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Join Us at the Cornerstone Catholic Conference in 2017!
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The WSCC is excited to announce that the second Cornerstone Catholic Conference will be held October 20-21, 2017. Join with other Catholics "to inspire and educate Catholics and others to continue working together to protect human life: the unborn, individuals who live in poverty or on the margins of society, and people at the end of life." In addition to the Bishops of Washington State, plenary presentations will be given by Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, and Helen Alvaré, George Mason University School of Law professor. Put October 20-21 on your 2017 calendar. |
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Regional Cornerstone Catholic Conference Set for Spokane
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In order for more people from Eastern Washington to have an opportunity to participate in a Cornerstone Catholic Conference, the WSCC is collaborating with the Diocese of Spokane in sponsoring a regional Conference for Saturday, October 22, 2016 - one year before the 2017 statewide Conference.
For more information, contact Scott Cooper at Catholic Charities (509) 358-4273 or scooper@ccspokane.org. |
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Thank You!
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In looking back on the 2016 legislative session, the WSCC staff sincerely appreciates all of you who participated in Catholic Advocacy Day, responded to the action alerts, studied the issues, dialogued with others, and offered prayers for these efforts on behalf of our neighbors in need. On a number of key issues, your efforts were instrumental in upholding the principles of Catholic teaching and making our state more just, compassionate, and respectful of the life and dignity of each human being. You are vital to these efforts. |
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2016 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
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In addition to the list of bills that appeared in the last Advocacy Bulletin, WSCC provides the following short summary of the 2016 Legislative session:
Budget - The supplemental budget passed by the Legislature included $41 million for expanded mental health programs. While WSCC had hoped for significant funding increases in several social service programs, this was not realized, but at least none of vital social services (e.g., HEN, TANF) were cut.
Achievements - The Legislature passed a compromise bill that bans five toxic flame retardants, but it did not include a provision, supported by WSCC, which would have allowed the Department of Health to evaluate and, if necessary, to ban other toxic chemicals. Nevertheless, WSCC celebrates the passage of HB 2545, and is grateful for the considerable effort of many advocates over several years to get it passed. Other legislation you helped to pass included the establishment of a statewide re-entry council to assist ex-offenders to reintegrate into society as well as a bill designating January 11th as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Disappointments - Again in the 2016 session a bill reforming the system of Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs), HB 1390, failed to gain passage. After passing the House unanimously (97-0), the bill was amended significantly and then stalled in the Senate. Still, progress was made and advocates will try again in 2017. Much the same could be said of legislation to abolish the death penalty and to pass parental notification - some progress was made and advocates will keep trying. Payments were cut during the recession for TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), and the legislature failed to pass funding to restore the grant to its former level. |
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US Urged to Cut Nuclear Risks
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The heads of four leading science and faith organizations have urged President Obama, who will likely visit Hiroshima later this month for the G7 summit, to announce specific steps the United States will take to reduce the real and urgent risks posed by nuclear weapons.
"Since Saint Pope John XXIII issued Pacem in Terris in 1963, the Catholic Church has called for a world free of nuclear weapons. Faith and reason, religion and science, agree on this issue," said Bishop Oscar Cantú, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace. "Nuclear weapons pose a moral challenge and represent an existential threat that requires action now."
The statement by Bishop Cantú, Ken Kimmell, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; and Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition urged President Obama to:
- Scale back the U.S. plan to build a new generation of nuclear weapons, including canceling the new "destabilizing and unneeded" nuclear-armed cruise missile;
- Reduce the U.S. deployed strategic arsenal by a third, a level the Pentagon agrees is adequate to maintain security; and
- Remove U.S. land-based nuclear missiles from hair-trigger alert, which would reduce the risk of an accidental, mistaken or unauthorized launch.
The full text of the joint statement is available on the USCCB website. |
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New Website for Catholics Confront Global Poverty
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There is a new website for Catholics Confront Global Poverty, a joint initiative of USCCB's Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development and Catholic Relief Services. More streamlined and visual, the site will help users take action in new ways on three current priority issues: Climate Change, Human Trafficking, and Syrian Refugees.
Click here to view WSCC bulletins on our website.
The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Washington State.
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