Washington State Catholic Conference Newsletter
November 2, 2018  
 Inside this issue
  Message from Joe Sprague, Executive Director  
  Election Day is upon us.  Wherever one is on the political spectrum, I think we can all agree that it will be nice to have a reprieve from the nonstop campaign ads and related activity.  Despite the often nasty tone associated with this election season, it is worth pausing to express thanks to the hundreds of candidates for elected office in our state whose openness to public service is critical for our communities.
 
As Catholics, it is also worth pausing to reflect on how each of us engages in the key issues of this time.  In recent weeks, I have been saddened by the polarization I have seen on public policy matters.  This divide has not just been experienced while watching the panel discussions on cable news (although it exists there in abundance).  Regrettably, the polarization exists inside our Church.  Although diverse policy viewpoints are to be expected within a body as vast as the Catholic Church, what should not be expected is for those viewpoints to be shared in angry, sharp tones with little or no openness to other perspectives.  If we lack civility while engaging with fellow Catholics, how can we help bring about positive change in our broader society?
 
The Church's public policy agenda spans the political spectrum but is nonetheless united in its focus on a concern for the sanctity of human life at all stages.  For this reason, we need more Catholics to engage on policy matters and it is exciting to see a growing number of people joining our Washington Catholic Advocacy Network.  As we work on various important issues, it is clear that we will not always agree on how each one should be approached.  However, by engaging respectfully and with an open mind, we can truly have even greater impact and be a stronger force for good in our society.

 

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  Remember to Vote by Tuesday, Nov. 6  
 
Don't forget to vote - make sure your ballot is deposited in a drop box or postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 6. If mailing your ballot, you do not need to add postage. Visit http://wacatholics.org/vote for helpful resources, including a special prayer for the election.
 

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  The Cry of the Poor - Pastoral Aid for November 18  
 

Sunday, November 18, marks the second World Day of the Poor, established by Pope Francis. In the Holy Father's message for this year, he highlights how the Lord Jesus Christ call us to hear the cries of the poor and respond in love. To assist parishes in marking the World Day of the Poor, the USCCB has prepared a pastoral aid that includes a reflection on the readings, excerpts from the Pope's message, bulletin announcements, and Prayers of the Faithful.

 

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  Celebrate Religious Freedom - Feast of Christ the King  
 

In 1925, Pope Pius XI asserted the Church's "inalienable right to perfect freedom ... from the power of the state." He wrote this in the same encyclical, Quas Primas, in which he initiated the Feast of Christ the King. Thus it is very appropriate for the Church to highlight religious freedom as part of our celebration with this feast at the end of our liturgical year. The USCCB has prepared several resources for parishes to mark the Feast of Christ the King.

 

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  Proposed Flores Rule a Threat to Migrant Children  
  In September, the Trump Administration issued a proposed rule concerning the 1997 Flores Settlement Agreement. The Agreement set standards to assure the humane detention of migrant children, including a limit of 20 days on their detention. The proposed rule seeks to significantly weaken the standards and would allow the indefinite detention of children. The USCCB and the WSCC are submitting comments on the proposal. You can submit your own comments. Visit this USCCB website for full information. The comment deadline is Tuesday, November 6.
 

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  Get to Know WACatholics.org  
 

This month we are highlighting the Impact page. Using key data points, it illustrates a portion of the impact of the Catholic Church in Washington State. Even beyond this are the many thousands of volunteers serving in various ministries throughout the state.

 

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  Upcoming Dates - Mark Your Calendars  
  Mass for Life (sponsored by the Archdiocese of Seattle) - January 22, 2019
Catholic Advocacy Day - Thursday, February 7, 2019
Cornerstone Catholic Conference - October 18-19, 2019

 

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  Did you know...  
 

... that Catholic Charities USA was founded in 1910? The original name was National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC). Each of the 3 Catholic Charities agencies in Washington are affiliated with CCUSA.

 

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