| From | Catholic Charities USA <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Washington Weekly |
| Date | March 18, 2022 4:00 PM |
Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.
Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.
March 17, 2022
Inside this issue
• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections
CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
Overview: President Biden signed into law the $1.5 trillion spending bill that funds the government through September. Congress will soon begin work on the budget process for FY 2023 following the release of the president's anticipated budget proposal.
Economy: In the week ending March 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 214,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 227,000 to 229,000. The four-week moving average was 223,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 231,250 to 231,750.
Funding the government: On March 11, 2022, President Biden signed into law the $1.5 trillion spending bill that funds the government through September. As reported last week, the funding bill also includes support for the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Public charge: The Homeland Security Department has published a proposed rule to amend the federal "public charge" provisions. CCUSA will participate in the public comment period, which closes April 25, 2022.
Afghan refugees: CCUSA applauds the Department of Homeland Security's decision to designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This designation protects Afghans already residing in the U.S. as of March 15, 2022, and permits them to remain here instead of returning to their homeland amid unsafe conditions. However, TPS is only a short-term solution. Afghans have been uprooted from their homes and may not be able to return safely under Taliban rule. We urge Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act to provide a path to Lawful Permanent Resident status for Afghans who need a safe place to rebuild their lives. Click here to join CCUSA in urging Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act.
Charitable choice provisions: Vice President of Government Relations for CCUSA, Anthony Granado, wrote to the House Education and Labor Committee prior to its scheduled mark up on H.R. 5129 (Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2021) to urge the Committee to maintain Charitable Choice provisions. Charitable Choice was added in 1998 to a bill co-sponsored by Republican Senator Dan Coats and Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy. They wanted to be sure that faith-based organizations had an equal opportunity to compete for CSBG dollars to support the services that charities, churches, and other faith-based organizations provide to their neighbors.
Joint letters: CCUSA signed a joint letter to Congressional leadership from social service organizations dedicated to uplifting the lives of children and calling for establishing a national child poverty reduction target and to solidify a commitment to ending child poverty in the U.S. by passing the Child Poverty Reduction Act. This act would codify a national target to cut child poverty by half in a decade and task the National Academy of Sciences to analyze and monitor progress towards this goal. CCUSA also signed a joint letter to President Biden with other humanitarian organizations asking him to convene a White House conference to address ending hunger. Lastly, CCUSA joined with the Faith and Giving Coalition in a letter to Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma and the Senate Finance Committee, urging support for enacting an expanded and extended universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers.
Briefing on safety and security for faith-based organizations: In support of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships are hosting a briefing for faith-based organizations to enhance the safety and security of their institutions and communities in preparation for religious observances. Federal resources will be shared on practical low-cost to no-cost actions to increase organizational and community readiness and on mental health supportive strategies. Presentations will be made by DHS and HHS. When: March 22, 2022. Time: 5 PM ET. Register here.
Top
Faith and the Common Good
Tomorrow, March 19, the Church celebrates the "Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The Scriptural content about St. Joseph is sparse. What we have centers on his betrothal to Mary and subsequent parenting of the child Jesus. Nevertheless, this brief content offers a good look at his character.
The basic story goes like this: Joseph and Mary are betrothed to each other as husband and wife when God's Word breaks upon them like the morning sun shatters the darkness of night. God's Word is specific: Mary shall conceive a baby boy in her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:18; Lk 1:31, 35).
The crises that this Word from God initiates in the lives of Mary and Joseph are not surprising. Mary, of course, wonders how this can be. And Joseph is in the uncomfortable and highly embarrassing situation of having a pregnant wife, and the only thing he knows for certain is that he is not the father. Mary's response is well known. Joseph's response is less known, but it's a good example of how to listen to God.
Joseph is described as a righteous man: a faithful Jew who listened and followed the Torah (God's Word). However, he stands out because his listening is characterized by mercy. The Law called for women who were pregnant by other than their husbands to be exposed and divorced. Joseph does decide to divorce Mary in accordance with the Law, but he is unwilling to expose her to shame (he doesn't know the details of the pregnancy yet; perhaps Mary was the victim of another man). Joseph's display of mercy anticipates Jesus' call for a merciful reading of the Law rather than one bound to the letter. Joseph, with the information he has, does not condone what he knows to be a sin, but neither does he apply the law ruthlessly.
Joseph is open to hearing the Word of the Lord and the Lord blesses his openness with a clarifying word from an angel. "Do not be afraid," the angel says, "it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in [Mary]." Once God's Word has been corroborated, Joseph does not hesitate to fulfill God's command: "When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home."
Joseph models how to listen to God. First, he is unwilling to act hastily or to base his response only on his own feelings or thoughts, even when the Word of God does not make sense at first. He honors God's Word by giving it appropriate discernment. Moreover, Joseph does not apply the Law mindlessly without considering the greatest law of love. When God's Word has been clarified and confirmed through more prayer and listening, Joseph acts on it.
The fruit of Joseph (and Mary) listening to the Word of God is the entrance of the Messiah into human history and the offer of salvation through Christ to all people. Joseph accepts the blessings of God offered to him and those blessings are shared with all mankind.
Top
Trivia
Q. Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. What life experience contributed to St. Patrick's success in converting many Irish people to Christ?
Please send your answers to [email protected].
Last week's question and answer:
Q. Next week the Church celebrates a solemnity during Lent? Which one is it and what prayer, usually omitted in the Lenten season, may be said or sung during the Mass of the day?
A. Thanks to Paul Kipfstuhl from Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland for being first with the correct answers: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Gloria.
Top
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.
