WSCC 2019 Catholic Advocacy Bulletin, No. 22

This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant or up to date. For more information contact Msgr. Robert Siler, robert.siler@yakimadiocese.org.

October 4, 2019

Dear Faithful Catholic,
On this, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, it is my privilege and honor to greet you as new Executive Director of the Washington State Catholic Conference. I am grateful to our bishops for the opportunity to bring my advocacy expertise and Catholic faith together in service to the Church. I am also excited to work with you to ensure the Catholic voice is heard on many important issues in our beloved state of Washington. As you will see below, this is a special month for Catholics in Washington:

I hope to see you the evening of Friday, October 18^th to kick off the 3^rd Cornerstone Catholic Conference in Tacoma. Tickets are still available at WACatholics.org.
October is Respect Life Month. This year’s theme is “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life”. I think you will find the various resources provided by the USCCB both inspirational and helpful in local efforts to uphold the dignity and sanctity of human life.
As we approach the General Election, please use and share the WSCC voter portal, which provides helpful links to online voter registration and voter guides. Catholic participation in the democratic process is essential for a just society respectful of life.

I ask for your continued prayers for our bishops, our Church, our state, and for success in the efforts of faithful Catholics to create a better society by advocating for the common good.

Blessings,

Mario Villanueva

Only Two Weeks Until Cornerstone 2019

There is still time to register for the 2019 Cornerstone Catholic Conference. We hope you will join us to be inspired and to connect with other Catholics from across the state. For many, Cornerstone will be the first opportunity to meet Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle. In addition to each of our state’s bishops, we are excited to welcome exceptional keynote addresses from Bishop Frank Caggiano, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, and Sr. Norma Pimentel. Cornerstone also offers in-depth workshops on respect for life, the PREPARES ministry, racism, the environment, mental illness, and family prayer. Register today!

Full and half scholarships are available. For scholarship requests, email WSCC@WACatholics.org or call 206-301-0556.

Peace and Justice

U.S Continues to Diminish Refugee Program

The Administration has announced plans to cut the number of refugee admissions for the third consecutive federal fiscal year. The number of refugee resettlements allowed will drop to a new record low of 18,000 refugees, a 40% cut from last year’s previous historic low. Read the full statement from the USCCB regarding the continued “slashes” to the refugee resettlement program.

New Resources for Pastoral Letter Against Racism

The USCCB has added to their toolkit for individuals and groups answering the call to end racism in our communities. These new resources include a study guide, a backgrounder on migration and racism, and an activity on implicit bias. To view the USCCB’s comprehensive suite of resources to combat racism, visit USCCB.org/Racism.

	Life and Liberty
	October – Respect Life Month
	October is Respect Life Month with Respect Life Sunday on October 6^th! In a recent statement by Archbishop Naumann, Catholics are encouraged to “hold fast to Christ, our Hope” in the midst of attacks on human life. The USCCB also produced a 30-second Respect Life Month video that we encourage you to watch!

	Voter Resources – General Election
	Ballots will soon be in your mailbox for the November 5^th General Election! The WSCC has created a voter resource page that provides a number of helpful links to voter registration, voter pamphlets for every district, and other resources as you prayerfully cast your vote. Those wishing to register online must do so before the October 28 deadline. County election offices allow in person registration until November 5^th.

	Poll: Americans Support Conscience Protection for Healthcare Professionals
	Two new polls reveal widespread discrimination against healthcare workers of faith, as well as broad public support for conscience rights laws and protections. The USCCB released the findings in conjunction with the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CDMA), the largest faith-based association for healthcare professionals. These findings come in the wake of enforcement actions taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services against the University of Vermont Medical Center, which is alleged to have coerced a nurse into participating in an abortion against her beliefs. For more information, click here.