September 11, 2020
Inside this issue
• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
Lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill this week with many things to accomplish in a short period of time.
Lawmakers hope to pass a stopgap funding measure by the end of the month to avert a government shutdown before heading home to campaign for upcoming elections. The most critical detail for the continuing resolution is how long the measure would last. Some expect that it will last to December, but other lawmakers have still not indicated how long they think would be reasonable.
The Senate failed to pass a coronavirus stimulus bill this week. The bill was a scaled-back coronavirus relief measure that would have renewed some unemployment benefit payments at $300 a week per person and small business assistance including an extension of the Payroll Protection Program. Now there is significant doubt that there will be any time to negotiate a compromise and pass a stimulus bill before the election.
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is calling on Congress to come together and find solutions to help the millions of struggling families. There is still time for you to help by telling Congress you stand with struggling persons and communities as supporters of Catholic Charities and urge them to continue providing help to the millions of people still struggling.
Once Congress wraps up coronavirus aid and stopgap funding they will leave Washington for campaign season. Many questions surround elections and voting this year. CCUSA will be hosting a webinar on September 17, 20202 at 1:30 p.m. EDT to discuss what can be done around participation in the election. The webinar will cover the Church's teaching on political participation, IRS guidelines for 501(c)(3) participation, and best practices agencies can adopt around political participation this election season. You can read more in the document authored by the Catholic Bishops of the United States, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship which outlines the Church's teaching on the political responsibility of Catholics.
You can sign up here.
Faith and the Common Good
Today, we pause with the world as we commemorate the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Pope Benedict XVI delivered this prayer when he visited the site of the World Trade Center on April 20, 2008. We offer this prayer as we honor those who lost their lives that day, those who were severely injured, the survivors, and the numerous first responders who were involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. We pray for peace in our world.
O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here-
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.
We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope.
We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.
God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.
Pope Benedict XVI, April 20, 2008.
Trivia
What major Act was enacted on September 18, 1947?
Please send your answers to
[email protected]
On September 4th, the trivia question was, "Which city was established as the first capital of the United States under the Constitution when it was ratified?"
Kenneth J. Ferrone, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico was the first with the correct answer of New York, New York.
New York City was the first capital of the United States once the Constitution was ratified. George Washington took the oath of office to become the first President of the United States from the balcony of the old City Hall. New York was the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790. The capital moved to Philadelphia because the members wanted a smaller city they could have control over. The first US Congress also wanted a city to be developed around the federal government. The Residence Act of 1790 put the nation's permanent capital in current-day Washington and stipulated that Philadelphia serve as the temporary capital of the United States of America between 1790 and 1800 while Washington, D.C., was being built. The cornerstone of the capitol was placed by George Washington on September 18, 1793.
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