News

Michael Morton Act Passed by Texas Legislature and Signed into Law

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:34:21 PDT

The Texas Legislature approved the Michael Morton Act, and Governor Perry signed it into law on Thursday, May 16. The Act broadens a defendant’s access to evidence that could prove innocence. Also known as Senate Bill 1611, the law explicitly states that every prosecutor has a duty to disclose documents or information that could raise questions about a defendant’s guilt or lead to a lighter sentence if there is a conviction.

Going Too Far with DNR?

jeff@txcatholic.org (Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk / The Valley Catholic) — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:52:04 PDT

Resuscitating a patient who undergoes a cardiac arrest or stops breathing often involves multiple procedures. When a resuscitation "Code Blue" is called in the hospital (or on a TV show), something like a medical "flash mob" comes together to try to save the patient. The sequence of events typically involves a combination of CPR, airway assistance, medications and shocks to the heart when the resuscitation is performed in a clinical setting. Sometimes these interventions can seem unwarranted or extreme, and people wonder whether it would be O.K. to fill out a "Do Not Resuscitate" order (DNR) for themselves or for a family member. Would declining permission to resuscitate someone mean they are abandoning their loved one? Each crisis or emergency situation will have unique contours, and the question of our moral duty to provide resuscitation will vary with the details of each case. Sometimes a DNR order will be a reasonable choice; other times it will not.

Texas Catholic Bishops Strongly Urge House Vote on End-of-Life Care

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:42:34 PDT

AUSTIN--The Texas Catholic bishops today released a letter urging members of the Texas House of Representatives to support Senate Bill 303, and to dramatically improve end-of-life care by protecting the lives of patients, honoring the wishes of families, and safeguarding the consciences of medical providers.

Signed by each bishop representing the Roman Catholic dioceses across the state, the letter unequivocally asserts the Church's position as articulated by the Texas Catholic Conference as authoritative and in accordance with Catholic moral teaching. The bishops expressed disappointment with opponents who misrepresent the provisions of S.B. 303 and the moral principles it addresses.

"In truth, S.B. 303 is an incremental, yet significant, improvement over what has been a sad and painful part of Texas law," the bishops wrote.

"Current law contains provisions that permit the withdrawal of care for patients--including food and water--and permits doctors to unilaterally impose Do Not Attempt Resuscitate (DNAR) orders without the permission, or even consultation, of patients or families. Instead, the choice is left to the provider's subjective discretion," the letter states.

The Texas Catholic Conference bishops renewed their support for Senate Bill 303 as correcting these failings by:

Preventing unilateral Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders;
Preventing the involuntary denial of food and water, except in extreme circumstances when the treatment would harm the patient or hasten death;
Requiring doctors and hospitals to treat all patients "equally without regard to permanent physical or mental disabilities, age, gender, ethnic background, or financial or insurance status;"
Preserving conscience protections so physicians are not required to provide ineffective or harmful procedures indefinitely.

"This is important to use because we recognize human life as a gift from God that is innately sacred--from conception to natural death. We have taken this position after much reflection to ensure that the law accords with our moral values and respects the natural dying process," the bishops wrote.

For the full text of the letter, go to the Texas Catholic Conference website at www.txcatholic.org.

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View the full text of the Bishops' Letter.

Sacrificial Love – The Missing Ingredient

jeff@txcatholic.org (Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:22:55 PDT

Every time there is a tragedy in our society, such as the Boston Marathon bombings, people begin to ask questions about why anyone would want to do such a thing. Some people become very angry, frustrated, and even allow hatred to enter their hearts. Others reflect on their own lives and vow to love more, especially family members. Some pray more and get involved in their community to make it a better place. We heard that some of the victims, just before leaving home, made a special effort to say a loving goodbye. For sure, we know that these tragedies are not the actions of decent human beings.

After the Garden of Eden became chaotic due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve, unity and love among humankind fell apart. Sin entered the world. Yet, God did not abandon His people. He spoke through the prophets about how to create a better world through justice and peace. He replaced hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and placed a new law into the hearts of his people.

“This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate cities are now inhabited and fortified.” (Jer. 31: 31-34)

Pope Appoints Bishop Mark Seitz to Lead Diocese of El Paso

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:07:17 PDT

DALLAS--Pope Francis has named Diocese of Dallas auxiliary bishop, the Most Reverend Mark J. Seitz, to serve as the new Bishop of El Paso. The appointment was announced Monday, May 6 in Washington, D.C. by the papal nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganó, followed by the announcement in the Diocese of El Paso.

