February 24, 2020 — Annapolis, MD
MARYLANDERS MARCH FOR LIFE
For more than 40 years, Marylanders have gathered in the streets of
Annapolis to march for life, and this year, hundreds gathered on Feb.
24 for the annual event.
Similar to the national March for Life, the Maryland March for Life
seeks to address the state's stance on abortion and other important
life issues, including rights for persons with disabilities and those
facing the end of life.
"Maryland has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the
United States, but there is hope because the cause of life is gaining
momentum here," said Jenny Kraska, executive director of the Maryland
Catholic Conference, which participated in the event and advocates for
all life in Maryland.
Read more...
MARYLAND CATHOLIC CONFERENCE SUPPORTS
HOME ACT
After nearly 2 decades of attempts to end income-based housing
discrimination, a bill that would prohibit landlords and sellers from
refusing to rent or sell a home to someone based on their source of
income, moved one step closer to passing in the 2020 session.
The bill, SB 530, passed in the Senate on Feb. 18 and is now headed
to the House of Delegates for consideration.
The Maryland Catholic Conference has supported SB 530 — known as
the HOME Act (Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act) — for the last
several years. The Conference joined again this session with Catholic
Charities of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and others in support of the
bill.
Read more...
PARENTS, STUDENTS TESTIFY IN SUPPORT
OF BOOST
Parents and students who participate in the BOOST Scholarship
Program testified in both the House and Senate committees, sharing
their stories of how BOOST has impacted their lives.
"BOOST gives students the chance at accessing something different,"
said Nefretari Lee, mother of a BOOST student at Calvert Hall High
School in Baltimore City and representative of the BOOST Parent
Ambassador Network. "It gives them the chance to thrive and to succeed
in an environment that is conducive to learning. My personal belief is
that we break down the barriers to social, economic and racial divide
through education and information and BOOST helps parents and families
do that."
Lee testified on Feb. 24 before the Senate Budget & Taxation
subcommittee on Education, Business and Administration.
Read more...
MARYLAND CATHOLIC CONFERENCE SUPPORTS
THE TIME TO CARE ACT
The Maryland Catholic Conference joined with others in support of
the Time to Care Act (HB 839/SB 539) in the House of Delegates on Feb.
24, a bill that would expand access to paid family leave to Maryland
workers, allowing up to 12 weeks of paid time off from work to
welcome a new baby, to provide care and comfort for family members
with serious health conditions or disabilities, or to deal with a
personal illness or injury.
Read more...
ASH WEDNESDAY IS THIS WEEK
Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of the Lenten
season — the 40-day period of preparation for Easter
— will be celebrated this Wednesday, Feb. 26.
While not a holy day of obligation, Catholics are encouraged
to attend Mass that day as a way of beginning their Lenten journey in
prayer.
The practice of applying ashes on the forehead is done in our
Catholic Churches to symbolize the dust from which God made us.
Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the
ashes as a visible symbol of penance.
The Maryland Catholic Conference hopes everyone will join us
in penance and fasting on this Ash Wednesday.
JOIN RAY KELLY, BALTIMORE CIVIC
LEADER, IN PRAYER FOR MARYLAND'S GOVERNMENT LEADERS
This week's prayer for Maryland's elected officials is led by
Ray Kelly, director of the Citizens Policing Project in Baltimore
City, and vice-chair of the executive committee of St. Peter Claver
Catholic Church.
Ray was the inaugural recipient of the Faith in Baltimore
Award. Learn more about Ray and the work he is doing to serve the
people of Baltimore City HERE.
The Conference encourages everyone to join us each Monday in
prayer. To pray along this week with Bishop Malooly, visit our Facebook page. Share the post and
use the hashtag #WeAreCatholic.
To access the prayer: CLICK HERE.
ATTEND THE SENATE HEARING ON
PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE ON FEB. 28
There's still time to join us to show legislators that there are
many Marylanders who stand strong against physician-assisted suicide.
Join us on THIS Friday, Feb. 28 at 12 noon in
Annapolis for the Senate hearing!
The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hear
testimony on the 2020 bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide (SB
701) on Friday, Feb. 28, at 12 noon. A hearing has not yet been
scheduled on the House version of the bill, HB 643.
The Senate hearing will be held in the Judicial Proceedings hearing
room on the second floor of the Miller Senate Office Building at 11
Bladen Street, Annapolis.
Read more...
BOOST SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS TO OPEN
SOON!
Applications for BOOST Scholarships for the 2020-21 school year
will open soon and the Conference is encouraging anyone who might be
interested in applying to sign up for the Maryland BOOST Scholarship
Coalition's Action Network so they will be the first to know when it
is time to apply.
Maryland generally accepts applications for BOOST starting sometime
in February.
The Conference is a member of the Maryland BOOST Scholarship
Coalition.
To join the BOOST Scholarship Coalition Action Network CLICK HERE.
GET INVOLVED
JOIN THE CATHOLIC ADVOCACY NETWORK
Learn more about the Catholic Advocacy Network and how you can take
action on important issues in Maryland: CLICK HERE.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
The Maryland Catholic Conference is still looking for volunteers to
serve as Parish Legislative Ambassadors for some parishes. If you are
passionate about the work we do and want to help us speak up on
important issues in Maryland, please sign up to volunteer!
To sign-up to volunteer CLICK HERE.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
February 24, 2020: Maryland
March for Life in Annapolis
February 28, 2020: Senate
Hearing on Physician-Assisted Suicide
April 6, 2020: Sine Die (last
day of 2020 legislative session)
April 22, 2020: Human
trafficking presentation in Pasadena
STAY CONNECTED WITH US!
  
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