• • CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
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Overview: Congress has passed a one-week continuing resolution to fund the government through Dec. 23. Both chambers of Congress will now work on an omnibus, with some members speculating that one could pass by Dec. 22.

Immigration: CCUSA defended Catholic Charities’ ministry to migrants, stating in part that our "life-saving humanitarian work neither violates federal laws nor endangers communities." The statement comes in response to an article from Fox News, which included a letter from four members of Congress - Lance Gooden (R-TX), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ) - that claimed Catholic Charities is "violating federal law" in its humanitarian care for migrants. In the statement, CCUSA urged "all Americans to ask the administration and their Congressional representatives" to fix the broken immigration system.  

Action Alert: Join CCUSA in calling on Congress to pass important immigration legislation to protect Dreamers, migrant farmworkers and Afghan nationals in the United States. Access the alert here.

Migrants released from U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Del Rio, Texas, wait in line to board a bus to Houston Sept. 24, 2021. (CNS photo/Marco Bello, Reuters)

Economy: In the week ending December 10, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 211,000, a decrease of 20,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 230,000 to 231,000. The 4-week moving average was 227,250, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 230,000 to 230,250.

Criminal justice: The Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act (S. 4003) was approved by Congress and will head to the president for his signature. The bill provides funding for law enforcement agencies to obtain the necessary training and skills to respond appropriately to crisis intervention calls from individuals experiencing mental and behavioral health crises in the community. We are grateful to everyone who responded to CCUSA's action alert by contacting  their Congressional representative to support the passage of this bill. 

Child Tax Credit: CCUSA joined the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul in a letter calling on Congress to pass a strengthened, refundable Child Tax Credit before the end of the year. Read the letter here.

Disaster Relief: CCUSA urged Congress to include much needed hurricane relief aid for Florida, Puerto Rico and other states in its final fiscal year 2023 (FY23) omnibus package and to also include enactment of the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act (S.2471/H.R. 4707). This bipartisan bill would permanently authorize HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR).  Read  the letter here.

Broadband access: On December 13, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communication, Media, and Broadband hosted a hearing on broadband access in rural, Tribal, and low-income urban areas. The main topic was finding a permanent solution to close the digital divide. Particular items discussed included funding already available for rural broadband development, difficulty in obtaining permits, the high cost of setting up rural broadband access and the need for broadband workforce development in rural areas. View the hearing here.

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! Register here.

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At first glance, the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent lack, perhaps, the sense of joy one might expect a week before the feast of Christmas. Joseph, we hear, is thinking about divorcing Mary. Nevertheless, the readings teach us that hearing and acting on God’s word can cooperate with God’s plan of salvation and lead to joy.

The details are familiar. Joseph is betrothed to Mary, which in their culture means they are already bound together and would need a divorce to separate. Still, they had not yet lived together, which indicates that they had not consummated their union, the central point Luke wants to emphasize. When Mary is found to be pregnant, the drama and potential for conflict intensify.

A Palestinian family walks near a mosaic of the Holy Family near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank, Dec. 15, 2022. The church is built on what is believed to be the site where Jesus was born. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill)

Joseph finds himself in an uncomfortable position. His betrothed is pregnant, and the only thing he knows for sure at the moment is that he had nothing to do with it. The Jewish law gives him the right to charge Mary with infidelity and to exact the punishment of death. (Even in our time, we see such draconian laws, such as in Iran most recently.)

Joseph could say that the child is his, and he could accept Mary as she is, but it’s not a real option in his mind. So, what does he do? The gospel says Joseph is “a righteous man,” which in biblical language means that he considers God’s will above all other factors. Instead of demanding his rights or applying the law strictly, or acting on pure emotion, Joseph decides to pray: “What is God’s will?”

In his discernment, Joseph remembers that God often treats people with mercy and love. Even when God punishes sinners, he does so to encourage conversion and to offer salvation. Joseph decides to be merciful too. Though he decides to divorce Mary, he means to do so “quietly” in order to avoid exposing her to shame and to give the real father a chance to take responsibility.

And, of course, the real father does. God speaks to Joseph in a way that Joseph can understand. Always mindful of God’s will, Joseph is open to receiving God’s word and to acting on it. Joseph’s prayer over time leads him to accept Mary and to bring her into his home.

Notice that because Joseph is righteous, because he always considers God’s will first, other people are blessed along with him. Mary is kept from shame and execution, Jesus is ensured safe passage and the entire world is prepared for the salvation that comes from Christ.

God, of course, did not have to work out salvation this way. He is free to act however he likes. However, the gospel message makes it clear that God wants to work out our salvation this way: through free and willing creatures, like Joseph, like you and me, who are willing to seek, to believe and to act on God’s word.

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Q. What country is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born? (Extra points for the name of the original birthplace.)

A. Thanks to Anne Dryden, retired archivist for CCUSA, who was first with the right answer: St. Nicholas was born in Smyrna in what is now Turkey.

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