With the appointment, Most Reverend Seitz will become the seventh bishop of the Diocese of El Paso. He says he was surprised by the news but grateful to the Holy Father. He looks forward to serving El Paso but says he will always cherish his time in Dallas. “Since I entered the seminary here in Dallas as a young 18-year old boy, I have loved Dallas and the Church of Dallas. You have become my family. Dallas has become my home. But when I presented myself for ordination as a deacon, I gave my life to God’s service and I promised to be at the disposal of the Church. I accept this call as a new opportunity to follow the Good Shepherd and, with His help, to be one.”

Standing for the Common Good

jeff@txcatholic.org (Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD) — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:08:12 PDT

On Tuesday, April 9, 11 bishops and 2,000 lay Catholics from the dioceses of Texas went to Austin to dialogue with the Legislature, the governor and the lieutenant governor about the issues of concern to Catholics in general and in the State of Texas.

I am happy to say that more than 90 people from our diocese were in attendance. This is an annual event called “Catholic Advocacy Day” that is organized locally by Catholic Charities. Carol Fernandez, president, did an excellent job in our diocese.

The Church over the centuries has developed a body of social teaching based on the dignity of the human person. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #2420) states: “The Church makes a moral judgment about economic and social matters when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of the soul requires it. In the moral order she bears a mission distinct from that of political authorities: The Church is concerned with the temporal aspects of the common good because they are ordered to the sovereign Good, our ultimate end. She strives to inspire attitudes with respect to earthly goods and in socio-economic relationships.”

Survey Finds Nearly 75 Percent of Texans Support School Choice Tax Credit

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:34:03 PDT

AUSTIN--The Texas Catholic Conference today lauded a new survey that shows nearly three-quarters of Texans favor school choice tax credits, with support strongest among Hispanic voters, 80 percent of whom favor school choice.

The Texas K-12 & School Choice Survey, conducted by Braun Research, Inc. and released April 23, finds that 72 percent of voters support a school choice tax credit program. School Choice Tax Credit Scholarships let businesses invest in their future workforce by receiving a tax credit from state taxes when they contribute to nonprofit agencies that award K-12 scholarships to students with financial and academic need. These scholarships defray educational costs so parents can choose the educational setting for their children, in either public or private schools.

When asked why they supported the tax credit approach, respondents most often stated that they wanted the freedom to make educational choices, appreciated how a tax credit scholarship could put such choice within financial reach, and hoped for a better, more effective education for their children.

Meaningful Improvements to Payday and Auto Title Lending Bill Earns Removal of Opposition From Catholics, Texas Baptist CLC & AARP

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:48:55 PDT

AUSTIN--The Texas Catholic Conference, the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, and AARP have ended opposition to CSSB 1247, which regulates payday and auto title lenders in Texas, now that Chairman John Carona (R-Dallas) has accepted changes to the bill and has publicly committed that he will hold to those changes in any negotiations with the House in conference committee.

Senator Carona announced on the Senate floor before consideration of the bill that "Will not let the bill come back to the Senate floor without those six amendments being included. Those amendments will not come off. If we cannot maintain those six items, there will be no bill."

The organizations were pleased that Senator Carona has accepted changes to the bill that represents improved regulation of the payday and auto title lending industry in Texas by:

Requiring that fees should be included in calculation of income limits for single payment loans, as they are for multi-‐payment loans, to limit the amount of debt to be imposed on borrowers as a percentage of their income;
Establishing a temporary moratorium on city ordinances that will expire in two years, giving cities and lenders time to adjust to new regulations, but ensuring that municipalities can maintain authority over lenders in their jurisdictions; AND,
Setting a 180-‐day maximum term on all loans, with no refinancing on multi-‐payment loans.

Catholic Bishops Correct Erroneous Campaign Against Improving End-of-Life Care

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:28:55 PDT

The TCC publicly corrected the continuing misstatements made by the Texas Right to Life organization against legislation to improve end-of-life care by reforming the Texas Advance Directives Act in an open letter to members of the Texas Legislature.

The legislation, which is supported by the Texas Catholic Bishops, would reform end-of-life care by improving communication between medical providers and families and balancing the protections of human life and a medical provider's conscience. These needed reforms, outlined in Senate Bill 303 and House Bill 1444, are based on Catholic moral principles and reasonable medical standards for defending human life. The letter states that the legislation “prevents unilateral Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRs), improves communication between medical providers and families, ensures a clear and balanced process for resolving differences, and gives families the right to challenge DNRs before a medical ethics committee.”

