| |
Washington remains relatively quiet with Congress home for summer recess. The most noteworthy item came from the Department of Homeland Security announcing plans to end the Flores Settlement Agreement.
The Flores Settlement agreement limits the government's ability to hold migrants who cross the border of the United States. Under the current agreement, children being held in detention must be released within 20 days, but the new rule could potentially hold children with their parents indefinitely. The new rule is scheduled to take effect 60 days from today. It is anticipated that the new rule will face a slew of legal challenges.
Catholic Charities USA released a statement yesterday highlighting our grave concerns for all people, particularly children, "who will face indeterminable amounts of time in detention and the emotional and psychological effects this will impose on them for the rest of their lives." You can read the full statement here.
Faith and the Common Good
Pope Pius XII in the Papal Encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam proposed the traditional doctrine on the Queenship of Mary and established this feast for the Universal Church to be celebrated on August 22nd.
In this feast, we celebrate Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Pope Pius IX said of Mary's queenship: "Turning her maternal Heart toward us and dealing with the affair of our salvation, she is concerned with the whole human race. Constituted by the Lord Queen of Heaven and earth, and exalted above all choirs of Angels and the ranks of Saints in Heaven, she petitions most powerfully with Her maternal prayers, and she obtains what she seeks."
Prayer:
O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. You know our misery and our weakness. O thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.
Jesus has confided to you the treasure of His grace, and through you He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, your children come to you as their hope.
We recognize your Queenship and ardently desire your triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother's Heart. You are for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In your clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need.
Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, You Who did crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen.
Mary Immaculate Queen, triumph and reign! Amen.
Trivia
Labor Day is just around the corner, so in honor of all our laborers here is this week's question: What is the name of the encyclical and Pope that addressed the conditions of the working class from 1891?
Please send your answers to socialpolicy@catholiccharitiesusa.org
Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!
You can also access advocacy opportunities through our advocacy and policy page.
Stay connected with our work to end poverty, follow us on Twitter at @CCharitiesUSA.
If you would like to help further Catholic Charities' commitment to alleviating, reducing, and preventing poverty you can contribute here. |
|
