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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 16, 2007
Contact: Michele M. Taylor
Associate for Communications
(850) 205-6817
mtaylor@flacathconf.org
Catholic
Days at the Capitol and Red Mass Held in Tallahassee
March
13-14, 2007
Tallahassee, Florida - Over
250 participants from around the state attended this year's
Catholic Days at the Capitol sponsored by the Bishops of
Florida.
Activities included a briefing on
current legislative issues of importance to the
Church. Catholic
faithful
were informed by Florida Catholic Conference staff on: Parental
Notification of Abortion, Ethical Stem Cell Research, McKay
Scholarship Eligibility, and Affordable Housing.
During the next day and a half, participants met with their
legislators to discuss these issues.
At a
luncheon on Wednesday, March 14, Florida State Representative
Mike Davis, District 101, was
honored with the Defensor Dignitatis Award for his
ongoing efforts to protect the human dignity of the residents of
our state.
>
Summary information on four current public policy issues of
importance
>
Defensor Dignitatis
Award
32nd Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit
In conjunction with Catholic Days at the Capitol activities, on
the evening of March 14, the Bishops of Florida celebrated the
32nd Annual Red Mass
at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More in
Tallahassee.
Approximately 800 in attendance prayed for all those serving in
the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government,
as well as members of
the legal profession in Florida. Attendees also called upon the
Holy Spirit to grant light, inspiration and guidance during the
2007 Legislative Session.
All nine Florida bishops
con-celebrated the Mass, with Archbishop Favalora serving as
principal celebrant. Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Estévez of the
Archdiocese of Miami served as homilist.
State leaders in attendance
were Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Florida Supreme Court Justice
Raoul G. Cantero, III, and newly appointed Secretary of the
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Walter A. McNeil.
Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio joined
several of their fellow legislators at the Mass. Speaker Rubio
and Senator Lee Constantine participated in the Mass as lectors.
Next year's 33rd Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit is
scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, with Catholic Days at the
Capitol activities on March 11-12, 2008
>
Bishop
Estévez' Homily
>
History
of the Red Mass, and past
homilies
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