Top
You are currently subscribed to a mailing list of Catholic Charities USA. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
Inside this issue
• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections
CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
Overview: President Biden signed into law the $1.5 trillion spending bill that funds the government through September. Congress will soon begin work on the budget process for FY 2023 following the release of the president's anticipated budget proposal.
Economy: In the week ending March 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 214,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 227,000 to 229,000. The four-week moving average was 223,000, a decrease of 8,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 231,250 to 231,750.
Funding the government: On March 11, 2022, President Biden signed into law the $1.5 trillion spending bill that funds the government through September. As reported last week, the funding bill also includes support for the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Public charge: The Homeland Security Department has published a proposed rule to amend the federal "public charge" provisions. CCUSA will participate in the public comment period, which closes April 25, 2022.
Afghan refugees: CCUSA applauds the Department of Homeland Security's decision to designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This designation protects Afghans already residing in the U.S. as of March 15, 2022, and permits them to remain here instead of returning to their homeland amid unsafe conditions. However, TPS is only a short-term solution. Afghans have been uprooted from their homes and may not be able to return safely under Taliban rule. We urge Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act to provide a path to Lawful Permanent Resident status for Afghans who need a safe place to rebuild their lives. Click here to join CCUSA in urging Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act.
Charitable choice provisions: Vice President of Government Relations for CCUSA, Anthony Granado, wrote to the House Education and Labor Committee prior to its scheduled mark up on H.R. 5129 (Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2021) to urge the Committee to maintain Charitable Choice provisions. Charitable Choice was added in 1998 to a bill co-sponsored by Republican Senator Dan Coats and Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy. They wanted to be sure that faith-based organizations had an equal opportunity to compete for CSBG dollars to support the services that charities, churches, and other faith-based organizations provide to their neighbors.
Joint letters: CCUSA signed a joint letter to Congressional leadership from social service organizations dedicated to uplifting the lives of children and calling for establishing a national child poverty reduction target and to solidify a commitment to ending child poverty in the U.S. by passing the Child Poverty Reduction Act. This act would codify a national target to cut child poverty by half in a decade and task the National Academy of Sciences to analyze and monitor progress towards this goal. CCUSA also signed a joint letter to President Biden with other humanitarian organizations asking him to convene a White House conference to address ending hunger. Lastly, CCUSA joined with the Faith and Giving Coalition in a letter to Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma and the Senate Finance Committee, urging support for enacting an expanded and extended universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers.
Briefing on safety and security for faith-based organizations: In support of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships are hosting a briefing for faith-based organizations to enhance the safety and security of their institutions and communities in preparation for religious observances. Federal resources will be shared on practical low-cost to no-cost actions to increase organizational and community readiness and on mental health supportive strategies. Presentations will be made by DHS and HHS. When: March 22, 2022. Time: 5 PM ET. Register here.
Top
Faith and the Common Good
Tomorrow, March 19, the Church celebrates the "Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The Scriptural content about St. Joseph is sparse. What we have centers on his betrothal to Mary and subsequent parenting of the child Jesus. Nevertheless, this brief content offers a good look at his character.
The basic story goes like this: Joseph and Mary are betrothed to each other as husband and wife when God's Word breaks upon them like the morning sun shatters the darkness of night. God's Word is specific: Mary shall conceive a baby boy in her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:18; Lk 1:31, 35).
The crises that this Word from God initiates in the lives of Mary and Joseph are not surprising. Mary, of course, wonders how this can be. And Joseph is in the uncomfortable and highly embarrassing situation of having a pregnant wife, and the only thing he knows for certain is that he is not the father. Mary's response is well known. Joseph's response is less known, but it's a good example of how to listen to God.
Joseph is described as a righteous man: a faithful Jew who listened and followed the Torah (God's Word). However, he stands out because his listening is characterized by mercy. The Law called for women who were pregnant by other than their husbands to be exposed and divorced. Joseph does decide to divorce Mary in accordance with the Law, but he is unwilling to expose her to shame (he doesn't know the details of the pregnancy yet; perhaps Mary was the victim of another man). Joseph's display of mercy anticipates Jesus' call for a merciful reading of the Law rather than one bound to the letter. Joseph, with the information he has, does not condone what he knows to be a sin, but neither does he apply the law ruthlessly.
Joseph is open to hearing the Word of the Lord and the Lord blesses his openness with a clarifying word from an angel. "Do not be afraid," the angel says, "it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in [Mary]." Once God's Word has been corroborated, Joseph does not hesitate to fulfill God's command: "When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home."
Joseph models how to listen to God. First, he is unwilling to act hastily or to base his response only on his own feelings or thoughts, even when the Word of God does not make sense at first. He honors God's Word by giving it appropriate discernment. Moreover, Joseph does not apply the Law mindlessly without considering the greatest law of love. When God's Word has been clarified and confirmed through more prayer and listening, Joseph acts on it.
The fruit of Joseph (and Mary) listening to the Word of God is the entrance of the Messiah into human history and the offer of salvation through Christ to all people. Joseph accepts the blessings of God offered to him and those blessings are shared with all mankind.
Top
Trivia
Q. Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. What life experience contributed to St. Patrick's success in converting many Irish people to Christ?
Please send your answers to [email protected].
Last week's question and answer:
Q. Next week the Church celebrates a solemnity during Lent? Which one is it and what prayer, usually omitted in the Lenten season, may be said or sung during the Mass of the day?
A. Thanks to Paul Kipfstuhl from Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland for being first with the correct answers: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Gloria.
Top
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.
Top
You are currently subscribed to a mailing list of Catholic Charities USA. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.
Message Analysis
- Sender: Catholic Charities USA
- Political Party: n/a
- Country: United States
- State/Locality: n/a
- Office: n/a