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Overview: Members of Congress this week learned of the deal made between Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on a more than $700 billion climate, tax and health care bill, named the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Whether the bill will pass in the Senate remains to be seen.

Senate Democrats released all 12 of their annual spending bills to fund the government in FY2023 (See more below in "FY2023 Budget and Appropriations").

Migrants coming to the U.S. from the southern borders have been a big topic in the news this week, not only in border states but also in DC and New York City. The mayors in the latter two cities say they do not have the resources to care for the migrants; the federal government needs to step up. Meanwhile, Catholic Charities agencies continue to care for the migrants, helping them with food, shelter, and transportation as they seek a safe place to live.

FY2023 Budget and Appropriations: The Senate Appropriations Committee released their 12 spending bills yesterday. The Committee does not foresee any markups for the bills since the parties are split concerning the content. Democrats proposed an 8.7% increase for defense, but Republicans want more. The bills include $21 billion for pandemic response, which Republicans think is unnecessary. Emergency funds included in the bills would help refugees and unaccompanied children who cross the border. Republicans also oppose the removal of the Hyde amendment, which the bills' call for.

Economy: In the week ending July 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 256,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 10,000 from 251,000 to 261,000. The 4-week moving average was 249,250, an increase of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,500 from 240,500 to 243,000.

Anti-trafficking: CCUSA joined USCCB Migration and Refugee Services, Catholic Relief Services, and Catholic Health Association in urging members of the House of Representatives to support H.R. 6552, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022. The act would provide an employment and education program that leads survivors to a dignified life and participation in constructing the common good. Read the full letter here. Following the letter submission, the House passed the bill on July 26, which is now with the Senate for consideration. On the CCUSA website, you can also find an anti-trafficking prayer service as well as stories from local Catholic Charities agencies that are helping survivors: Boston; Palm Beach, Fla.; Central Florida; and Louisville, KY.

St. Josephine Bakhita is represented in this statue by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz in this photo released by the Holy See Press Office Feb. 3, 2022. St. Bakhita, who was sold into slavery as a child, is the patron saint of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, which is marked on her Feb. 8 feast day. (CNS photo/courtesy Holy See Press Office)

Refugees: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it has published a Federal Register notice extending for an additional 18 months Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible Syrians already in the United States, from Oct. 1, 2022, to March 31, 2024, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Syria that prevent individuals from safely returning. In addition, TPS was redesignated for the same reason, now allowing Syrians residing in the United States as of July 28, 2022, to be eligible for TPS. In the week ending July 22, CCUSA joined in a letter with other Catholic leaders to urge DHS and the State Department to extend and re-designate Syria for TPS for an additional 18 months.

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Today, July 29, the Church celebrates the newly designated Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus (decreed on Feb. 2, 2021). A previous memorial included only Martha and Lazarus because of the "traditional uncertainty of the Latin Church about the identity of Mary." The uncertainty, however, has been resolved "in recent studies and times" based, in part, on the fact that "in some particular calendars the three siblings are already celebrated together." Pope Francis, therefore, approved the new memorial and recommended the evangelical witness of the three saints.

Lazarus is depicted in stained-glass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Brooklyn, N.Y. In a decree published Feb. 2, 2021, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments said Pope Francis has approved adding the memorial of Martha, Mary and Lazarus to the General Roman Calendar. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

The gospel of John relates that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (11:5), and they in turn loved Jesus. Whenever Jesus was in Bethany, he would visit this family who welcomed him with hospitality and cared for his needs, providing him with dinner and, in Mary's case, anointing Jesus' feet and drying them with her hair (Jn 12:2-3). Their encounter with Jesus led them to profess faith in him as "the Messiah, the Son of God" (Jn 11:27). When Lazarus died, Jesus resuscitated him, a gratuitous act of love that reinforced the siblings' faith. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus became witnesses to Jesus, and they led others to believe in him (Jn 11:45). Their association with Jesus put them in harm's way, as it says in the gospel: "And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him" (Jn 12:10-11).

It's become a cliché to say that we are Jesus' witnesses today, those of us who believe he is the Son of God and savior of the world. Yet, even if the saying is tired, the opportunity to act on our faith in Christ is not. We may not have his body present to us in the same way Martha, Mary, and Lazarus did, but Jesus made it clear that he would be with us always, until the end of time (Mt 28:20), in the celebration of his supper and in the persons of our brothers and sisters, particularly those who are poor and needy. If we receive him well and return his love, then we will find that we care for him every time we serve people at a soup kitchen or provide a shower and clothes to a migrant or any other act of charity offered in love.

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Q. Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are patron saints of what? 

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. Today, July 22, the Church celebrates the memory of Mary Magdalene. Each of the four canonical gospels mentions a particular moment in her life. What is that moment?

A. Thanks to Stephanie Fairchild of Cambridge, Ohio, for being first with the right answer: "Visiting the tomb of Jesus and being the first to realize he has risen!" In all the four canonical gospels, Mary Magdalene was a witness to the crucifixion, empty tomb, and resurrection of Jesus and, in the Synoptic Gospels, she was also present at Jesus' burial.

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