Check out Bishop Daly's video invitation to join the virtual Cornerstone Catholic Conference, and hear the WSCC staff talk about the conference on Dan Kennedy's LifeTalk NW radio program! This year's conference theme is "Forming Disciples for Life and Justice." The conference is at the end of this month. Register today!
October is Respect Life Month. Use these USCCB resources to celebrate this month and help your parish prepare. Read the USCCB Respect Life Month statement here. Click on this Action Alert to send an urgent prolife message to our US Senators now.
Check out 15 Facts About the 15-Week-Gestation Fetus, an informative resource to access during Respect Life Month. This article summarizes a report recently published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute.
The death penalty fails to uphold the dignity of the human person. Respect Life Month is a critical time to call for an end to the death penalty. For more information see Catholic Mobilizing Network's Respect Life Month toolkit. October 10 is the World Day to End the Death Penalty.
The WSCC mourns the September 19 passing of Margaret Casey, who worked for the conference from 1976 to 1999. Sr. Sharon Park, OP and Margaret were the WSCC's first lobbyists. Neither had previous lobbying experience, but they both developed into skilled advocates for Catholic values in the state legislature during their decades of service. Margaret became a prominent social policy expert and advocate for Catholic schools. Ned Dolejsi, WSCC director from 1988 to 1997, describes Margaret as, "A wonderful, effective, talented and passionate lobbyist and friend." Sr. Sharon, WSCC director from 1997-2017, recalls that, "Working with Margaret was an adventure."
Margaret entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Newark order of nuns following high school. She spent many years as a Catholic school teacher and principal prior to working at the WSCC. Margaret left the convent in 1983. Following the WSCC, Margaret worked as a Planning and Development Specialist for the Seattle Aging and Disability Services division of the Seattle Human Services Department. Thank you, Margaret, for a lifetime of faithful work for the common good. Margaret's obituary may be found here.
Gloria Purvis is on fire! Read her recent interview with Northwest Catholic. Register for the virtual October 30 Cornerstone Catholic Conference so that you can catch Gloria's keynote address. You'll have the opportunity to engage with Gloria during the Q and A session following her presentation!
Join us via Zoom on January 6 and learn about the bishops' 2022 state legislative priorities. The state legislative session will begin January 10. WSCC's legislative priorities are based on the teachings of our Catholic faith and are the basis for our lobbying efforts. The 2021 legislative priorities may be found here.
Thank you to the Catholic parishes and organizations that have been working to get our communities vaccinated for COVID-19. Since becoming available, Pope Francis and the WSCC bishops have encouraged Catholics to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Read the joint statement of the WSCC bishops, Catholic hospitals, and Catholic Charities organizations here. Staff at the three Washington Catholic hospital systems, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Peace Health, and Providence, have been working around the clock to treat patients and vaccinate the community. Catholic parishes and the Catholic Charities organizations throughout the state have hosted COVID-19 pop up clinics. Thank you to the faithful servants of our Catholic hospitals, parishes, and Charities organizations who have been working for the common good during the pandemic.
Help refugees from Afghanistan by clicking on this Action Alert. Urge President Biden to expand opportunities for Afghans seeking refuge from violence.
Numerous nonprofits are mobilizing to assist refugees from Afghanistan. WA state is welcoming 1,700 Afghan evacuees. Below is contact info for some of the agencies working directly with the state government to resettle refugees from Afghanistan. These organizations received reputable scores from Charity Navigator.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service is organizing friendly faces to welcome Afghan refugees to Washington State. Can you pick up a family from the airport, bring them a meal, or help set up their apartment? Other opportunities to assist also exist.
North Puget Sound: 206-694-5700
South Puget Sound: 253-272-8433
Southwest: 360-694-5624
siv@lcsnw.org
International Rescue Center offers virtual volunteer information sessions. Find out more at: (206) 623-2105, Seattle@Rescue.org
World Relief Seattle-Welcome refugees to Western Washington and volunteer as a host home, an advocate, or with welcome kits: (253) 277-1121
Afghan Health Initiative - Help Afghan refugees coming to King County find a place to stay. Can you offer up a bedroom for a week to a family in need or help in other ways? 253-237-6214
Jewish Family Services - serves individuals and families from King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. At this time, their on-call volunteer group helping resettle individuals and families from Afghanistan is at capacity. donate@jfsseattle.org (206) 861-3150
Did a relative or friend forward this WSCC Catholic Advocacy Bulletin to you? Sign up for your own free subscription here. The bulletin is available in both Spanish and English.
You can also find the Washington State Catholic Conference on Facebook, Twitter @wacatholics, and Instagram.
Click here to view previous WSCC bulletins on our website.
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