The letter was written to correct the current misstatements made by the Texas Right to Life organization, and their ongoing misrepresentation of the legislation through false claims and assertions.

View the letter.

View the full text of SB 303.

View the full text of HB 1444.

Catholic Bishops and Faithful to Promote Life, Justice, Charity, and Religious Freedom at Faith in Action Day at Texas Capitol

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:03:17 PDT

AUSTIN—On Tuesday, April 9, 11 Catholic Bishops and hundreds of Catholic faithful will gather at the Texas Capitol to celebrate Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day and address a broad range of diverse issues including advance directives reform, school choice tax credit scholarships, payday lending, Medicaid expansion, and abortion facilities regulation.

Bishops participating in the day include:

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston)
Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller (Archdiocese of San Antonio)
Bishop Daniel Flores (Diocese of Brownsville)
Bishop Curtis John Guillory (Diocese of Beaumont)
Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey (Diocese of Corpus Christi)
Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer (Diocese of San Angelo)
Bishop Plácido Rodríguez (Diocese of Lubbock)
Bishop Mark Seitz (Diocese of Dallas)
Auxiliary Bishop George Arthur Sheltz (Diocese of Galveston-Houston)
Bishop Joe Vásquez (Diocese of Austin)
Bishop Patrick J. Zurek (Diocese of Amarillo)

The centerpiece of the day is a massive rally to be held at 11:30 a.m. on the south steps of the Capitol, where the Catholic Bishops will address nearly 2,000 Catholics traveling from every corner of the state to visit with their senators and representatives. Immediately after the rally, the Bishops will be available for media and to answer questions and comments.

The Bishops have a broad legislative agenda that addresses all aspects of preserving life and advocates on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. The Texas Catholic Conference (TCC), which is the public policy voice for the Bishops of Texas, is tracking over 500 bills pertaining to Catholic moral and social teachings. The Conference encourages all Catholics to be faithful citizens and engage in advocacy during and after the legislative session. Learn more about TCC at www.TXcatholic.org. You can also find the TCC on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TXcatholic) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/TXcatholic).

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My Reflections on Sequestration

jeff@txcatholic.org (Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:52:07 PDT

I recently sent a letter to U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (R – TX 11), offering my reflections on the across-the-board federal budget cuts that went into effect on March 1, 2013, also known as sequestration.

In the letter, I asked Rep. Conaway to craft a balanced, responsible, and thoughtful alternative to the sequester and urged him to draw a “Circle of Protection” around federal programs that help people at home and abroad lift themselves out of poverty.

I further presented these observations:

The continuing budget debate jeopardizes many programs that reduce poverty and help people live in a manner worthy of their human dignity. Sequestration will cause many mothers and their children to lose health and nutrition benefits; thousands of households to lose housing security; and thousands more around the world to be denied access to clean water and life-saving medicine.

In a period of persistently high unemployment and underemployment, sequestration will also eliminate job training for thousands of unemployed workers and reduce vitally important financial assistance for long-term unemployed people and their families.

Recently, close to 100 Christian heads of denominations and organizations--including three Catholic bishops and numerous other Catholic leaders-- sent an open letter to President Obama and Congressional leadership. They challenged Congress to return to respectful dialogue and find an alternative to sequestration that protects programs that serve poor and vulnerable people.

I support their effort and I signed the letter, because I agree that responsible deficit reduction can and must protect “these least ones” (Matthew 25) and create economic opportunities for them. In the words of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, “The Catholic way is to recognize the essential role and the complementary responsibilities of families, communities, the market, and government to work together to overcome poverty and advance human dignity” (A Place at the Table).

The Catholic Church is one of the world’s leaders in providing life-giving services to poor and vulnerable people at home and abroad. By crafting a bipartisan alternative to sequestration, Congress can help us reduce hunger and poverty by expanding opportunity and justice, promoting economic growth and good paying jobs, stabilizing family life, and protecting the well-being of children.

Seton, The John Paul II Life Center Collaborate to Provide Healthcare Services in the Catholic Tradition

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:40:25 PDT

On Tuesday, March 12, Seton Clinical Enterprise and The John Paul II Life Center announced a collaborative effort to provide effective and efficient holistic healthcare services in the Catholic tradition. The collaboration will focus on delivering quality healthcare services in accordance with Catholic teachings across all socio-economic groups. Healthcare services under the collaboration are guided by the Church's beliefs in the inviolability of human life from conception to natural death and emphasize the sacrament of marriage and the importance of family.

View the joint press release.

