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Senseless Act of Violence Pierces the Heart of Humanity
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In the early morning hours of June 12, 2016, the worst mass shooting in the United States occurred in Florida. Orlando, a diverse city that sees millions of visitors from around the state, country and world each year, has been the target of unthinkable and reprehensible violence. The murdered and injured, their families, and indeed our entire nation are victims of this tragedy.
As priests, deacons and staff of Catholic Charities served their fellow man at the City of Orlando's Aid Center, Bishop John G. Noonan, of the Diocese of Orlando, expressed the need to rely on God in such trying times. "A sword has pierced the heart of our city...I urge people of faith to turn their hearts and souls to the great physician, our Lord Jesus Christ, who consoles and carries us through suffering with mercy and tenderness." On the evening of Monday, June 13, Bishop Noonan led an ecumenical prayer vigil for peace at St. James Cathedral in downtown Orlando.
In a statement offering prayers for the victims, their families and our entire nation, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, President of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged our world to condemn the violent acts of a perpetrator blinded by hate, "Even as we mourn those who died in Orlando and even as news of violence and terrorism bombard us daily, we can never allow ourselves to get used to violence and the shedding of innocent blood." |
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Planned Parenthood Challenges New Abortion Law
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On Thursday, June 2, Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HB 1411 passed earlier this year by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on March 25. FCCB supports the law which requires abortionists to have admitting privileges or a transfer agreement with a nearby hospital, ensuring women seeking abortions receive the same level of care as those who undergo comparable procedures at outpatient surgical facilities. While this provision of the bill is not being challenged, the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, seeks a ruling and an injunction on three other parts of the law:
- A section of the bill preventing state agencies, local governments and Medicaid managed-care plans from contracting with organizations that own, operate or are affiliated with clinics that perform elective abortions
- A requirement that the state Agency for Health Care Administration inspect at least 50 percent of abortion-clinic patient records each year
- A change to the state's definition of trimester
The judge will hear arguments in the case on June 29. The law is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2016. |
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Supporting a Mythical Death Penalty that Does Not Exist
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Dale Recinella, Catholic Correctional Chaplain for Death Row, explains the realities of the death penalty system in his recent article, "Answering the last gasps of Catholic support for the U.S. death penalty," published by the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty.
Recinella has found that the overwhelming majority of those who support the death penalty are not supporting the actual death penalty in practice in this country, but a myth that does not exist. "This fantasy death penalty kills neatly and quietly without horrendous botched executions. It causes no harm to the innocent family of the condemned or to the staff and officers who must kill as part of their job. The myth even promises that families of murder victims will experience healing from watching the state commit a legal homicide - the killing of the offender. This mythical death penalty is not biased by race or wealth, only convicts the guilty, only attaches to the worst of the worst, only costs a fraction of life imprisonment, only ... only ... only it does not exist." |
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Proposed Payday Lending Rule a Good Beginning but Needs Strengthening
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On June 2, 2016, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unveiled a proposal for a new federal rule on payday and car title lending. The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops joined with the Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection and other advocates to praise the proposed rule as a good start to addressing unscrupulous lending practices. However, additional work needs to be done to ensure the rule truly protects communities from predatory lenders.
Marketed as a way to meet short-term financial needs, fees quickly add up to far more than the amount borrowed. According to a report by the Center for Responsible Lending, payday and car title loans with interest rates that average more than 300 percent drain $311 million in fees annually from the pockets of Floridians who can least afford it. Pope Francis has called this type of lending a "dramatic scourge in our society" that "harms the inviolable dignity of the human person."
If changes are made to remove exemptions and close loopholes before the rule is finalized, there is a potential to protect vulnerable consumers facing financial hardship from being trapped in a cycle of debt.
The rule will be finalized in approximately 90 days. In the meantime, consumers are encouraged to comment and suggest changes to the final rule. Comments can be submitted at www.stoppaydaypredators.org/STDTFL. |
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Be on the Lookout for the Candidate Questionnaire Project
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Prior to both the August 30 Primary Election and November 8 General Election, the FCCB plans to release responses to its Candidate Questionnaire Project (CQP) for state and federal candidates.
Each election cycle, the FCCB conducts the CQP to assist Catholics and the broader community with the obligation to become informed voters. All U.S. Congressional and Florida legislative candidates appearing on the 2016 ballot will be invited to participate in a questionnaire regarding their positions on several issues of importance to our faith community. Taking the time to become familiar with the candidates' positions on issues involving human life, dignity and the common good is essential to responsible, faithful citizenship.
Starting in early July, candidates' responses will be posted to the FCCB web site as they are received.
Response summaries will be available to download and print for use in parish bulletins on Thursday, August 4 for the Primary and on Thursday, October 13 for the General Election. |
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Fortnight for Freedom to be Celebrated June 21 to July 4
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At the end of June, our Church will once again focus on religious liberty during the Fortnight for Freedom, which will take place June 21 to July 4. This year's theme -- Witnesses to Freedom -- recognizes the lives of more than 14 women and men of faith, from all over the world, who bear witness to authentic freedom in Christ.
This two-week time period is designed to promote the importance of preserving the essential right of religious freedom, for now and the future, for Catholics and for those of all faiths. The fortnight also promotes prayer, education and public action.
Relics of English martyrs visit South Florida
The Fortnight for Freedom occurs annually at a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power, including St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher. A national tour of relics of these two martyrs of the English Reformation will make just one stop in Florida -- in the Archdiocese of Miami at the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables on Sunday, June 19. Archbishop Thomas Wenski will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m. with veneration of the relics before and after. Prayer will be lead by the Sisters of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Visit the USCCB website to learn more about the Fortnight for Freedom: www.Fortnight4Freedom.org. |
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Recent News from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
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June 12, 2016: Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, USCCB President, reacts to "unspeakable violence in Orlando;" offers prayers for the victims.
June 10, 2016: Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, commented on the release of the U.S. House of Representatives Task Force on Poverty, Opportunity, and Upward Mobility document entitled, "A Better Way: Our Vision for a Confident America."
May 25, 2016: Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration expressed deep concern over reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will soon begin a month-long series of immigrant deportation raids. Incoming committee chairman, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, also voiced such concern.
May 23, 2016: The USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage has released the next video in the series highlighting the unique meaning of marriage. Entitled Made for Freedom, the newly released video features experts in various fields as well as personal stories illustrating the importance of marriage to society and the necessity for people to have the freedom to express their beliefs about marriage.
May 16, 2016: Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, USCCB President, reacts to U.S. Supreme Court opinion in the case of Zubik v. Burwell, in which Catholic and other religious organizations are challenging the HHS mandate requiring them to facilitate health insurance coverage of sterilization, contraception, and drugs and devices that may cause abortions.
May 16, 2016: Two Committee chairmen respond to New Guidance Letter on Title IX Application issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education entitled "Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students." |
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June 15, 2016
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Words of Wisdom
"Pope Francis joins the families of the victims and all of the injured in prayer and in compassion. Sharing in their indescribable suffering he entrusts them to the Lord so they may find comfort."
-- Statement on Orlando massacre released by Holy See,
June 12, 2016
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