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February 2010 |
Volume 3, Issue 1 |
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March
2-April 30, 2010
2010 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION
What to Expect
from the Florida Catholic Conference |
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During the nine-week Florida legislative session, the
Florida Catholic Conference produces regular reports on
legislative issues engaged by Conference staff on behalf of
the Bishops of Florida. All information is provided
electronically to Catholic faithful and interested others by
way of the FCC Advocacy Network.
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To become a member of the
Network, click
here. |
2010 Public Policy Issues
This annual
publication identifies areas of concern that are anticipated
to be considered during the 2010 Session.
Issues are listed by the advocacy areas of
Life and Death, Social Concerns, Health and Education.
The Florida Catholic Conference Public Policy Statement,
statistics on the Catholic Church in Florida and staff
contact information are also included.
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Click here to view
document |
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2010 Legislative Report
A pre-session legislative report, which identifies proposed
legislation closely followed by the Conference, is now
available. A
description of each bill on the
report, the position advocated and the current status is
provided.
As the regular legislative session nears and
throughout the nine-week period, the report will be updated
daily with action taken by the legislature on all previously
identified and any additional bills of concern.
You may view a current report at anytime on
the Conference's website at:
www.flacathconf.org/legreport.htm
Weekly Session Summaries
Each Friday afternoon during the legislative
session, the Conference will provide its FCC Advocacy
Network with a summary of significant legislative action
during the week
and reports on activities of
interest at the Capitol. A link to the updated 2010
Legislative Report will also be included.
Calls for Action
As priority bills move through the
legislative process, action alerts will be sent to urge
Network members to contact their legislators with important
messages on specific bills. |
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2010
Catholic Days at the Capitol
and 35th
Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit |
Join Catholics from around the state as they
gather
March 9-10 in Tallahassee to participate in Catholic Days at the
Capitol. Participants attend a legislative briefing before attending
scheduled meetings with their elected officials. A luncheon is held on day
two for Catholic Days participants, Florida’s bishops and legislators.
Participants are also invited to attend the annual Red Mass of the Holy
Spirit. Individuals interested in attending the events should contact their
diocesan coordinator for more information. Pre-registration is required.
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Diocesan coordinators and registration forms |
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Conference Staff Meet with Sponsor of Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Bill
Rep. Weatherford to be Honored with Defensor Parentum Award |
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In
early February, Florida Catholic Conference staff met with Representative
Will Weatherford to discuss the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Rep.
Weatherford and his colleague, Senator Joe Negron, will be sponsoring bills
during the 2010 Legislative Session that expand the program. This excellent,
scholarship program provides increased opportunities in education and is
also money-saving for the State of Florida.
Proposed changes in
the law this year include indexing the scholarship amount to annual
increases in public school spending. The bills contain reasonable
accountability standards that the Conference continues to support. Last year
this program served 2700 children in Catholic schools.
The bishops of Florida intend to honor Rep. Weatherford in March by
bestowing upon him the Defender of Parents Rights Award (Defensor
Parentum). This award honors lawmakers who have displayed a strong
commitment to parental choice in education during their time in office. The
award, which will be given at the Catholic Days at the Capitol luncheon,
acknowledges Rep. Weatherford's efforts with respect to the Florida Tax
Credit Scholarship Program last year and years prior. |
Photo: Florida Catholic Conference |
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Rep. Weatherford, pictured here with James
Herzog, Florida Catholic Conference Associate Director for Education, will
receive the Defensor Parentum award at the Catholic Days at the
Capitol luncheon on March 10, 2010. |
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Bishops Ask Governor
to Spare Life of Martin Grossman
The Catholic Bishops of Florida
make our plea to you, Governor Crist, to issue a stay of the
execution for Martin Grossman scheduled for February 16, 2010. We
support punishment as a means of protecting society and offering the
possibility of repentance by the offender. However, execution is
seen as an act of revenge for an offender’s deeds and does little to
deter future criminal acts in society.
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Full statement |
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Bishops of Florida on the
37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
The bishops
of Florida continue their tradition of speaking out against the January
22, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade,
that has resulted in the deaths of millions of unborn children and harm
to women.
Approaching the somber anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision
that declared an unborn child has no constitutional protection, we have
a glimmer of hope as surveys of the American public indicate the
overwhelming majority do not believe in unrestricted access to abortion.
