More Reductions to Programs that Help Children

. Economic Justice

Edward "Ned" Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, issued the following statement following the Governor’s State of the State Speech and his earlier release of the 2012-2013 Proposed Budget:

“In his State of the State speech Governor Brown said California is on the mend, yet his budget proposals continue to impact the poor disproportionately. And while a slow economic recovery prolongs the fiscal pain for most Californians, the Governor’s proposed 2012-13 budget continues a multi-year trend of reducing critical services for children, the elderly, the blind, the disabled and those most in need.

“Scarce resources mean difficult choices and shared sacrifice for all who participate in our society. But too much of that sacrifice in recent years has fallen on our children. Proposals that hurt low-income children – such as reducing funding by $946 million for parents who are trying to find work or eliminating supplemental funding for Child Nutrition Program at private schools and child care centers – intensifies the struggle for families and jeopardizes our children’s welfare.

Religious Women Bring Public Support to Catholic School Children

. Education

learn-150 Catholic schools receive no government funds, of course, but students, eligible teachers and their families receive many of the same services provided for all U.S. students. Accessing these services, however, takes vigilant persistence and, sometimes, a little reminding, says Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Patricia Supple, director of federal and state programs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Department of Catholic Schools.

Sister Supple has been supervising government-funded programs for archdiocesan Catholic Schools for 21 years. Her background includes several years in Catholic elementary and secondary schools before taking on her present assignment. She speaks softly, but carries some serious “clout” among educational fiscal gatekeepers.

California Bishops Support Life and Family Initiatives

. Family Life & Marriage

Measures Will Require Parental Notification and End the Use of the Death Penalty

(En Español) Due to the convergence of two initiatives whose sponsors are seeking their placement on California’s November 2012 ballot, we Catholic bishops have been presented a unique teaching moment on life and family.

As Catholics, we believe and teach that we bear the image of God. We come to life as the result of humanity’s collaboration in God’s creative work. Ordinarily, each child is the result of the loving union of a man and woman who have formed a family. The family then cradles the newborn, raises up the child and guides the young person’s development to adulthood. As citizens, we believe that government serves best when it supports families in their irreplaceable task of nurturing the next generation.

How New Contraception Mandate Redefines 'Religious Employer'

. Conscience Rights

Religious-employers On January 20, 2012, the Obama Administration issued a new rule that all health plans must cover contraception and sterilization. In doing so, the Health and Human Services Agency essentially redefined the very nature of what it means to be a religious employer. Only those who confine their activity to people of their own faith now qualify.

In making the announcement, Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Health and Human Services, announced that non-profit employers will have one year to comply with the new rule. “In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (The Cardinal-designate explains more on this video.)