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Election Results: See Where Newly-Elected Lawmakers Stand on the Issues
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While Election Day is behind us, our duty as faithful citizens to ensure our elected officials recognize and protect the life and dignity of all people continues.
Serving Florida at the federal level, Marco Rubio (R) will be returning to Washington, DC as a U.S. Senator. 16 of our U.S. Representatives in Congress will be Republicans, while 11 will be Democrats; 10 of 27 will be new to Congress this term. At the state level in Tallahassee, both the Senate and House will maintain Republican majorities. The Senate make-up will be 25-15, with the Florida House at 78-41 (with one race undergoing a recount still undecided). Click here to view Florida's election results.
In the weeks prior to the election, the FCCB conducted the Candidate Questionnaire Project (CQP) to assist Catholics and the broader community with the obligation to become informed voters. Now that the votes are tallied, we encourage you to return to the FCCB's CQP webpage to view the positions of candidates who won their races and responded to our survey.
As we get to know our new lawmakers at both the state and federal level, let us pray for wisdom and guidance for those elected to serve - as well as the electorate - as we strive to find common ground and work together towards the common good.
PRAYER AFTER AN ELECTION
God of all nations,
Father of the human family,
we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise
and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy
in these United States of America.
We ask for your protection and guidance
for all who devote themselves to the common good,
working for justice and peace at home and around the world.
We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants,
those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges,
those in the military and law enforcement.
Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord,
with a common purpose, dedication,and commitment
to achieve liberty and justice
in the years ahead for all people,
and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst.
Amen.
Source: Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers
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Florida Supreme Court Strikes State's Death Sentencing Scheme
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On October 14, the Florida Supreme Court in Hurst v. Florida found that a new law requiring a 10-2 jury decision to impose a death sentence was unconstitutional. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Florida's death penalty system prompting the Florida legislature to pass a bill that requires at least ten jurors agree in order to sentence someone to death. This was an improvement over previous law that only required a simple majority of jurors (7 of 12) to recommend a death sentence. However, noting that unanimous juries provide the highest degree of reliability, the state's highest court found the new law insufficient.
On the same day, the Florida Supreme Court found in Perry v. Florida that the unconstitutional statute cannot be applied to pending prosecutions. The court has yet to release an opinion addressing whether the Hurst ruling will apply retroactively.
In response to the court's rulings, lawmakers will be tasked for the second year in a row with addressing the state's death-penalty sentencing scheme during their annual legislative session. Guided by the words of St. John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae (no. 73), the FCCB has supported incremental improvements in law as acceptable steps towards the full restoration of justice, including a unanimous jury requirement to minimize harm until our state ends the use of the death penalty.
| CATHOLIC TEACHING: "The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform." - St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), no. 28 |
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Catholic School Students Excel
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 The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) has shared good news about the state of Catholic education in the United States.
Catholic school students outshine their public school counterparts across multiple disciplines. The 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), sometimes referred to as the nation's report card, reveals Catholic eighth grade students score:
- 12 to 20 points higher in math and reading
- 14 points higher in technology and engineering literacy
- 17 points higher in geography, history, and civics
Older Catholic school students, too, eclipse those in public schools. In addition to scoring higher than public school seniors on standardized tests, Catholic high school seniors are more likely:
- to graduate from high school (99%)
- to attend college (90%)
- to complete their degree program
To learn more, see NCEA Parent News: A Catholic School Education Newsletter. |
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TAKE ACTION: Ensure the Well-Being of Haitians Affected by Hurricane Matthew
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Background: Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti on October 4, 2016, killing hundreds and leaving 1.4 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Unfortunately, in response to Hurricane Matthew, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has failed to enact humane immigration policies that would allow arriving Haitians to temporarily remain in the U.S. and support themselves while Haiti is being rebuilt.
On November 1, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration, joined leaders at Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in a letter to DHS and the Department of State sharing concerns regarding the care and treatment of Haitians.
Bishop Elizondo and the other Catholic partners noted: "We are concerned about DHS' recent immigration policies which separate and detain Haitian family members. These policies are particularly inhumane in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew when our government should be showing Haitians compassion and support."
TAKE ACTION: Remind DHS that people of faith expect our government to do all it can to support Haiti and Haitians during this time of crisis. By clicking here you will be directed to the USCCB's Justice for Immigrants website to send your message. |
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Recent News from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
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November 9, 2016: Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the USCCB, issued a statement regarding the election of Donald Trump as president-elect and urged a coming together as faithful citizens for the common good.
November 4, 2016: Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, lauded the spirit of the updated environmental justice plan from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), published in October of 2016.
October 21, 2016: The USCCB will elect their next president and vice-president at the upcoming Plenary Assembly in Baltimore. The elections are due to take place during the general assembly. Each office is elected from a slate of 10 candidates who have been nominated by their fellow bishops.
October 19, 2016: National Bible Week will be celebrated by Catholics across the nation November 13-19. This year's theme, "The Bible: A Book of Mercy," builds on this year's observance of a Jubilee Year of Mercy, declared by Pope Francis. The week also commemorates the 51st anniversary - November 17 - of Dei Verbum, the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation which discusses how God reveals himself through Scripture and tradition. |
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November 10, 2016
Follow Us On
     
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Words of Wisdom
"Let us not see each other in the divisive light of Democrat or Republican or any other political party, but rather, let us see the face of Christ in our neighbors, especially the suffering or those with whom we may disagree."
-- Archbishop Kurtz,
USCCB President
November 9, 2016
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The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has released a new informational brochure designed to ensure a clear understanding of the truth about abortion. This lastest edition in the Culture of Life Series provides brief overviews of Supreme Court rulings, unique challenges and laws protecting the unborn in Florida, abortion statistics, and myths and facts about pro-life measures.
