| From | Catholic Charities USA <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Washington Weekly |
| Date | October 28, 2022 6:41 PM |
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October 28, 2022
Inside this issue
• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections
CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
Overview: Attention on the Hill remains focused on the midterm elections, to be held on November 8. Discussion continues about a possible end-of-the-year budget agreement or a possible continuing resolution to keep the government funded past December 16.
Advocacy manual: As mentioned at the Annual Gathering social policy community-of-practice meeting in Baltimore last month, the CCUSA social policy team has updated an advocacy manual that can now be accessed on the CCUSA website. From the home page, the user clicks on the “Advocacy” tag, which takes the user to the Advocacy page. Scroll down to “Resources,” where one can find the manual, titled “Faith, Action, Justice: A Manual for Legislative Advocacy.”
Advocacy webinar: Hold November 14 at 1:30 p.m. EST for a webinar to discuss the midterm election results and what to expect for the rest of the congressional calendar. Details and registration will follow soon.
Faithful citizenship: In preparation for the upcoming midterm elections, Anthony Granado, vice president of government relations at CCUSA, spoke on the political responsibility of Catholics on a webinar sponsored by the New Jersey Catholic Conference. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson also spoke about Catholics' responsibility in the public square. Read an article describing the event here.
Advocacy/social policy meeting: On Tuesday, members of the CCUSA social policy team met with their counterparts from the Catholic Health Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at the CHA office in Washington, DC, in order to discuss policy priorities for the end of the year and potential areas for collaboration. Discussion topics included life issues in a post-Dobbs world, especially ways to help pregnant women such as extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months; telehealth; Medicaid reimbursement rates; healthy housing; etc.
Pictured from left to right: Anthony Granado, vice president of government relations at CCUSA; Frankie Chevere, senior manager of policy and government affairs at CCUSA; Julie Bodnar, policy advisor at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Ron Jackson, senior director of government affairs at CCUSA, attend a meeting at the Washington, DC office of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The meeting brought together advocacy and social policy staff from CCUSA, CHA, and the USCCB. (Photo/David Werning)
USDA grants: The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $14.2 million in 52 grants that support urban agriculture, in part with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The projects will help recipients “expand access to nutritious foods, foster community engagement, increase awareness of climate change and mitigate the effects within urban areas, provide jobs, educate communities about farming, and expand green spaces,” according to USDA.
HUD Announcements: Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced the first deployment of funding through the Department’s new Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program, a rapid response program to address homelessness by filling in federal assistance gaps in communities hit by disasters. The first round of funding will consist of $6.8 million to Florida and seven of the state’s localities impacted by Hurricane Ian. Read more here.
Secretary Fudge will hold a virtual ‘House Party’ on November 1, 2022, at 6:30 EDT to share information on available federal resources and bust common myths around the homebuying process. This event is designed to encourage young adults who wish to become homeowners but feel the barriers are too steep, especially in communities of color. Several special guests will join Secretary Fudge, including young adults with lived experience of becoming a homeowner.
The event is free and open to the public. The ‘party’ takes place November 1 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. The event will stream live on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. We encourage you to share broadly. Registration is available at www.hud.gov/hudhousepartyregistration.
Economy: In the week ending October 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 217,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 219,000, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 212,250.
Building Civic Bridges Act: CCUSA joins other organizations in endorsing the Building Civic Bridges Act (H.R. 6843 and S. 4530). This bill would promote the ability of local communities to tackle sources of division while empowering participants and civic organizations to bridge divides and promote civility. Read the full letter here.
Immigration: Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of October 20, 2022, will be eligible for TPS. DHS is expected to announce the registration period for eligible applicants in the coming days.
Top
Faith and the Common Good
Next Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. The day is an opportunity to reflect on women and men who gave heroic witness to Christian discipleship during their lives on earth, but it’s also an occasion to be reminded of the hope of eternal life.
Canonizing 10 men and women before a crowd of thousands on May 15, 2022, Pope Francis said the saints are proof of God's love for us and offer us a model for Christian living. Click here for a video of his message. Copyright ©2022 Catholic News Service / U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
One of the prayers for the Catholic funeral Mass proclaims that, for the faithful departed, “life is changed, not ended” (“Preface for Christian Death I”). Catholics believe that life continues after death and that a real communion exists among those united in Christ, on earth and in heaven. This bond is not destroyed by death, because Jesus conquered the power of death through his resurrection.
Life after death has always been a hope for human beings, a great many of whom throughout the centuries have recoiled at the thought of nothingness beyond the grave. In Homer’s Odyssey, in which Odysseus travels to the underworld, and even in the building of the Egyptian pyramids, which were thought to be landmarks that helped the soul travel to and from the hereafter, one recognizes a desire for the afterlife. Jesus brings the hope to realization, as he told his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be” (Jn 14:1-3).
And Paul, whom the Church has given the title “saint” for his witness to Jesus, defends the hope for eternal life in very strong terms: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith… But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:13-14, 20).
The saints whom we remember next Tuesday embraced the good news of the resurrection and lived according to this truth. “They discovered an incomparable joy,” Pope Francis said, “and became brilliant reflections of the Lord.” Our own Christian witness honors those who have gone before us and supports those with whom we are journeying now. May we always live our communion with the saints in joy and expectation of eternal life in heaven.
Top
Trivia
Q. Who is the patron saint of the United States?
Please send your answers to [email protected].
Last week's question and answer:
Q. Other than St. Matthew, can you name a tax collector named in the gospels?
A. Thanks to Rose Mary Saraiva, a volunteer with the bereavement and mental health ministry at Catholic Charities Diocese of Fall River, for being first with the right answer: Zacchaeus (See Luke 19:2-10). Some people wrote “Levi,” which is another name, but it is the Hebrew name for the Greek name of Matthew.