TCC Endorses Craddick Bill on Pay Day Lenders, Ending Cycle of Debt for Poor

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:03:41 PST

AUSTIN -- The Texas Catholic Conference today expressed its support for HB 2019, filed by State Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) to strengthen protections on working class families that suffer from recurring cycle of debt brought on by the predatory lending practices of payday and auto title loan industries.

The bill seeks to correct usury practices under current law, whereby payday lenders charge high recurring fees and up to 500 percent annual percentage rates (APR) on payday and auto title loans. Surveys show that such exorbitant fees and interest cost the average borrower somewhere around $840 or more for a $300 loan and around $1,200 per month in fees alone for a $4,000 auto title loan without reducing the loan principal.

Payday lenders have taken advantage of a loophole in Texas law that was created when state lawmakers sought to help low-income families in need of establishing credit by raising the cap on interest rates. Instead of making it possible for people with poor credit to improve their situations, the change had the opposite effect of leaving working families vulnerable to debts and fees they could not pay.

Representative Craddick's HB 2019 would end such exploitative practices by regulating payday and auto title lenders (also known as Credit Access Businesses), by closing the loophole and putting these industries back under the same long-standing usury limits that other lenders already comply with under Texas law.

Under Craddick’s bill, Texas would not be putting these lenders out of business. The interest and fees caps for consumer loans would average 80 percent APR—a rate that is high, but much less than what is currently charged by payday and auto title businesses. In fact, these same lenders do a very good business in many states with just that rate structure. According to the Consumer Financial Services Association, the typical fee charged by payday lenders in those states ranges from $10 to $15 per $100 borrowed for a two-week loan. These businesses currently charge twice those rates or more in Texas.

"Everyone has experienced a moment when we have needed financial help—the car breaks down, a child is ill, the utility bill takes an unexpected jump—and we need assistance," said Jeffery R. Patterson, executive director of the Texas Catholic Conference. "For people of limited means, this has meant turning to the neighborhood credit shops or responding to TV commercials with that promise to resolve their temporary debt woes. Instead, they get trapped in a cycle of debt that only makes things worse."

This is important to the Catholic Church and countless other religious and charitable organizations who have increasingly found that often the cash assistance they provide to families for food and utilities is directly related to the amount of payday loan debt the family has to pay. In effect, charitable assistance has been helping a needy client pay off a payday lender. Charities do not have the resources to line the pockets of the payday lending industry.

The Texas Catholic Bishops have emphasized that their intent is not to shut down this industry. The Church recognizes that people may need short-term loans to meet basic or emergency needs; and reasonable and equitable profit is acceptable in economic and financial activity. Nevertheless, the excess of usury is to be morally condemned. Forcing poor families to pay 500 percent APR on short-term loans is wrong.

Instead, Rep. Craddick's HB 2019 levels the playing field by imposing the same fair rate and fee structure on all consumer loans. It upholds Texas’ longstanding opposition to usury in its financial markets—replacing the over-reaching fees charged by payday and auto title lenders with a fairly structured loan product.

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Conference Provides Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 97

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:09:58 PST

At a hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Texas Catholic Conference provided testimony supporting Senate Bill 97, which raises the standard of care for women by requiring physicians to administer the way in which the FDA tested and approved abortion-inducing drugs and by providing penalties for the improper use and distribution of the drugs. The TCC supports this bill not only as a another step toward ending abortion in Texas but as an important step to protect the health and welfare of women.

While Catholic teaching opposes abortion, it supports the protection of women’s health and welfare. This bill takes steps to ensure that women who elect to use an abortion-inducing drug are administered the drug by FDA rules and are monitored for possible adverse health risks associated with the drug. Furthermore, initiating greater oversight of the prescription and administration of abortion-inducing drugs is seen as a gradual step toward ending abortion in Texas.

View the full text of the testimony in PDF format.

View the full text of SB 97.

Conference Opposes Cloning Bill at State Affairs Hearing

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:54:58 PST

At a hearing of the House State Affairs Committee, the Texas Catholic Conference provided testimony opposing House bill 142, which allows for the creation of human clones for research. While on the surface this bill appears consistent with Catholic teachings, the bill allows human cloning to be used to create an embryo that will be destroyed to provide stem cells for research. Harvesting embryonic stem cells kills the living human embryo. The idea of experimenting on human beings because they may die anyway poses a grave threat to convicted prisoners, terminally ill patients, and others. The TCC opposes this bill because the creation and destruction of innocent human life for experimental testing is unethical and denies the dignity of the young unborn life.

View the full text of the testimony in PDF format.

View the full text of HB 142.