April 1, 2022

Inside this issue

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

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
Overview: CCUSA hosted its annual spring gathering for diocesan directors of Catholic Charities agencies this week. Capping off the gathering was the Social Policy Forum during which attendees were presented with an overview of what's happening with the administration and Congress, as well as the current political landscape. See the "Social Policy Forum" paragraph below for more details. Also, CCUSA issued the following statement in response to the administration's decision to end Title 42: [link removed]  See the "Title 42" paragraph below for more details.

Economy: In the week ending March 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 202,000, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 187,000 to 188,000. "Nonfarm payrolls rose by 431,000 in the month through mid-March, well below consensus forecasts for a rise of 490,000. However, the shortfall was completely offset by an upward revision of 62,000 to February's data, bringing the previous month's gain to 750,000. As a result, the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% from 3.8% in February, a little below forecasts for 3.7%."

Public charge: The Department of Homeland Security has published a proposed rule to amend the federal "public charge" provisions. CCUSA is preparing comments to submit in favor of the rule.

Asylum: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed an interim final rule to establish expedited asylum procedures to address the huge asylum case backlog. The proposed rule will empower United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to hear and decide asylum requests in a matter of months, in non-adversarial settings. While these proposed procedures will drastically reduce the amount of time asylum seekers will wait for their cases to be decided, the short turnaround presents significant challenges to asylum seekers, including obtaining legal representation in time to assist them. The rule will take effect on May 31, 2022. However, the public may submit comments regarding the interim final rule until that date. 

Social Policy Forum: Anthony Granado, vice president of government relations at CCUSA, provided a summary of bills that CCUSA is following on behalf of the Catholic Charities ministry. Jon Bouker, partner and government relations practice co-leader at Arent-Fox-Schiff, gave an overview of the current political landscape in Washington. Bouker talked about the 12 appropriations bills recently passed and community project funding requests, among other topics. Melissa Rogers, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, offered the administration's perspective on the work of the administration of interest to the Catholic Charities network. Rogers mentioned that President Biden treasures the relationship with Catholic Charities; she said that the president feels both he and Catholic Charities are united in helping people in need and serving the common good.

Title 42: Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released a statement saying that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will, effective May 23, 2022, terminate its Title 42 public health Order. Part of the U.S. Code, Title 42 authorizes federal public health officials to prohibit the entry of individuals to the U.S. when any communicable disease exists in a foreign country and the Surgeon General believes that there is serious danger of the disease spreading into the U.S. For an overview of Title 42 and its impact on migrants, click here. CCUSA has consistently called for the end of Title 42 to enable vulnerable populations to seek refuge and life-saving protections in the U.S. and supports an orderly and humane processing of migrants into the country. Once Title 42 is lifted, Catholic Charities border agencies anticipate a high demand for humanitarian aid and immigration legal services for asylum seekers and migrants who will be processed into the country, and will respond with available resources to those needs in collaboration with government and non-governmental partners. CCUSA issued the following statement in response to the administration's decision to end Title 42: [link removed] 
 
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  Faith and the Common Good  
 
Catholic Social Teaching designates a treasury of thought and reflection within the Church on the Scriptural call to uphold the dignity of the human person and achieve the common good, with special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable. The Old Testament highlights God's special care for the orphan and the widow, and the New Testament reveals Jesus' concern for those who are blind, hungry, and estranged. Indeed, Jesus even identifies with the outcasts and the least among us. He said, when you serve them, you serve me.

The basis for all Catholic Social Teaching is grounded in the recognition of the inherent dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God. Taking care of one's neighbor, therefore, is more than a civic responsibility (although it is that); it is also a requirement of love and communion. Each one of us is made in the image and likeness of God, which means we form one family under God. This identity is intensified when we receive Baptism and share in Christ's relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We are called to abide in the trinitarian love and share it with others.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching that outline love's duties, i.e., the services and dispositions we owe to our brothers and sisters. They are: Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Call to Family, Community, and Participation; Rights and Responsibilities; Option of the Poor and Vulnerable; the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; Solidarity; and Care for God's Creation. You can find summaries of these themes on the bishops' website, as well as other resources. You are also encouraged to access CCUSA's podcasts on these seven themes. These resources can help us not only acknowledge our duties towards one another but also understand the reasons grounding them.
 
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  Trivia  
 
Q. What is the significance of the phrase "hunting the gowk," as it relates to April 1?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. What popular Catholic prayer is closely associated with the feast of the Annunciation?

A. Thanks to Sister Leonette Kochan, OSF, administrative councilor for the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, for being first to provide the correct answer: The "Hail Mary."
 
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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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