Feb. 23, 2021 | Annapolis, MD
We had a great Advocacy Day last week! Thank you to everyone who
participated. The messages you sent to your legislators matter – and
we had a lot of messages sent!
If you did not have a chance to participate or maybe missed one of
the alerts, it’s not too late. Use and share the links below with
friends, other school parents, or parishioners whom you think would be
interested. It is important that the legislators continue to hear from
us.
Learn about the
issues (includes links for the three action
alert)
Send an alert:
Featured Issues
Among the bills the Maryland Catholic Conference is providing
testimony on this week:
Public Health - Maryland Prenatal and Infant Care Grant
Program Fund
(SB
0777 | HB 1349)
As many as 30% of Maryland women receive inadequate – or no -
prenatal care. The implications can be devastating, with higher infant
mortality, low birth weight and other serious health concerns that put
a baby and mom at risk. Low-income, minority and immigrant mothers and
their children are the most affected.
This bill would expand the Maryland Prenatal and Infant Care Grant
Program Fund to $1.1 million in 2023, and then by $1 million per year
for the following two years. It also would open eligibility for the
grants to a wider range of organizations, including Catholic
healthcare systems, hospitals and clinics. Currently, only counties
may receive the grants.
“Providing grants to qualified prenatal care providers will ensure
the health and safety of mothers and babies who are at risk throughout
Maryland,” said Molly Sheahan, associate director for respect life
advocacy.
Foreclosure Relief Act of 2021 (HB
1009 | SB 0724)
COVID-19 has hit a lot of families hard and, for many, their home
is at risk due to financial loss. This legislation would help hold off
foreclosure against families in financial straits when there is a
“state of emergency and catastrophic health emergency.” Certain
conditions would have to be met and a borrower would need to submit a
request to the loan servicer to qualify.
“This can really help families who have been financially hit as a
result of the pandemic. Maryland needs a fairer eviction process that
focuses on stability, instead of housing loss,” said MJ Kraska,
associate director for social and economic justice.
Stimulus Payments for Workers with an ITIN (SB 218)
The Maryland Catholic Conference testified in support of Senate
Bill 218, which provides a refundable child tax credit for low-income
families (federal adjusted gross income under $6,000). That bill is
now before the House of Delegates’ Ways and Means Committee, with a
Senate amendment that includes tax relief for low-income individuals
and families who file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number. The
Conference supports the amendment, which will help immigrants,
including undocumented immigrants, who file taxes and have been on the
front lines during the pandemic and disproportionately affected.
Testimony on bills is posted after the
hearings here.
Families Testify on BOOST
Senators heard about the positive impact of BOOST during a virtual
budget hearing on Monday. Alisha Jordan, principal of Mother Mary
Lange Catholic School, and several families whose children are
benefiting from BOOST testified.
A mom of three students who depend on BOOST scholarships to attend
a Catholic school in Maryland told the legislators that her husband
had lost his job. The family income dropped so low that they became
eligible to apply. She implored them to continue BOOST, which she told
them, “has been a blessing for our family.”
The uncle of two BOOST recipients who also attend a Catholic school
spoke next. He urged the senators to support these scholarships, which
empower low-income families to send their children to Catholic and
other non-public schools. His told them that his nephews were born in
El Salvador, but were brought to the United States for safety in 2012
after gang members murdered their grandfather. With the help of BOOST
scholarships, the family was able to move the boys into Catholic
schools. The proud uncle noted that they are thriving, making honor
roll and bringing home A’s and B’s.
Garrett O’Day, deputy director of the Maryland Catholic Conference,
rounded off the testimony by highlighting the need for expanded BOOST
funding statewide. He noted the high demand, with 1,300 eligible
families on this year’s waiting list.
If you want to help increase BOOST funding, which benefits families
statewide, send your legislators our action alert.
State Expands COVID Vaccine
Support
Recognizing that many Marylanders may not have access to or be
comfortable using the Internet, the Maryland Department of Health has
opened a COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center, providing telephone
assistance with finding vaccine providers.
Vaccine-eligible Marylanders can call daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., for
information on COVID-19 vaccines, help identifying vaccine providers
close to their homes, and assistance with scheduling an appointment at
the state's mass vaccination sites, such as Six Flags America in
Prince George's County and the Baltimore Convention Center. The number
is 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829).
On Feb. 22, Maryland's acting health secretary, Dennis Schrader
announced that the a statewide portal for Marylanders to pre-register
for appointments at the state-run sites will open in March.
Vaccination information is available online at https://coronavirus.maryland.gov.
Check here to see if you are eligible to receive the
vaccine in Maryland yet.
Pray for Our Elected Officials
With Mother Mary Lange Catholic
School
Principal Alisha Jordan started a new adventure this fall:
preparing to open a new, state-of-the-art elementary school. When
Mother Mary Lange Catholic School opens in Baltimore’s District 40
next fall, it will be the first new Catholic elementary school built
in the city in nearly 60 years. A number of students are expected to
benefit from BOOST scholarships.
Join Mrs. Jordan as she leads this week’s session prayer for
elected officials by clicking the image above or visiting our prayer
page, where you can access all of the video prayers from this session
and read
or download the prayer (in English and Spanish). The newest
prayer video also is posted on Twitter and Facebook (@mdcatholic)
every Monday at 10 a.m.
World
Down Syndrome Day
March 21 is World
Down Syndrome Day, an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the
millions of people worldwide born with a third copy of their 21st
chromosome. We will have more soon, but wanted you to save the date
and give you one idea now on how you can make a difference!
Wear #LotsOfSocks. Colorful, mismatched, stripey,
and wild socks are the hallmarks of World Down Syndrome Day. Raise
awareness with your school, church, company, and family and send us
photos of how you rock your socks! Email them to us in advance at [email protected]
and we might just use your photos as we get the word out – or tag us
(@mdcatholic) on social media posts on March 21.
Of Note
Updates from Maryland's (arch)bishops
- Cardinal Gregory talked about racism from a personal perspective
and about his journey to Catholicism in an interview with Al Roker
that aired on NBC’s Today show last week. Watch
here.
- Archbishop Lori has issued an updated pastoral letter on
evangelization, “A
Light Brightly Visible 2.0” and announced the creation of a new
Institute for Evangelization that is focused on parish
renewal.
- In Wilmington, Bishop Malooly continues to recover from his bypass
surgery in late January. Please keep him in prayer.
Friday fish fries for Lent are on in several
parishes, though this year as carryout or drive-through. The
Archdiocese of Baltimore has posted
a list of parish fish fries here, and The
Dialog website notes that St. Francis de Sales in Salisbury, MD,
is offering fish fries on three Fridays. Please check in advance that
the event is on and note the guidelines.
JOIN THE
CATHOLIC ADVOCACY NETWORK
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making it easy to share.
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