Inside this issue
• Governor Signs Bill to Protect Garment Workers
• Respect Life Month
• Newsom Signs Bill to Remove Serra Statue from State Capitol
• Help Remains for Renters in CA
• Catholic Pediatricians Address Fears of COVID Vaccinations for Kids
Governor Signs Bill to Protect Garment Workers
With the legislative session over, the Governor has been combing through the hundreds of bills he must sign or veto by Oct. 10, or they will automatically become law.
The California Catholic Conference is excited to report that Gov. Newsom signed the CCC-supported SB 62, the Garment Worker Protection Act by Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), that will end the industry's practice of paying workers below-minimum wages. The legislation also expands fashion brands' liability for unpaid wages, including wage theft by contractors.
In his press release, the Governor noted that "These measures protect marginalized low-wage workers, many of whom are women of color and immigrants, ensuring they are paid what they are due and improving workplace conditions. We are committed to having their backs as we work to build a stronger, more inclusive economy."
The Governor also signed a package of bills that will invest $22 billion in housing and homelessness in California, including behavioral health services to help the homeless stay off the streets.
The Governor has yet to veto or sign SB 380, the physician-assisted suicide bill. If you haven't already, please use this link to quickly send an email to Governor Newsom asking him to veto the bill.
Top
Respect Life Month
October is Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday. This year's focus is on St. Joseph, Defender of Life.
In a prepared statement, the USCCB called St. Joseph "the faithful protector of both Jesus and Mary, we find in St. Joseph a profound reminder of our own call to welcome, safeguard, and defend God's precious gift of human life."
The USCCB has various resources, including webinars, posters, prayer cards, homily helps, and graphics to help celebrate.
Last week, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Women's Health Protection Act, H.R. 3755. This bill would impose abortion on demand nationwide at any stage of pregnancy through federal statute. It would also eliminate pro-life laws at every level of government -- including parental notification for minor girls, informed consent, and health or safety protections specific to abortion facilities.
Last week, the Archbishop Naumann of the USCCB's pro-life committee released a statement saying the "bill assumes that abortion can be the only, or best solution to a crisis pregnancy. H.R. 3755 is built on a false and despairing narrative that utterly fails women."
In addition, the Archdiocese of San Francisco will be holding an informational webinar based on the report "How Americans Understand Abortion: A Comprehensive Interview Study of Abortion Attitudes in the U.S." You can learn more and register here.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles will also be holding a virtual speaker series throughout the month of October on numerous topics related to the reverence for life. Learn more here.
Top
Newsom Signs Bill to Remove Serra Statue from State Capitol
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Friday to replace a statue of St. Junípero Serra at the State Capitol with a monument to the State's indigenous peoples.
Newsom's signature on Sept. 24 was widely expected after AB 338 was passed with almost unanimous approval by legislators in both of the state's chambers.
Following the Governor's signature, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone tweeted ""This new law does not change the facts: Junípero Serra spent his life caring for and defending the indigenous people of California to the point of heroic virtue. Indian and Spaniard alike mourned when he died. We would do well to imitate his virtues. We ignore history to our peril."
The statue of the Catholic saint, canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, had stood in Sacramento's Capitol Park since the 1960s. It was toppled by protestors last year in one of several attacks on statues of the Spanish saint across California amid widespread protests over racial injustice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Read more at AngelusNews.com
Top
Help Remains for Renters in CA
California's eviction moratorium expired Sept. 30, but assistance is still available for those who have completed a rental assistance application.
The State will continue to accept applications until all of the $5.2 billion in federal funds for rental assistance has been entirely distributed. As of August, the state had allocated approximately $650 million to 55,000 households.
Also, as part of the state tenant law passed earlier this year, landlords will be unable to get a court-ordered eviction for any tenants who have applied for rental assistance until March 31, 2022.
Click here for more information and to apply for assistance.
Top
Catholic Pediatricians Address Fears of COVID Vaccinations for Kids
CCC Executive Director Kathleen Domingo recently spoke with Crux's Charles Camosy to talk about public policy and the Church in California, the transformative ministerial experiences and lessons she brings with her, and the place of faith-based healthcare in the state.
Kathleen Domingo is the first woman to lead the CCC. Prior to that, she served for eight years as Senior Director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She and her family live in Sacramento and are members of Holy Spirit Parish.
Read the article here.
Top
October 1, 2021
Vol. 14 No. 33
California Catholic Conference
En Español
"Christian spirituality proposes moderation and simplicity that allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, to be grateful for the opportunities life affords us, to be spiritually detached from what we possess, and not succumb to sadness for what we lack. #SeasonOfCreation." @Pontifex
Bishops' Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines
Webinars on Vaccine FAQs
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, GET VACCINATED
Follow Us On...
You are currently subscribed to a mailing list of California Catholic Conference. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
