The CA Bishops are supporting the launch of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform; private schools have yet to receive COVID-19 funding; the CCC welcomes Molly Sheahan as Respect Life Director; and National Vocation Awareness Week in this week’s Insights.
CA Bishops Support Launch of Laudato Si’ Action Platform
The California Conference of Catholic Bishops is joining Pope Francis in the launch of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP), scheduled to kick off on Sunday, November 14.
The LSAP is a list of seven goals that the Holy Father has outlined to help spur a worldwide grassroots effort to mobilize Catholics to take action on the environment over a period of seven years
California parishes on Nov. 14 will include liturgical messages on how we all can seek out opportunities to reflect on the call to be good stewards as outlined in the Bishops’ pastoral statement God Calls Us All to Care for our Common Home, as well as Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si.’
“Every person in the pew needs to understand how important this is and how we can make substantial progress on these issues if we work together, and not instead destroy because of our selfishness,” said Bishop Gerald Wilkerson, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and chair of the bishops committee on Environmental Stewardship.
“Sometimes we think they are just small ways to help, but when we come together, they are big,” he said.
Everyone is encouraged to sign up at www.laudatosiactionplatform.org. Sign-ups can be individual, with your school, with your parish, or even your community. Liturgy materials are available, as well as summaries of the Bishops’ statement in English and Spanish.
For Months, California Private Schools Have Been Waiting for ‘Emergency’ COVID Aid
“We aren’t asking for anything other than what public school kids need,” said Kathleen Domingo, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Catholic Church of California. “I don’t understand why the department has been choosing to drag their feet in such a prolonged manner.”
Recognizing that all schools were struggling with Covid, Congress offered help this year for private along with public schools. The $5.5 billion for non-public schools was small compared with the $230 billion in pandemic relief for public schools since March 2020, but nonetheless an unprecedented amount.
Congress titled it “Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools” to stress that the money should go out the door quickly, especially to schools serving low-income families. A big beneficiary was to be California’s urban parochial schools, surviving financially for years on the margins and on their wits. Still, they wondered if the state’s share — $368 million split over two rounds of funding —was too good to be true.
For the seven months since Gov. Gavin Newsom applied for and received the money, it has been. Some schools fronted tens of thousands of dollars for Chromebooks, air filtration systems, and PPE assuming they’d be quickly reimbursed. They weren’t. The first checks went out last week, and most won’t be paid until sometime next month.
Continue Reading at EdSource.org
Molly Sheahan Joins California Catholic Conference as Respect Life Director
The California Catholic Conference (CCC) is pleased to announce that Molly C. Sheahan has joined the Conference as Associate Director for Respect Life.
Sheahan has an extensive lobbying portfolio, including legislative and grassroots advocacy on pro-life policy, foster care, human trafficking, domestic violence, bioethics, disability rights, end-of-life care, and the death penalty.
“Molly brings with her an expansive background advocating for life issues that will enable her to make a strong impact on legislation in the Capitol,” said CCC Executive Director Kathleen Domingo. “The Conference is thrilled to have her on board to strengthen our life and dignity advocacy efforts.”
Sheahan speaks nationally on human dignity concerns, and her writings have appeared in The Public Discourse, Angelus News, Grotto Network, Rehumanize International, and other publications. She is also the founder of We Are Pro-life Women, a new media movement highlighting the stories of underrepresented pro-life women.
“I’m thrilled to be back in my hometown of Sacramento and lobbying for the bishops on life issues,” Sheahan said. “It’s why I get up in the morning; getting to advocate for the life and dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable.”
Sheahan most recently served as a lobbyist for the Maryland Catholic Conference. She previously worked for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles overseeing a portfolio of all pro-life and social justice issues, as well as organizing the annual OneLife LA walk for life. She has also interned on Capitol Hill in the U.S. Senate and the Congressional Coalition for Adoption Institute.
Sheahan graduated magna cum laude with her Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and Family and holds a B.A. in communication arts from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and an A.A. in Spanish language studies from American River College. She loves adventures, classic literature, strong coffee, and volunteering with kids in her spare time.
National Vocation Awareness Week Nov. 7-13
National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW), celebrated November 7-13 this year, is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education. It is also a call to renew our prayers and support for those considering one of these particular vocations.
The USCCB has many resources for National Vocation Awareness Week, including homily aids in English and Spanish and prayers for vocations.
Latest on COVID-19 Vaccinations
This week, the FDA voted to approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6-11. The approved dose is one-third of the adult dosage. The vaccine could become available to children in this age range as soon as next week when the CDC is scheduled to meet to consider approval. Moderna is also seeking regulatory clearance for their vaccine for ages 12-17 – likely to be approved in the next few weeks – and is expected to do the same for ages 6-11 later this year.
California has already rolled out booster vaccines for those over 65, who work in healthcare or other high-risk settings, or have other conditions that put them at high risk for severe disease. Check with your healthcare provider for more information. Patients have also been given the green light to mix-and-match vaccines, not needing to stick to the manufacturer they originally received.
Visit our vaccination page for statements from the CA bishops and the Pope on the vaccine, as well as other educational materials.
Next Issue
Public Policy Insights will return on Nov. 19.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, on November 11, 2021, the CCC offers its sincerest thanks for those veterans who have served our country so bravely and selflessly. May God bless you and keep you always.
“Jesus, have mercy on me!” Let us make this prayer our own today. Let us repeat it. We must ask Jesus, who can do everything, for everything. He cannot wait to pour out his grace and joy into our hearts.
@Pontifex
Oct. 29, 2021
Vol. 14, No. 36