Winter 2008                                                                                                                                                                          Volume 1, Issue 1

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

> Faith and Politics:
2008 Election and
Political Activities Guide 

> Catholic Days at the Capitol, Register Today! 

> Roe v. Wade 35th
Anniversary Statement 

> Testimony on Educational Choice to Florida Tax and Budget Subcommittee

> 2007-2008 Catholic School Statistics

> The Death Penalty in Florida: Recent Activities

> Florida Catholic Conference Advocacy Network



Archdiocese of Miami

Diocese of St. Augustine

Diocese of St. Petersburg

Diocese of Orlando

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee

Diocese of Palm Beach

Diocese of Venice




 Florida
Catholic
Conference

201 W. Park Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301-7760
Phone: (850) 222-3803
Fax: (850) 681-9548
Website: www.flacathconf.org

Faith and Politics:

2008 Election and Political Activities Guide

As Catholics, we are called to carry the values of the Gospel and the teachings of our Church into the public square.  As citizens of the United States, we have a duty to participate in the framing and the debate of public issues and in the selection of those who occupy positions of civic leadership.  These dual responsibilities to faith and citizenship are at the heart of what it means to be a Catholic in a free and democratic nation. 

This guide, approved by the bishops of Florida, is intended to encourage Catholic clergy and laity to facilitate the involvement of their faith communities in appropriate election related activities. These activities are designed to increase parishioner interest in the policy issues that will characterize this election year’s debate, to focus their attention on candidate positions, and encourage them to exercise their right to vote.  Contained within the guide is information on the following: 

· The Church’s Role in Political Life
· Guidelines for Parish Involvement
· Voter Registration
· Candidate Appearances
· Candidate Questionnaire Project (CQP)
· Issue-Oriented Activities
· Church Coordination and Communication on Issues
      Related to the Legislature and State Agencies
· Grassroots Advocacy by Catholic Faithful
· Catholic Days at the Capitol
· Resource List

> 2008 Election and Political Activities Guide

  

To register for Catholic Days

at the Capitol events, contact your diocesan coordinator today!  

> Schedule of activities
> Diocesan coordinators and
   registration forms
> History of the Red Mass
 

Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Florida on the 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
January 22, 2008

“From man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life”, Genesis 9:5

We must continue to proclaim to society that the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling was wrong because it did not recognize the baby in the womb as a human being but only as a “potentiality of human life”. In civilized society, all members must respect the fundamental rights of every person. Calling abortion a “deep wound” in society, Pope Benedict XVI noted, “The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every other right, is the right to life itself. This is true of life from the moment of conception until its natural end. Abortion, consequently, cannot be a human right – it is the very opposite.”   

Sadly, abortions in Florida continue to increase, surpassing the numbers recorded just five years ago in 2001 by 10,000, with a new high of almost 96,000 abortions in 2006. The failure of the legislature to strengthen the parental notification law is particularly disturbing in the face of judicial criticism lamenting the lack of standards in the law. The testimony of parents was all in vain, as they described their families shattered by teens who later regretted their hasty decision. Across our nation, almost 50 million human beings have been destroyed in the womb, dying in ways we would not tolerate if done in the light of day. 

While abortion continues to be the law of the land, we are heartened by medical and scientific advances that have opened the window to the womb such as ultrasound, allowing the mother to see her child made in the image and likeness of God.  What has been called “choice” for a woman has so often been no choice because of coercion by others, feeling alone or lack of financial resources.  > More…

Presentation before the Governmental Procedures and Instruction Subcommittee of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission
Larry Keough, Associate Director for Education, November 16, 2007

Editor's note - The Florida Tax and Budget Reform Commission convenes every 20 years and has the power to propose constitutional amendments for consideration by voters. The 25 member commission is considering educational choice in Florida. 

Our bishops are partners with the public educational system.  Those of you who are familiar with federal law understand FAPE -- free and appropriate public school education.  Public schools are the bedrock of education in the state.  Catholic Schools, other non-public schools, home school programs, are alternatives. Alternatives for people to have a lot of choices, but not to supplant the bedrock of education in the state, which is public school education. 

There are also two sides to this issue and people who are proponents and opponents of school choice. If the language was written in a way that is overly broad, subjective or subject to interpretation, there may be future legislators who would draft a bill to take advantage of a situation to create pervasive school choice that would be constitutionally safeguarded if in fact a broadly proposed amendment were placed on the ballot and adopted. When talking with people around the state for years about a proposal constitutional amendment, it is often presented as a panacea to solve all of our solutions in the school choice arena.  As a representative of the Florida Catholic Conference, we believe it’s long overdue to have Blaine language amended in the constitution under Article I, Section III.  I’m sure that each of you realize the origin of Blaine language. That is, Congressmen Blaine originated anti-Catholic language in his congressional legislation. He was unsuccessful in his congressional legislation, but states basically utilized some of that language to place in their constitutions.

I am here today as someone who is attempting to articulate the pros and cons and help you as members of your committee within the Commission to have that information to make an informed-responsible decision. > More...

Enrollment in Florida Catholic Schools at 90,000 plus
 Catholic schools week January 27 – February 2, 2008


 Amid an unstable housing market that is changing demographics, Florida Catholic Schools are still enrolling nearly 91,000 students. Total enrollment in the 221 Florida Catholic schools is 90,739, which is a 2,439 decline from a year ago.

 “What our figures suggest is stability of our collective student bodies despite economic factors relating to projections that there might be a precipitous decline in enrollment,” said Larry Keough, associate director of education at the Florida Catholic Conference.  