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: @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: Attention on the Hill remains focused on the midterm elections, to be held on November 8. Discussion continues about a possible end-of-the-year budget agreement or a possible continuing resolution to keep the government funded past December 16.
Advocacy manual: As mentioned at the Annual Gathering social policy community-of-practice meeting in Baltimore last month, the CCUSA social policy team has updated an advocacy manual that can now be accessed on the CCUSA website. From the home page, the user clicks on the “Advocacy” tag, which takes the user to the Advocacy page. Scroll down to “Resources,” where one can find the manual, titled “Faith, Action, Justice: A Manual for Legislative Advocacy.”
Advocacy webinar: Hold November 14 at 1:30 p.m. EST for a webinar to discuss the midterm election results and what to expect for the rest of the congressional calendar. Details and registration will follow soon.
Faithful citizenship: In preparation for the upcoming midterm elections, Anthony Granado, vice president of government relations at CCUSA, spoke on the political responsibility of Catholics on a webinar sponsored by the New Jersey Catholic Conference. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, Diocese of Paterson also spoke about Catholics' responsibility in the public square. Read an article describing the event here.
Advocacy/social policy meeting: On Tuesday, members of the CCUSA social policy team met with their counterparts from the Catholic Health Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at the CHA office in Washington, DC, in order to discuss policy priorities for the end of the year and potential areas for collaboration. Discussion topics included life issues in a post-Dobbs world, especially ways to help pregnant women such as extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months; telehealth; Medicaid reimbursement rates; healthy housing; etc.
Pictured from left to right: Anthony Granado, vice president of government relations at CCUSA; Frankie Chevere, senior manager of policy and government affairs at CCUSA; Julie Bodnar, policy advisor at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Ron Jackson, senior director of government affairs at CCUSA, attend a meeting at the Washington, DC office of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The meeting brought together advocacy and social policy staff from CCUSA, CHA, and the USCCB. (Photo/David Werning)
USDA grants: The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $14.2 million in 52 grants that support urban agriculture, in part with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The projects will help recipients “expand access to nutritious foods, foster community engagement, increase awareness of climate change and mitigate the effects within urban areas, provide jobs, educate communities about farming, and expand green spaces,” according to USDA.
HUD Announcements: Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge announced the first deployment of funding through the Department’s new Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program, a rapid response program to address homelessness by filling in federal assistance gaps in communities hit by disasters. The first round of funding will consist of $6.8 million to Florida and seven of the state’s localities impacted by Hurricane Ian. Read more here.
Secretary Fudge will hold a virtual ‘House Party’ on November 1, 2022, at 6:30 EDT to share information on available federal resources and bust common myths around the homebuying process. This event is designed to encourage young adults who wish to become homeowners but feel the barriers are too steep, especially in communities of color. Several special guests will join Secretary Fudge, including young adults with lived experience of becoming a homeowner.
The event is free and open to the public. The ‘party’ takes place November 1 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. The event will stream live on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. We encourage you to share broadly. Registration is available at www.hud.gov/hudhousepartyregistration.
Economy: In the week ending October 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 217,000, an increase of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 219,000, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 212,250.
Building Civic Bridges Act: CCUSA joins other organizations in endorsing the Building Civic Bridges Act (H.R. 6843 and S. 4530). This bill would promote the ability of local communities to tackle sources of division while empowering participants and civic organizations to bridge divides and promote civility. Read the full letter here.
Immigration: Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of October 20, 2022, will be eligible for TPS. DHS is expected to announce the registration period for eligible applicants in the coming days.
Top
Faith and the Common Good
Next Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. The day is an opportunity to reflect on women and men who gave heroic witness to Christian discipleship during their lives on earth, but it’s also an occasion to be reminded of the hope of eternal life.
Canonizing 10 men and women before a crowd of thousands on May 15, 2022, Pope Francis said the saints are proof of God's love for us and offer us a model for Christian living. Click here for a video of his message. Copyright ©2022 Catholic News Service / U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
One of the prayers for the Catholic funeral Mass proclaims that, for the faithful departed, “life is changed, not ended” (“Preface for Christian Death I”). Catholics believe that life continues after death and that a real communion exists among those united in Christ, on earth and in heaven. This bond is not destroyed by death, because Jesus conquered the power of death through his resurrection.
Life after death has always been a hope for human beings, a great many of whom throughout the centuries have recoiled at the thought of nothingness beyond the grave. In Homer’s Odyssey, in which Odysseus travels to the underworld, and even in the building of the Egyptian pyramids, which were thought to be landmarks that helped the soul travel to and from the hereafter, one recognizes a desire for the afterlife. Jesus brings the hope to realization, as he told his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be” (Jn 14:1-3).
And Paul, whom the Church has given the title “saint” for his witness to Jesus, defends the hope for eternal life in very strong terms: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith… But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:13-14, 20).
The saints whom we remember next Tuesday embraced the good news of the resurrection and lived according to this truth. “They discovered an incomparable joy,” Pope Francis said, “and became brilliant reflections of the Lord.” Our own Christian witness honors those who have gone before us and supports those with whom we are journeying now. May we always live our communion with the saints in joy and expectation of eternal life in heaven.
Top
Trivia
Q. Who is the patron saint of the United States?
Please send your answers to [email protected].
Last week's question and answer:
Q. Other than St. Matthew, can you name a tax collector named in the gospels?
A. Thanks to Rose Mary Saraiva, a volunteer with the bereavement and mental health ministry at Catholic Charities Diocese of Fall River, for being first with the right answer: Zacchaeus (See Luke 19:2-10). Some people wrote “Levi,” which is another name, but it is the Hebrew name for the Greek name of Matthew.
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: @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