Catholics rally at state Capitol

Cardinal DiNardo (with hat in hand) was joined by 10 other Texas bishops at the steps of the Capitol building in Austin. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

Nearly 2000 Catholics from all over the state of Texas surprised politicians in Austin on April 9, Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day. The highlight of the day was a rally on the south steps of the capitol, where Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, and 10 other Texas bishops addressed a sea of blue shirts, while Catholics roared and clapped their approval.

“We want your presence,” Cardinal DiNardo told the crowd at the rally. “For all of them [lawmakers] it’s impressive; for some of them it evokes such pride and perhaps in a couple even some fear. Let it be. But what we want is your presence.”

More than 200 people, including Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey, attended the rally from the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Many of these were students from Blessed John Paul II and Incarnate Word Academy high schools.

High school students from Incarnate Word Academy also made their presence felt. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

The purpose of Faith in Action Advocacy Day is for Catholics to meet with state politicians and emphasize their stance on important issues regarding human life, immigrants, children, families, the poor and the vulnerable.

The Texas Catholic Conference (TCC), the public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Texas, organized the day. TCC is monitoring more than 500 bills moving through the 83rd Texas Legislature, bills ranging from life issues concerning the unborn and their mothers, to

A large contingent of students from Blessed John Paul II High School attended Advocacy Day in Austin. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

end-of-life care, to preying on the poor to school choice.

Other than Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Mulvey, the bishops in attendance were Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller from the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Bishop Daniel Flores from the Diocese of Brownsville, Bishop Curtis John Guillory from the Diocese of Beaumont, Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer from the Diocese of San Angelo, Bishop Plácido Rodríguez from the Diocese of Lubbock, Bishop Mark Seitz from the Diocese of Dallas, Auxiliary Bishop George Arthur Sheltz from the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Bishop Joe Vásquez from the Diocese of Austin and Bishop Patrick J. Zurek from the Diocese of Amarillo.

“In addition to a rally on the south lawn of the Capitol at noon, the bishops testified before various committees regarding several issues as well as made visits to the Speaker of the House, the Lt. Governor’s staff (he was out of town) and with Gov. Rick Perry,” Bishop Mulvey said. “We were able to present the position of the Church on certain key areas.”

After the rally, Corpus Christi attendees met with area representatives Abel Herrero, J. M. Lozano and Todd Hunter. Deacon Stephen Nolte, Director of the Office of Life, Justice and Human Dignity for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and students from Blessed John Paul II High School spoke to Herrero about the school choice and the tuition tax credit bill, which if passed would enable corporations to receive a tax credit from the state if they contribute to private schools who award scholarships to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. If passed the bill would help working class families who want to send their child to a private or charter school.

“This legislature is looking to fully fund public education. It was important to make sure that Representative Herrero knew the bill doesn’t affect funding for public schools,” Nolte said. “If anything, the bill allows corporations to contribute a portion of their business income toward non-profit educational organizations and receive a tax credit for their contribution.”

Corpus Christi state representative Todd Hunter speaks with students about his job as a lawmaker. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

Representatives Hunter and Lozano met with several students from Incarnate Word Academy and Blessed John Paul II in the Reagan Building and their offices in the Capitol. They explained how the legislative process works and reaffirmed their stance with Catholic teaching.
The Advocacy Day began the night before at a Mass with all the bishops present at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

“Please continue to pray for our legislators and keep in your prayers the several priorities that the Texas Catholic Conference is working on,” Bishop Mulvey said.

To learn more about the issues being advocated by Texas bishops, visit www.txcatholic.org.