Bishop Pohlmeier Offers Opening Prayer as Legislators Convene for Session 

Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier of the Diocese of St. Augustine offered the opening prayer on Tuesday, as the Florida House and Senate jointly convened on the first day of session to hear Governor Ron DeSantis' State of the State address. Bishop Pohlmeier began his invocation as follows: 

"Lord our God, we turn to you today with anticipation and hope. I ask your blessing on these men and women who commit themselves to the service of the State of Florida. Lord, you are the author of life and the source of human flourishing. In the beginning, you created a world of order out of chaos. You entrusted the care of your creation to humanity, to cooperate with you and share in your gifts. I ask you to guide these public servants in their responsibilities. Help them be good stewards of the resources of this state. Guide them in their efforts for justice, mercy and the good of each person who is beloved to you. Give them the wisdom they need to recognize the value of every person, regardless of the differences that too often divide us. Send your spirit upon the proceedings of the coming weeks, so that conflicts can be resolved with charity."

Thank you to Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Paul Renner, for inviting Bishop Pohlmeier. Photo by Meredith Geddings and Sarah Gray (House photographers). 

Governor DeSantis delivered the State of the State address, outlining several difficulties the state of Florida has weathered in the past year, from a challenging economy to recovering after the impact of hurricane Ian. "Together we have made Florida the nation’s most desired destination and we have produced historic results," said Desantis. "But now’s not the time to rest on our laurels." 

Read the full text of the Governor's speech here. 

A video recording of the joint session including Bishop Pohlmeier's invocation and the Governor's full address is available on the Florida Channel. 

Catholic Days Participants Make an Impact in Tallahassee 

More than 300 Catholic faithful from all seven dioceses in Florida and all eight bishops were present in Tallahassee for Catholic Days at the Capitol, March 7-8. The event is an opportunity for participants to meet with their elected officials and use their voice as constituents and faithful Catholics to advocate for several key legislative issues. On Tuesday, the event kicked off with a briefing hosted by FCCB policy experts to discuss the issues of importance to the bishops and help participants prepare for meeting with their lawmakers. At the state Capitol on Wednesday, hundreds of Catholics dressed in red could be seen attending committee meetings and watching the Senate in session. That evening, the event culminated with the 48th Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Co-Cathedral of St.Thomas More, offered for those working in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. 

Three legislative issues currently being considered by the Florida legislature were at the center of this year's advocacy efforts.  

Abortion Limits: HB 7 (Persons-Mulicka) / SB 300 (Grall) would protect women and preborn children from abortion after six weeks gestation, as well as regulate chemical abortions. Additionally, the bills provide for increased funding (from $4 million to $25 million) and expansion of eligible services to assist pregnant women, families and their children in the first years of life. (FCCB supports) 

Educational Choice: HB 1 (Tuck) / SB 202 (Simon) would make educational savings accounts (ESAs) available to all families, including homeschool students, regardless of income. (FCCB supports)

Unanimous Juries in Capital Sentencing: HB 555 (Jacques) / SB 450 (Ingoglia) would repeal current provisions requiring a jury to be unanimous in order to recommend a death sentence and require that only 8 of the 12 jurors recommend death. (FCCB opposes) 

Florida Bishops Present Two Distinguished Catholic Leader Awards 

Florida’s Catholic bishops presented two recipients with the Thomas A. Horkan, Jr. Distinguished Catholic Leader Award, at the Catholic Days Awards breakfast on March 8. 

The Distinguished Catholic Leader Award is presented to Catholic Floridians whose lives exemplify Gospel values and whose work has influenced the formation of public policies or programs that have enhanced the life of the Church, deepened respect for life and increased appreciation for human dignity. The award is named for and was first presented in 1995 to Thomas A. Horkan, Jr., founding executive director of the Florida Catholic Conference. 

The first award recipient, Dale Recinella, was recognized for his more than two-decades of prison ministry. After a near death experience, Recinella rededicated his life to service, including ministry on the streets of Tallahassee and to people suffering with AIDS. That path ultimately led him to minister to those who are incarcerated and to serve as a lay Catholic chaplain on Florida’s death row. Recinella is the founder of I Was in Prison Outreach Ministry, an attorney and author. Recinella has worked tirelessly in his ministry to those behind bars and is a strong advocate for ending the use of the death penalty. 

