Legislative Session Ends Today
The first year of California’s two year legislative session ends today and lawmakers are frantically trying to usher bills through the legislature before today’s legislative deadline and they head back to their districts where they will remain through December.
As of publication time, the fate of many bills hang in the balance. Those that don’t get the nod of approval are either abandoned or temporarily shelved until the next session starts in January.
Stay tuned as things move rapidly in the last hours of the legislative session and be sure to check back at www.cacatholic.org for the latest on the fate of several important bills.
Of those we are following, one in particular attacks religious freedom and enacts some truly amazing rules for dealing with “reproductive discrimination” even though supporters have not been able to cite any cases of such a concept.
AB 569 (Gonzales Fletcher, D-San Diego), an outlandish, unnecessary bill threatening religious freedom, passed this week. Recent amendments that include allowing supervisors to be personally liable for institutional misconduct make the bill even more alarming. Click here to send a quick letter asking the Governor to veto this bill. An Action Alert will be issued next week.
CA Catholic Bishops Reaffirm Support for the California Values Act (SB 54)
The following statement was released by Edward “Ned” Dolejsi, Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference, regarding the Catholic Bishops’ support of SB 54, the California Values Act:
“Today’s announcement that policymakers have reached agreement on compromise language in SB 54, the California Values Act, could not have come at a better time. The California Catholic Conference of Bishops reaffirms its support for SB 54. The bill is an important step toward strengthening trust, promoting common sense and addressing the failures in our Federal immigration system, while still protecting our communities.
“We’d particularly like to thank the immigration advocates who have worked diligently to reach this compromise; the law enforcement officials for keeping the importance of community safety in the forefront and decoupling SB 54 discussions from the polarized immigration debate in this nation; and Governor Jerry Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon for leading a debate on a very sensitive topic and working hard to form a compromise to protect the vulnerable members of our California community.
California Catholic Conference Thanks State Leaders for Supporting DACA and Other Immigrants
With the DACA decision earlier in the month, California leaders are making an effort to deal with the immigration situation in constructive and helpful ways. The need for comprehensive immigration reform from national political leaders remains critical yet partisanship continues to stymie real debate.
The following statement was released by Edward “Ned” Dolejsi, Executive Director of the California Catholic Conference, regarding increased funding announced this week in support of DACA students and naturalization programs and other immigrant needs:
“While national politicians make political points at the expense of immigrants, the California Catholic Conference wishes to thank Governor Jerry Brown and our legislative leaders for supporting DACA students, naturalization services and other programs.
“The package they are assembling this week will provide education funding and naturalization services through the One California coalition. Many local Catholic Charities around the state are proud and eager participants in the coalition and leading suppliers of immigration services for thousands of people in California.
Join Pope Francis and Caritas to come together with migrants and refugees around the world to launch “Share the Journey”
Pope Francis and Caritas Internationalis will come together along with migrants and refugees around the world on Wednesday, September 27 to launch “Share the Journey.”
The global two-year campaign promotes Pope Francis’ ‘culture of encounter’, aiming to build stronger communities. Caritas is mobilizing its organizations in over 160 countries to look at the causes of migration, bust myths about migrants and to bring migrants and communities closer together.
“I invite all of you to remember who the migrants are in your families and communities. Who are the people from afar who are often right in front of our eyes, but whom we often do not see? Now is the time to see them and reach out to them. Now is the time to Share the Journey.”
California’s Missions by Google Arts and Culture
From 1769 to 1835, Franciscan missions dominated the economic and spiritual fabric of Spanish and Mexican California. The Franciscan friars established twenty-one missions in what would become the Golden State, starting in San Diego and continuing along the coast to Sonoma, forty miles north of San Francisco. These missions served as one part of a three-pronged effort by the Spanish government to settle and control Alta California (including what is now the state of California). Along with military presidios (forts) and civilian pueblos (towns), the missions were Crown-sanctioned institutions designed to bring Western civilization to what they viewed as the wild frontier.
September 15, 2017
Vol. 10, No. 29