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This week, Catholic Charities Diocesan Directors from across the country joined with Catholic Charities USA staff for the 2021 Spring Gathering. The gathering serves as an opportunity for Catholic Charities leaders to discuss best practices, hear from governmental leaders, and visit with Congressional staff to advocate on behalf of the people they serve. The group met with federal agency leaders from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and the Departments of Agriculture, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Health and Human Services (HHS). These meetings allowed Catholic Charities experts to speak directly with agency leaders and share their experiences during the pandemic--especially the challenges and opportunities facing vulnerable people in their communities and where federal programs can be strengthened to serve people in need. Catholic Charities leaders also met with Congressional committee issue-specific staff experts to address policy questions before the committees' jurisdictions. Many meetings were with the Congressional Committees on Appropriations, with the subcommittees holding jurisdiction over specific issues that touch on the work and interests of Catholic Charities agencies. The subcommittees included: Senate Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security, Senate Subcommittee on Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, House Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, House Subcommittee on Homeland Security, House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies and House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. Catholic Charities leaders also met with some of the authorizing committees including: Senate Committee on Judiciary, House Committee on Judiciary, Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development and House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance. These meetings allowed Catholic Charities agencies to collectively raise up their voices and advocate for people who are poor and vulnerable and those impacted by the pandemic, and urge the administration to work for a solution for migrants at the border and immigrant agricultural workers. Thank you to all the Catholic Charities leaders who participated in our Virtual Hill Day! On April 20th, a jury in Minneapolis, Minnesota found Derek Chauvin guilty and convicted on all charges in the death of George Floyd. Catholic Charities USA president and CEO Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD, issued a statement in response to the verdict. You can read it here. On April 22 and 23, President Biden hosted a White House virtual summit with 40 world leaders on Climate. The summit reconvenes the U.S.-led Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, which includes 17 countries responsible for approximately 80 percent of global emissions and global GDP. President Biden also invited the heads of other countries that are demonstrating strong climate leadership, are especially vulnerable to climate impacts, or are charting innovative pathways to a net-zero economy. Pope Francis offered a message to participants at the international summit, "Leaders Summit on Climate." COVID-19 update On April 22, 2021, the CDC reported that there were 62.827 new COVID-19 cases and 875 deaths. Across the country, 135 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, including 89 million people who have been fully vaccinated. People should remain vigilant in their use of masks and social distancing. To learn more about how you can get the vaccine please contact your state health department for its COVID-19 vaccination plan. Please visit the CCUSA Social Policy/Advocacy page for updates and policy papers. See here.
Faith and the Common Good
The whole world celebrated Earth Day on April 22, it is a wonderful celebration where the Church joins emphasizing our commitment to care for creation. While it is a one-day celebration, the work to preserve God's creation, the care for the earth is a daily duty and a focus of our prayers. A prayer for our earth All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace. Pope Francis, Laudato Si', May 24, 2015
Trivia
Where was the inauguration held for George Washington in 1789? On April 16th, the trivia question was, "Which territory was the most recent addition to the United States?" It seems that there may have been some confusion regarding last week's trivia question. Many submitted Guam as an answer, both Guam and Puerto Rico were initially identified as U.S. territories in 1899. Vicki Miller was the first to answer that the People of the Northern Mariana Islands began negotiations for commonwealth status in 1972. The covenant was approved in a 1975 referendum. The Northern Mariana Islands came under U.S. sovereignty on November 4, 1986, and the islanders became U.S. citizens.
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You can also access advocacy opportunities through our advocacy and policy page.
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