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Overview: This week, following a debate on who would become Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congress returned and began the 118th legislative session. Republican leaders in the House chose committee heads for the 118th Congress. Democrats named their ranking members on the committees, as well. Also this week, the House voted along party lines on two measures concerning abortion: a resolution condemning acts of violence against pro-life organizations and a bill that provides that an infant born, despite an attempted abortion on his/her life, has equal protection under the law as any other human person. The anti-violence resolution was adopted 222-209, with three Democrats joining Republicans. The post-abortion care bill passed 220-210, with one Democrat joining Republicans. 

Social policy resources: Please visit the “Advocacy” page on the CCUSA website to view two newly-added resources: “Advocacy Basics” and “Faith, Action, Justice: A Manual for Legislative Advocacy.” 

Economy: In the week ending January 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment] claims was 205,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 204,000 to 206,000. The 4-week moving average was 212,500, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 213,750 to 214,250. 

Housing: On Thursday, Marcia L. Fudge, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, addressed an audience at the Brookings Institution about fighting and correcting racial bias in the home appraisal process. Learn more about PAVE — the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity — a "task force dedicated to ending bias in home valuation."

Immigration: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the extension and re-designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from March 18, 2023, through Sept. 17, 2024. Individuals who were already residing in the United States as of Jan. 11, 2023, will be eligible for TPS under Somalia’s re-designation if they also meet all other eligibility requirements. Somalis entering the United States after Jan. 11, 2023, are not eligible for TPS under this re-designation. CCUSA joined the USCCB, CLINIC and CRS in a letter to the administration in November requesting TPS extension and re-designation for Somalia and other countries. 

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As the nation remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 16, many people and communities hold special prayer services and encourage volunteer opportunities. Indeed, Congress in 1994 passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which made MLK Day a national day of service. Prayer and action were central to Dr. King’s ministry, especially regarding the upholding of human dignity, such as in the work to combat racism.

Editorial credit: christianthiel.net / Shutterstock.com

It's hard to imagine someone immersed in prayer who would not be moved to do what they can to combat racial inequality. Dr. King, as he wrote in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," found non-action on the part of people of good will more frustrating than the evil actions of people with ill will. Even more frustrating for Dr. King to hear was the opinion of his fellow ministers who told him to avoid extremism.

Were the Lord and his followers extremists for making every effort to bring God’s justice to bear on human relationships? “Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice, or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?” Dr. King asked.

Followers of Christ are called to be a leaven for society in the work for racial equality and every other element that makes up a just social order. To avoid being “dismissed as an irrelevant social club,” the church needs to “recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church,” Dr. King wrote. That means accepting one's cross, like Jesus, and trusting in the power of God’s love, like Jesus, to usher in his kingdom of peace and justice. If Jesus is already victorious, then we need to unite ourselves to him.

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Q. What historic event connected to racial equality took place on Jan. 13, 1990, in the state of Virginia?

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. Pope Benedict XVI, officially, authored three encyclicals during his papacy. What other encyclical did he have a part in writing? (The other author says it’s an encyclical completed by “four hands.”)

A. Many thanks to Father Charles N. Rowe, vicar general for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, for being first with the answer: Lumen Fidei, June 29, 2013, issued by Pope Francis.

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