Governor Newsom releases his initial budget, providing hope, compassion, and support to the most vulnerable during the pandemic; U.S. Bishops call for an end to federal executions, and Pope Francis receives the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in this week’s Insights.
Governor Releases Initial Budget
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom released his record-breaking $227 billion budget proposal for the 2021 – 2022 fiscal year.
While other states are dealing with billion-dollar budget deficits, California is benefitting from massive stock market and income gains and may be constitutionally forced to put billions in rainy-day reserve accounts.
The California Budget and Policy Center has released an initial overview of the Governor’s proposals, seen here. The budget makes accommodations for several areas of interest to the California Catholic Conference, including new financial commitments for housing and homelessness, and immigration services.
Providing Hope, Compassion and Support to the Most Vulnerable During the Pandemic
“I was behind in rent ever since the pandemic started,” says Emma, one of Catholic Charities San Francisco’s thousands of rental assistance clients who lives with her teenage daughter in a small, one-bedroom apartment near Candlestick Park. “During shelter-in-place, I lost both my jobs and by the time my first unemployment check arrived in June, my rent was already three months overdue and my landlord was threatening to evict us. I needed help.”
Emma turned to Catholic Charities. Gloria del Mar Garcia Lemus, Catholic Charities case manager, was the one to answer Emma’s call. Listening to numerous stories from families who are vulnerable because they have lost their jobs and are now struggling to pay rent, Lemus listens compassionately and finds sustenance from two words, “Be Kind,” written in bold letters in the notebook on her desk. “Families are facing unbearable financial burdens,” Lemus says. “They have used up their savings and are facing eviction. In addition to assistance with their emergency rent subsidy applications, we provide them with emotional support.”
When Lemus recently informed Emma that her application was approved and would cover her next two months of rent, Emma breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I am so grateful. This will help my family.”
Catholic Charities agencies around the state are facing similar situations. Click here to donate to your local agency.
U.S. Bishops Call for End to Federal Executions
With one federal execution this week, and two more scheduled for this month, the USCCB has called on the current Administration to stop, and for the new Congress and incoming Administration to abolish the death penalty in federal law.
On Tuesday night, Lisa Montgomery, the first woman to be executed in close to 70 years, was put to death in Terre Haute, Indiana. She was the 11th federal death row inmate to be executed by the Trump administration after a 17-year hiatus in federal executions.
“It is long past time to abolish the death penalty from our state and federal laws, and we call on the new Congress and President-Elect Biden to make this a priority. One vehicle to accomplish this in federal law is the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act (S. 2390 and H.R. 4052 in the 116th Congress). In addition, we ask President-Elect Biden to declare a moratorium on federal executions and to commute current federal death sentences to terms of imprisonment,” the Bishops said in a statement.
Continue Reading at USCCB.org.
Popes Francis, Benedict receive their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Both Pope Francis and retired Pope Benedict XVI have received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 after the Vatican started vaccinating its employees and residents Jan. 13.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office, confirmed the news Jan. 14. While it was reported widely that Pope Francis received the vaccine Jan. 13, the retired pope’s secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, told Vatican News that Pope Benedict received his shot the morning of Jan. 14.
The archbishop had told the German Catholic news agency KNA Jan. 11 that the 93-year-old pope, who lives in a converted monastery in the Vatican Gardens, and his entire household staff wanted to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine was available in Vatican City State.
Continue Reading at AngelusNews.com
On the Web:
9 Days for Life (January 21-29, 2021)
9 Days for Life is a novena for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. Resources for leaders are available below, including printable novenas, graphics, sample announcements, and more. There are many local events planned as well. Check with your local arch/diocese for more information
MLK Prayer Breakfast
The African American Catholic Center for Evangelization will be hosting its 27th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast with a Black Lives Matter in the Catholic Church panel. Click here to for more info.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years, in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity. By annually observing the WPCU, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper “that they all may be one.” (cf. John 17:21)
@Pontifex: God overcomes the world’s evil by taking it upon himself. This is also how we can lift others up: not by judging, not by suggesting what to do, but by becoming neighbours, empathizing, sharing God’s love. (Jan. 14)
January 15, 2021
Vol. 14, No. 2