person or via livestream. 

Learn more at catholicaoc.org/faithfulcitizenship >
 

Seminario Eucarístico, Toledo, OH - June 1
The Toledo Catholic Diocese is holding a special Eucharistic Seminar in Spanish led by renowned Catholic speaker and evangelist Hector Molina on Saturday, June 1 from 9am-2pm at the Awaken Theater in Bowling Green. 

Learn more at toledodiocese.org/diocesan/seminario-eucaristico-2 >
 

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Processions in Ohio - June 21 to July 8
Local communities are gathering for a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to accompany Jesus from city to city across the nation, lighting hearts on fire along the way, culminating at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-24, 2024. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route starts in New Haven, CT, and will go through the Diocese of Steubenville (June 21-23), Diocese of Columbus (June 24-30), and Archdiocese of Cincinnati (July 1-8) in Ohio. Several unique events are planned, including a Eucharistic Sternwheeler and Boater-cade down the Ohio River and a Eucharistic Festival in downtown Cincinnati.

View the route and event details with an interactive map on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage website >

Eucharistic Revival Ballpark Mass, Akron, Ohio - June 24
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland will hold a bilingual Mass in celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist at Canal Park Stadium in Akron, Ohio on June 24, 2024. Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic. National Eucharistic Preacher Father Rafael Capo from the Archdiocese of Miami will be the homilist.

A Eucharistic procession will take place following the Mass from the ballpark to St. Bernard’s Church (44 University Ave, Akron, OH) for an XLT adoration prayer service with praise & worship music.

View details on the diocesan website >

Statewide Eucharistic Pilgrimage, Carey, Ohio - August 14

To mark this year of going out on mission during the National Eucharistic Revival, the Catholic Bishops of Ohio invite all the faithful to make a pilgrimage to Carey, Ohio, for the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Join the bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and lay faithful from across the state on Wednesday, August 14, beginning at 9 p.m. for a candlelight rosary procession with the Miraculous Statue of Our Lady of Consolation from the Basilica Shrine to the Shrine Park followed by Holy Mass at the outdoor Altar in the Shrine Park.

View details on the CCO website >

Let Us Pray

Opening Prayer - Year of Mercy: Visit the Imprisoned
Source: Catholic Charities USA

Merciful God, to whom the secrets of the heart lie open, who recognize the just and make righteous the guilty, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters held in prison; grant that through patience and hope they may find relief in their affliction and soon return unhindered to their families. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.