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

Overview: The CCUSA social policy team hosted a webinar on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, featuring an analysis of midterm election results by policy experts from the ArentFox Schiff law firm. The CCUSA social policy team offered a legislative update on priorities of the Catholic Charities network for the rest of the year and during the new Congress (See “Priorities” paragraph below). CCUSA’s updated advocacy manual also was briefly introduced. You can find it here. 

Priorities for end-of-the-year funding agreement: CCUSA urged Congressional leadership to allocate additional funding for critical initiatives that serve low-income communities and fund essential humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. Read the full letter here.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS): CCUSA joined other Catholic groups in a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, and Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, requesting the extension and redesignation of TPS for Haiti, Somalia, and Yemen, and the redesignation of Venezuela. Read the full letter here.

USDA proposes rule to expand WIC benefits: The Agriculture Department is proposing expansions to federal nutritional benefits, making it easier for families to access more fruits and vegetables as well as dairy alternatives and other food items previously unavailable for purchase with the benefits. Millions of families use the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The program is also the nation’s largest buyer of infant formula, which the administration has struggled to increase access to amidst an ongoing supply crisis.  The proposed rule, which will be open for public comment Nov. 21, 2022, through Feb. 21, 2023, will make permanent a “temporary boost” to WIC benefits  initially approved in the American Rescue Plan.  CCUSA is reviewing the proposed rule for possible submission of comments.

Title 42 public health order: The Department of Homeland Security announced that the Title 42 public health order will remain in place due to a temporary stay of a court order. DHS said Title 42’s continuation will allow the government to prepare for a transition and to continue to manage the border in a safe way.

For more than 30 years, the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering has brought together hundreds of participants whose faith inspires them to address pressing current domestic and global challenges affecting our most vulnerable brothers and sisters at home and around the world.

Catholic Social Ministry Gathering: Register Now for the 2023 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, January 28-31, 2023, Washington, DC. This year’s theme is “Blessed are the Peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). Don’t miss this transformative annual gathering for leaders in Catholic social ministry and advocacy! This year, we will gather in person to pray, learn, and advocate together on our Catholic call to help heal a world broken by conflict, division, and inequality. CCUSA will participate in several presentations, as well as hosting a breakfast.

This year’s in-person gathering will also include:

• Inspiring leading voices in Church and society.
• Workshops with policy experts and community leaders.
• Intentional opportunities for best practice-sharing
• Resources from dozens of Catholic social ministry organizations.
• Advocacy visits with elected officials.
• And much more!

Financial assistance is available for leaders from under-represented ethnic, cultural, or disabled communities. The program at CSMG 2023 will include offerings for Hispanic/Latino leaders who play an important role in forming disciples on mission in their communities. Act now to be part of our special initiative for young leaders in Catholic social ministry and learn more about our Diversity Outreach Initiative. Register here.

Charitable deduction: CCUSA joined other members of the Leadership 18 alliance in a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to support the renewal and expansion of the universal charitable deduction for non-itemizing taxpayers. Read the letter here.

Economy: In the week ending November 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 222,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 225,000 to 226,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 218,750 to 219,000.

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As the Catholic Church celebrates the close of the 2021-2022 liturgical year this Sunday, it does so by reflecting on Christ the King at all Masses. The title can cause some discomfort and even opposition on the part of some listeners, which underscores the importance of defining what the Church, steeped in a Scripture-based world view, means by the word "king."

The kingship of Jesus is not earthly, although it shares in some of the best characteristics attributed to kings in the Scriptures. The good king is God's agent, serving the people with justice and charity, teaching God's will by word and example, and showing special concern for widows and orphans.

Jesus, of course, modeled perfectly these characteristics and did more: We believe that he has conquered the power of sin and death. We live presently under his rule. He has died, he is risen, and he will come again. As Christians, our lives and the choices we make can be lived and made within the context of Jesus' victory. If we want to share in his victory, then we make the effort to follow him, trusting in his grace and presence (offered to us through his Holy Spirit, his words, and the sacraments).

A thin blanket of snow covers a statue of Christ the King, which stands near the side entry of St. Willebrord Church in Green Bay, Wis., Nov. 16, 2022. The solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the feast of Christ the King, is Nov. 20. (CNS photo/Sam Lucero)

It would be a mistake to follow the example of the bad thief who was crucified next to Jesus. He sneers at Jesus and demands that Jesus take away his doubt: "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." Moreover, the bad thief simply follows the crowd, the rulers, and the soldiers, all of whom sneer at Jesus too, telling him to save himself. Their sneering reveals their mindset: What kind of king or Messiah dies on a cross? And the bad thief joins the chorus precisely to save himself; it's all he can think of.

The good thief, on the other hand, is present in a way that opens him to the truth. First of all, the good thief knows the truth of his own situation. He has committed a crime.  He has been condemned justly, and the sentence he received corresponds to his crime. So in effect what he is saying is, “I don’t deserve mercy, and I’m not in any position to tell someone else, much less this Jesus, how to act.” And because the good thief is able to see the truth about himself, without trying to protect himself at all cost, he is open to the truth about Jesus.

He sees Jesus.  He knows Jesus hasn’t committed a crime. He also sees how Jesus is handling the situation: trusting God, forgiving others, wanting to save others as any true king would do. Maybe the sign over Jesus’ head is true. Maybe this is the Messiah, the King of the Jews. He knows the crowd is crazy, so the good thief decides to place his faith in Jesus, and he prays, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

What a simple, but beautiful, prayer of faith and trust. If we were to unpack it, it means this: First of all, notice the respect of the good thief: Instead of sneering at Jesus, the good thief addresses him by name. He doesn’t doubt Jesus’ power, he asks to be remembered when Jesus is seated on his throne. And he doesn’t say if you are king of the Jews; he takes it for granted, and asks to be allowed into Jesus’ kingdom.

Jesus responds to the good thief as he responded to all those who had approached him with faith: He welcomes him home.

Jesus is the King of kings, unlike any other king, good or bad. Jesus was not power hungry; he did not lord it over others; he drew people to himself not through fear or favor, but by love. All he asks is that we yield to his love and let him be king.

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Q. Who instituted the feast of Christ the King and when?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. When was the first Veterans’ Day? (Hint: It came after the first Armistice Day.)

A. We did not receive a correct answer this week. Here it is: “An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.”

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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.

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