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Campus Ministry Liaisons Spend Day at the Capitol
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L to R: Owen Clapp, University of Miami; Manual Fuentes, University of Florida; Alyssa Sanchez, St. Thomas University; Antonio Dejesus, St. Thomas University; and Thomas Corzo, Florida State University. (Nicole Hittel, University of Florida, joined morning activities via video call.)
On Monday, February 12, five students representing four Florida universities spent the day at FCCB's Tallahassee office and the state capitol. The students were gathered as participants in the Campus Ministry Liaison Program, which was launched last year.
The program provides students who are members of their respective Catholic campus ministries with the opportunity to learn about the role of the Church in the public square and how Catholic social teaching is applied to public policy. After an informational session in the morning, students spent the remainder of the day at the capitol touring the building, meeting with lawmakers, and watching the legislative process in action. The day concluded with Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
.jpg) Students were welcomed to the floor of the Senate chamber by Senator Rene Garcia (District 36, Hialeah) and visited with Representative Erin Grall (District 54, Vero Beach) in her capitol office. Both lawmakers spoke of how their Catholic faith inspires their civil service and their desire to work to ensure Florida's laws protect and serve our state's most vulnerable residents. Prior to lunch, the students joined others who work in and around the capitol to pray the rosary in the capitol's Heritage Chapel.
.jpg) Students involved in the liaison program were urged to share their experience and the knowledge they gained on the work of the FCCB with their ministry peers. They were also asked to encourage their peers to connect with the Florida Catholic Advocacy Network as a means to stay informed on the Church's ongoing engagement in the policy arena and to receive calls to action that advise constituents to contact their lawmakers on specific policy proposals under consideration. |
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State Appeals Ruling on 24-Hour Reflection Period Prior to Abortion
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The State of Florida has appealed a January 9 ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis that found a 2015 law requiring a 24-hour reflection period prior to an abortion unconstitutional. Judge Lewis' decision made permanent a temporary injunction granted by the Florida Supreme Court last year after a Gainesville abortion clinic challenged the law as a violation of privacy rights under the state's Constitution. The FCCB supported a reflection period prior to abortion through the legislative process. The law, which allows a woman to reflect on her decision and the alternatives available before proceeding with the termination of her pregnancy, aligns the abortion procedure with standard medical practice. No other comparable medical procedure is performed without a prior visit and consultation. Reflection periods are in effect in 27 states and have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, but Florida's constitutional privacy provision prompts special considerations in the courts. |
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Predatory Payday Lending Proposal Moves in House and Senate
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Ingrid Delgado, FCCB associate for social concerns/respect life
Both HB 857 (Grant, J.) and companion measure, SB 920 (Bradley), were found favorable by committees of reference this week. These bills further the practice of usury among predatory lenders in Florida, allowing loans to be made at triple-digit rates when calculated on an annual basis. All other comparable loans are capped at 30%. During the committee hearings, FCCB Associate for Social Concerns/Respect Life Ingrid Delgado testified in opposition to both the House and Senate proposals. The FCCB supports SB 642 (Baxley) / HB 555 (Olszewski) which would cap payday loans at 30% and 36% APR respectively, more aligned with comparable lending products in Florida. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami recently opined on the practice of unscrupulous lending in the Sun Sentinel. FCCB Executive Director Michael Sheedy related concerns with the proposed legislation in correspondence to the bill sponsors. |
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Bills Creating Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Will Not Move This Session
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Marco Paredes, FCCB associate director for health
FCCB-monitored proposals that would create a new approach to end-of-life planning will not move this year. SB 474 (Brandes) emphasizes advanced care planning conversations between patients, health care professionals and loved ones by facilitating shared decision-making between a patient and his or her health care professional that generate actionable medical orders based on the patient's current condition and preferences. While the FCCB opposed POLST bills in the past, this year's bill remedied key concerns such as application to a poorly-defined patient population and insufficient patient protections.
On Wednesday, February 14 the bill was heard during a meeting of the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee. FCCB Associate Director for Health Marco Paredes provided testimony on the FCCB's position and thanked Senator Brandes for collaborating with the FCCB to address concerns. The bill was ultimately temporarily postponed by the sponsor and will no longer be considered. The House companion, HB 1339 (Pigman), has not been heard in its first committee of reference. |
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Prayer Vigils Scheduled in Anticipation of February 22 Execution
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Eric Scott Branch is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on Thursday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m. for the 1993 murder of Susan Morris. Prior to the execution, Catholic faithful and members of the community will gather to pray for the victim and aggressor, and their families, for an end to the use of the death penalty, and for Governor Scott as he confronts the decision to proceed with the execution.
List of prayer vigil locations and times.
Also, please be on the look out for an action alert urging Governor Scott to commute Mr. Brach's sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. |
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Sign Up to Receive Action Alert Notifications Via Text Message
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Time is of the essence when your Florida legislator needs to hear from you on an issue. Often, little notice is given before a bill is considered by a committee or heard on the floor of the House or Senate chamber. You can be notified immediately when the FCCB sends an action alert to the Florida Catholic Advocacy Network by signing up for text messages. It's easy to sign up, just text FLCAN to 50457. |
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February 17, 2018
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2018 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
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