Over 80% of those polled in two surveys, one by the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops and the other by the Knights of Columbus,
believe abortion should be illegal or significantly restricted...
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Full statement (English) /
(Spanish) |
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Human
Trafficking Ad Hoc Committee Established
At the invitation of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and
Refugee Services, the
Florida Bishops have established an human trafficking public awareness ad hoc committee comprised of key
individuals with expertise in working with one of three targeted audiences:
students who attend Catholic colleges and universities, including campus
ministry programs at state universities; Catholic health facilities; and
Mass-attending Catholics of all ages.
The committee has three primary purposes: 1) Identifying activities and
strategies that will educate the targeted audiences of Catholics on the
realities of human trafficking; 2) collaborating with dioceses and
institutions in implementing these educational activities and strategies;
3) collaborating with state officials and other nonprofit organizations to
identify ways in which each of the audiences can engage directly in the
fight against this global scourge in Florida. |
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“Human
trafficking is a horrific crime against the basic dignity and rights of the
human person. All efforts must be expended to end it. In the end, we must
work together –Church, state, and community – to eliminate the root causes
and markets that permit traffickers to flourish . . .”
-- “On
Human Trafficking”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |
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The first meeting of
the ad hoc committee took place on Monday, February 8, in Orlando, during
which committee member, Terry Coonan, Florida State University Center for
the Advancement of Human Rights, provided an overview of the human
trafficking problem in Florida. Sub-committees were identified based on the
project’s targeted audiences and proposed activities for 2010 were
discussed.
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List of committee members by sub-committee |
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Conference Urges
Governor to Request Federal Emergency Aid for Farmworkers
The January 2010 freeze that swept through much of Florida resulted not
only in substantial crop damage for many of Florida's farmers, but it
also impacted thousands of farmworkers whose jobs and family income
depend on the frozen crops. Farmworker groups estimate lost wages will
total more than $50 million over the next few months. Desperately needed
assistance for farmworkers and their families,
such as emergency food stamps, disaster
unemployment benefits and food commodities, can only be provided upon a
presidential declaration in response to a governor’s request.
On January 27, Michael
McCarron, Florida Catholic Conference Executive Director, sent a letter
to Governor Crist urging him to formally request that President Obama
issue a major disaster
declaration
that will trigger access to the necessary relief for
Florida farmworkers. Governor Crist has already requested federal
disaster relief to assist farm owners.
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Letter to Governor Crist
Our two U.S. Senators and several members of Florida's Congressional
delegation have expressed concern for farmworkers affected by the freeze
in a February 4, 2010 letter to President Obama.
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Letter to President Obama |
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Long-Sleeve Relief and
Food-Diaper-Personal Hygiene Drive |
The Florida
Catholic Conference has joined the Florida Catholic newspaper
to encourage parish communities, schools, organizations and
individuals to participate in the Long-Sleeve Relief and
Food-Diaper-Personal Hygiene Drive. The drive will run during the
Lenten season beginning Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, through March 31. |
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List of items needed
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Participant list and drop-off locations
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Florida Catholic newspaper |
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Long-sleeve
shirts are needed to protect workers in the fields and
ferneries from hazards such as exposure to weather, pesticides,
thorns, snakes and bug bites. Requests from agencies working for
those living below the poverty line have
requested that the drive be expanded to
include short-sleeve cotton shirts, as well as nonperishable food,
diaper and baby products and personal hygiene items. Nonperishable
food and diapers are in greatest need. For more information contact
Mary St. Pierre at
mstpierre@thefloridacatholic.org. |
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2010 United States Census
Census Day,
April 1, 2010
The U.S.
Constitution requires a national census every 10 years to determine
the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
In addition, census data affects the funding and availability of
vital services at the local level, such as fire, police and
emergency rescue, health care, education and transportation.
A
complete and accurate count ensures a fair an adequate distribution
of resources that provides for the well-being of all our residents
and serves the common good.
Dioceses,
parishes and
the faithful are urged to support and take part in the Census.
Beginning in March, every household in the country will receive a questionnaire
that is to be returned by Census Day,
April 1, 2010.
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Sample
bulletin announcements
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Frequently
asked questions
> U.S. Census Bureau,
2010census.gov |
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