February 11, 2022

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
Overview: The CCUSA Advocacy team hosted a virtual meeting for its Community of Practice on Wed., Feb. 9. Discussion centered on CCUSA's support for Catholic Charities agencies and what the agencies expect from the Advocacy team. The House passed a new continuing resolution to fund the government, and the Senate is expected to consider it soon.

Budget reconciliation: Though many media outlets are saying the Build Back Better plan will not pass, the administration and members of Congress continue to discuss ways to bring the bill back up for consideration. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that important investments included in Build Back Better would extend pathways to quality jobs and promote equity.

Child Tax Credit: American Rescue Plan Coordinator, Gene Sperling, hosted a day of action on Feb. 8 to encourage organizations to help their clients and members apply for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. Sperling introduced the website ChildTaxCredit.com, which includes information on free tax preparation services and ways that nonprofits, community-based organizations and municipalities can raise awareness about these important programs.

Economy: In the week ending February 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 223,000, a decrease of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level.

Funding the government: The House passed a continuing resolution to fund federal programs through March 11 in order to prevent a government shutdown on Feb. 18, when the current CR expires. The Senate is expected to vote on the new CR soon.

CCUSA Advocacy Community of Practice call: Some of the areas of interest mentioned by participants on Wednesday's virtual call included: Current policy that is relevant to the services provided by Catholic Charities agencies; Equal treatment of faith-based providers in funding opportunities; Improving access and quality for mental health services, especially related to homelessness and other barriers to equitable standards of living; Utilizing volunteers in advocacy-based programs; Policies that have unintended consequences; Also, more information on immigration, housing stability, etc.
 
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  Faith and the Common Good  
 
Today, February 11, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of Sick, which Pope John Paul II instituted 30 years ago as a reminder to pray and care for those who are ill. The gospel demonstrates that Jesus had a special concern for people who were sick, and he healed many. Indeed, crowds of men and women would flock to him in hope of a cure. One group even opened a roof and lowered their ill friend into the room where Jesus was so that Jesus could cure him. However, Jesus did not cure everyone. Why?

St. John said that Jesus' healings were among the signs he did so that people could come to "believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name" (Jn 20:31). In other words, the signs and cures Jesus worked on earth anticipate eternal life with him in heaven. But if this is the case, why bother with this life?

The signs and healings and miracles of Jesus certainly do build up faith; they are like sparks in the night of unbelief. But they also reflect Jesus' care for this world and for all human beings. Healings are not the object of faith, but they encourage people to live faith-filled lives, including carrying on Jesus' ministry to the sick. Again, what we do here matters and anticipates eternal life.

St. Bernadette of Soubirous (Jan. 7, 1844 - Apr. 16, 1879), patron of the sick, was granted a special sign of seeing the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes. Bernadette was sickly for most of her life, and she died at the age of 35 after a diagnosis of tuberculosis. Yet, the special grace she was given did not result in pride and her illness did not cause despair. She remained at peace, caring for others in the infirmary at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity at Nevers. Bernadette is a good example of living the gospel message on earth while anticipating life in heaven.
 
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  Trivia  
 
Q. A small town in southwestern France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, would become known worldwide because of what event there on Feb. 11, 1858?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. Born on this day 109 years ago, who became an icon for the civil rights movement in the U.S.?

A. Thanks to Norman Embree, former director of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Miami, for being the first one to provide the correct answer. Rosa Louise McCauley-known to history by her married name, Rosa Parks- was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on February 4, 1913. A lifelong civil rights activist, Parks' name has become synonymous with her refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in 1955, a defining moment of the civil rights movement.
 
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  Connections  
 
Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!

Be sure to text CCUSA to 50457 to receive our action alerts! 

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.
 
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