The 2007-2008 Catholic school statistics are released in preparation for national Catholic Schools Week. This year's theme for the celebration is “Catholic Schools Light the Way”. National Appreciation Day for Catholic schools will be Wednesday, January 30.

> 2007-2008 Catholic school statistics

The Death Penalty in Florida: Recent Activity

Written Testimony to Commission on the Administration of Lethal Injection
Sheila S. Hopkins, Associate Director for Social Concerns, February 8, 2007

This testimony was provided to the commission appointed by Governor Bush to investigate the use of lethal injection in executions after the bungled execution of Angel Nieves Diaz in December 2006.  The commission reported the need for additional procedures and qualified staff during the administration of the drugs.  During the commissions investigation a moratorium on executions was in place, however shortly after the commission's report was released, Governor Crist signed the death warrant of Mark Dean Schwab (see below). 

On behalf of the Florida Catholic Conference, I take this opportunity to state our opposition to the use of lethal injection in the state of Florida.  

Because executions are carried out in the name of the people of Florida and result in the death of an individual, we oppose the existing procedure that prohibits the public from being able to witness and understand the process that results in the painful preparation and death of a human being.  Providing the public with full access to the process involved in these executions will inform them as to the true nature of this type of killing by the state, and allow them to express their views to representatives of government with an accurate view of what actually takes place in a lethal injection. We believe that this will lead many to reject this type of execution by the state.  > More…

The following press release was issued November 14, 2007 prior to the scheduled execution of Mark Dean Schwab, which was stayed pending a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of lethal injection.
 

Catholic Bishops Urge Governor Crist to Stay the Execution of Mark Dean Schwab

Tallahassee - Governor Crist, we urge you to stay the impending execution of Mark Dean Schwab scheduled for November 15, 2007.  At this time while the U.S. Supreme Court is considering the case of Baze v. Rees to determine whether the drug combination used in lethal injection executions is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment, it seems both prudent and judicious for you to follow the example of another governor and many state and federal courts.   More than a dozen stays of execution have been granted since October 3, 2007. 

While recognizing the right of the state to impose the death penalty, we oppose its use given the option of life in prison without possibility of parole that will punish the offender and keep society safe.  Incarceration for life is a severe punishment, allows the possibility of conversion for the wrong doer, and gives us the opportunity to forgive their wrong doings.  Killing those who have harmed others only perpetuates the use of violence in society.  > More…

Bishops’ Campaign Against the Use of the Death Penalty
Series of Seminars Conducted Around the State 

Dale S. Recinella and Dr. Susan M. Recinella were featured speakers for a series of presentations which served to educate Catholics and interested others about Church teaching on the death penalty. Dale serves as the Catholic lay chaplain to Florida’s Death Row. Susan, a clinical psychologist for mentally ill adults, serves as Catholic lay minister to the families of the executed.  Each shared their experiences with death row inmates and their families.  All seven dioceses in Florida hosted a presentation in 2007, with two presentations held in the Dioceses of  Pensacola-Tallahassee.

> Death Penalty Facts and Catholic Church Teaching on the Death Penalty

Summary of FCC Advocacy Network Activity
Fourth Quarter, October - December, 2007 

Federal Alerts
Issue: Urge U.S. Representative to Support SCHIP Reauthorization, October 15
 Outcome: U.S. House failed to override presidential veto of SCHIP; falling short of the required 2/3 majority of those voting by 13 votes

Issue: Urge Congress to Restrict Funding of Organizations that Perform Abortions, October 23
 Outcome: Congress has yet to consider in this round of legislation the Mexico City Policy which prohibits funding of organizations that perform abortions.

Issue: Urge U.S. Senators to Support Unborn Child Rule in SCHIP Bill, October30
 Outcome: The modified SCHIP bill passed the Senate November 1 by a vote of 64-30 but failed to include the Unborn Child Rule in its language. The president is expected to again veto this legislation. Supporters of the bill indicated they will continue to discuss the possibility of additional legislation.

19,435 messages from network members were sent to federal elected officials during the 4th quarter of 2007.

Join the Florida Catholic Conference (FCC) Advocacy Network

> click here to register, or visit www.flacathconf.org

Collaborate with Catholics throughout Florida to help encourage lawmakers to defend all human life and promote the dignity of the most vulnerable in our society.  Speak out on behalf of the poor, the disabled, the sick or dying, the unborn, the elderly, families and children, farmworkers, immigrants, the imprisoned, and others in need.  By raising our voices together, we strengthen the presence of the Catholic faithful in the political arena. 

 

“In the Catholic tradition,
responsible citizenship is a virtue,
and participation in political life
is a moral obligation.” 

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship:
A Call to Political Responsibility from the Bishops of the United States, USCCB, November 2007

The FCC Advocacy Network informs you of current legislative issues that relate to areas of Church teaching and provides an easily accessible channel of communication to assist you in sharing your concerns with your elected officials.  The Florida Catholic Conference, which is the nonpartisan, public policy voice of the Catholic bishops of Florida, will provide to you via email: 

  • timely action alerts urging you to email or call your legislators on key bills at both the state and federal levels;

  • sample messages for you to use in communications with your elected officials;

  • current legislative reports and summaries during the Florida legislative session;

  • bishops statements, position papers, and other educational materials;

  • the Florida Catholic Conference electronic newsletter;

  • information about upcoming events; and

  • links to helpful resources.

There is no cost to join. You may cancel your subscription at any time by emailing fccadvocacy@flacathconf.org and typing “unsubscribe” in the subject line. The Florida Catholic Conference will not share your subscriber information with any other individuals, groups or organizations.  For questions or additional information, please contact the Florida Catholic Conference Associate for Communications at (850) 205-6817.