Bishops Urge Preservation of Safety Net

In a letter to Governor Jay Inslee and state lawmakers today, the Catholic bishops of Washington state said the needs of the poor, hungry and unemployed must come first as they establish budget priorities.

“As Catholic pastors, we remind you that economic decisions possess a clear and compelling moral dimension,” they said in the letter, which sets out criteria for guiding state budget negotiations.

Among those criteria are the dignity of human life, the effect of budgetary decisions on the poor and unemployed and promoting the good of society.

“A central moral measure of any budget proposal is how it affects our poorest sisters and brothers,” the bishops said in their letter, which outlined specific programs that meet essential needs.

Among the priority programs mentioned by the bishops were the state Housing Trust Fund, financial assistance for working-poor parents and grants to those unable to work because of physical or mental disabilities.

“These services truly address the essential needs of the least among us, our brothers and sisters who are poor and vulnerable,” the bishops said.

The letter was signed by all four bishops of Washington state: Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, Archdiocese of Seattle; Bishop Blase J. Cupich, Diocese of Spokane; Bishop Joseph J. Tyson, Diocese of Yakima; and Bishop Eusebio Elizondo MSpS, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle.

Attachments:

budget letter to governor (Spanish) April 2013.pdf	[ ]	73 Kb
budget letter to governor April 2013.pdf	[ ]	72 Kb
budget letter to legislators (Spanish) April 2013.pdf	[ ]	72 Kb
budget letter to legislators April 2013.pdf	[ ]	72 Kb

Prayers Asked for Boston Bombing Victims

Dear Friends,

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York is speaking on behalf of all our nation's bishops in calling for prayers for those suffering from the bombings at the Boston Marathon today.  Below is the text of his statement.  Thank you in advance for joining him and me in prayer.

+Bishop Joseph Tyson

CARDINAL DOLAN CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR VICTIMS OF BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement after the bombings at the Boston Marathon, April 15.

The tragic end to the Boston Marathon April 15 reminds us all that evil exists and that life is fragile.

The deaths and injuries of people gathered for the celebration on Patriots Day in Boston calls on all of us to pray for the souls of those killed the healing of those injured and the restoration of peace for all of us unsettled by the bombings at a world renowned sporting event.

Our special prayers are with the Archdiocese of Boston and the people there who are working in the aftermath of this crisis to address those wounded in so many ways by these events.

The growing culture of violence in our world and even in our country calls for both wise security measures by government officials and an examination by all of us to see what we can personally do to enhance peace and respect for one another in our world. 

March 2013 Central Washington Catholic

             Click on image to read                                Haz clic en imagen para leer

Attachments:

CWC_March_2013_Eng.pdf	[ ]	633 Kb
CWC_March_2013_Span.pdf	[ ]	817 Kb

Engaged Encounter Planned for June 28-30

Dear Fathers,

The next Engaged Encounter retreat in our Diocese will be offered June 28-30 at the Lazy F Ranch in Ellensburg.  This will be the only opportunity this year for couples to attend an EE weekend in our diocese.  I've attached a copy of the brochure which you can copy and distribute to couples preparing for marriage.  It would be helpful to have any interested couples registered by May 15.

Msgr. Siler

Attachments:

2013 EE Brochure.pdf

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Potential Catholic School Grants Increase

The Central Washington Catholic Foundation has increased potential tuition assistance grants for students who will attend one of the eight Catholic Schools in Central Washington during the 2013-2014 school year.  Grants will be a minimum of $750 with a maximum of $1,500.  The application deadline is August 15.  Application forms, in English and Spanish, are available at:  http://cwcatholicfoundation.org/tuition/  A sample bulletin notice for parishes is attached to this article.

For more information, contact the Foundation at 509-972-3732.

Attachments:

Parish Bulletin Announcement April-May Bulletins.doc

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Study Highlights Immigration System Costs

Dear Friends,

Newly Planted Wheat Illustrates Resurrection

Dear Friends:

Check out these photos from St Andrew's Parish in Ellensburg. Father Tómas Vázquez asked his parishioners to plant seeds of wheat on Passion Sunday, and the spouts of new wheat were visible on Easter Sunday.  A week later, they were growing rapidly.   What a powerful way to underscore the scriptural passage from John 12:24, "Truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it. Whoever hates his life and this world will preserve it for eternal life."

Read more...

Take Action to Preserve State Safety Net

The Washington State Catholic Conference has issued the following Action Alert in regard to preserving vital safety net programs in the Washington State biennial budget.  The following information summarizes the concerns of Washington State's Bishops.  To send a message to your local legislators, click on the following link:

Preserve Safety Net

The 2013 Legislature has moved into the budget phase of the session facing a $1.2 billion deficit. On April 5^th, the Senate passed a $33.2 billion budget for the 2013-15 biennium.  The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on the House’s proposed $34.5 billion biennial budget.  It is expected to be considered by all House members in the next couple of days.
 
Both budgets allocate significant funding to address the McCleary decision, which requires increased funding of public K-12 education.  The Senate budget proposes an increase of $1.5 billion for public education, and the House increases it by $1.4 billion. 
 
Safety net programs were substantially cut in the Senate budget including the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN), the Aged Blind and Disabled (ABD), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) programs.  The House budget did not reduce the present level of funding in these programs.  TANF received funding enhancements in the House budget, but not in the Senate’s.   While the state Food Assistance Program received partial funding restoration in the Senate budget, the restoration was not funded in the House proposal.   The capital budget proposals both include funding for low-income housing in the Housing Trust Fund, though the House appropriation is higher than the Senate.

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Bishop Announces July Priest Assignments

After a series of consultations with the Priest Personnel Board, and the men involved, I’m making available to you the decisions I have made regarding new assignments for some of our priests.  With you, I’m very grateful to them for their generosity in accepting these changes.

The changes are all effective July 1 or on a date close to it and mutually agreed upon by those involved in the change.

+Bishop Tyson

George Weigel at Holy Spirit in Kennewick, WA April 22, 2013

In 2005 George Weigel published his bestselling biography of Pope John Paul II, Witness to Hope.  Now in 2013, Mr. Weigel has published a new book entitled Evangelical Catholicism.  He was recently quoted in TIME magazine, describing his vision for effective Catholic evangelization in the present and the future.  George Weigel will give a lecture at the parish of the Holy Spirit, 7409 West Clearwater in Kennewick on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 7 p.m. His recent work will be on sale, all are welcome to attend.