Next to be recognized was Kiera Camron who was honored for her many years of service to expectant mothers and their families. Camron was the founding director of Open Door Women's Clinic in Tallahassee, as well as a founding board member of the Florida Pregnancy Care Network. Established and funded by the state of Florida in 2005, the Florida Pregnancy Care Network strengthens the work of pregnancy support centers by providing resources to assist pregnant women as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption. As a wife and mother of five children, Camron was also passionate about home education and raising her children with values and skills for service to God and others. 

Camron is the first recipient to receive the Distinguished Catholic Leader Award posthumously, after succumbing to complications from breast cancer in September 2022. The award was accepted on her behalf by her eldest daughter, Meredith Camron.

Catholic Days at the Capitol is held annually in Tallahassee and offers Catholic laity and clergy an opportunity to engage their state lawmakers. Inspired by the leadership and service of both award recipients, Catholic Days participants headed to the state Capitol to advocate in support of abortion restrictions and increased funding for the Florida Pregnancy Care Network, and against legislation that would make it easier to impose a death sentence in Florida by eliminating a unanimous jury requirement in capital sentencing. Participants also advocated for expanded opportunities in educational choice for K-12 students.

48th Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit  

The 48th Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit took place on the evening of March 8 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More. 

All eight bishops of Florida were present to celebrate the Mass, which is held annually in conjunction with Catholic Days at the Capitol. The bishops were pleased to welcome numerous state legislators, justices, judges and other elected and appointed officials to the Mass, which is offered on their behalf, requesting wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit as they carry out their roles as public servants.  

Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier, who was ordained bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine last July, was the homilist for this year's Red Mass. 

"We pray for the power of the Holy Spirit today, so that we can see in each person the image of God and place ourselves in service to them," said Bishop Pohlmeier. 

The Red Mass was livestreamed and the recording, including Bishop Pohlmeier's full homily, is available here. 

Bills Making it Easier to Inflict a Death Sentence Move in House and Senate

HB 555 (Jacques) and SB 450 (Ingoglia) repeal current law requiring that a jury be unanimous in recommending a death sentence. The measures instead require that only 8 of 12 jurors must agree to recommend a death sentence in order for it to be imposed. Both bills passed first committees of reference this week. 

Christie Arnold testified in opposition to the bills on behalf of the FCCB. Allowing a supermajority vote of the jury to recommend a death sentence instead of a unanimous vote would move Florida backwards and make our state an outlier, once again. The FCCB does not support the use of the death penalty; however, if our state is going to continue to resort to its use, then it should be applied as fairly and reliably as possible by promoting deliberation and engaging every juror in the process. Justice is better served when a unanimous jury is required to make the grave decision to allow the state to take someone’s life. The most severe penalty society can impose should demand the highest standards.

HB 555 is now in the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. SB 450 is now in the Senate Rules Committee.

Expansion of Educational Choice on Fast Track 

HB 1 (Tuck) / SB 202 (Simon)  will expand the state scholarship programs so that education savings accounts (ESAs) are available to all students eligible to attend a public school in Florida, including homeschool students. Scholarships would no longer be limited based on income or disability. ESAs allow parents more flexibility in spending scholarship funds. Allowable uses include: part-time or full-time private school tuition; tuition and fees for full-time or part-time enrollment in a homeschool program; instructional materials or curriculum; programs offered by postsecondary institutions; apprenticeship programs; private tutoring; and virtual programs and online courses. 

The bills also significantly increase access to larger scholarships for students with disabilities by increasing the enrollment cap. The allowable uses of ESA funds for students with disabilities include those listed above and such services as speech therapy, occupational therapy, applied behavior analysis, and physical therapy.

These FCCB supported bills that allow parents to choose the educational environment that best meets the needs of their children are moving quickly through committee. HB 1 has passed all committees of reference, while SB 202 has only one committee stop remaining.