DACA Upheld; “Virtual” Stations of the Cross

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 5-4 to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which prevents the deportation of approximately 700,000 qualified children of immigrants, also known as “Dreamers.”

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of “Dreamers”

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled 5-4 to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which prevents the deportation of approximately 700,000 qualified children of immigrants, also known as “Dreamers.”

In its ruling, written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., the Court contended that the Trump Administration did not follow proper administrative procedures required to end the DACA program when it attempted to do so two years ago.  The Court did not say the administration could not end the program, just that the way it tried to end it two years ago was unlawful.

The ruling is a temporary reprieve and throws the issue back to where many observers think it belongs – the United States Congress.

USCCB President and Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and USCCB Migration Committee Chairman and Washington Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville issued a statement praising the Court’s decision and calling on Congress to devise a permanent solution for Dreamers.

“…We strongly encourage our U.S. Senators to immediately pass legislation that provides a path to citizenship for Dreamers. Permanent legislative protection that overcomes partisanship and puts the human dignity and future of Dreamers first is long overdue,” Archbishop Gomez and Bishop Dorsonville said.

The DACA program has enabled approximately 700,000 young people, who paid a fee and submitted to a background check, the opportunity to work legally, access educational opportunities, and not fear deportation. DACA recipients on average contribute over $42 billion annually to the U.S. economy. (Estimates place the total number of Dreamers in this nation as high as 900,000.)

The California Catholic Conference has published extensive background information for a more extensive look at the DACA program and immigration in the U.S.

 

“Virtual” Stations of the Cross Draw Attention to Sin of Racism

Bishops from throughout the state of California released a video this week reenacting the Stations of the Cross to draw attention to the sin of racism and ask God’s help in eliminating it.

It is also intended to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the tragic killings at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, and the Juneteenth holiday this Friday, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.

“People today suffer unjustly simply because of the color of their skin or their national origin,” says Bishop Robert McElroy, leader of the Diocese of San Diego and president of the California Catholic Conference. “Let us acknowledge the sin of racism and work to combat it in our social structures, our institutions and our hearts.”

The “Stations of the Cross” is both a reenactment and a reminder of the struggle and humiliation that our Lord Jesus Christ went through on his way to crucifixion and his ultimate resurrection. There are 14 “stations,” each depicting an incident that took place as Jesus carried his own cross to Mount Calvary, the site of his execution.

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Lawmakers Reject Governor’s Cuts in Passed Budget Bill

The California Legislature passed a state general fund bill late Monday that rejects major funding cuts that Governor Gavin Newsom proposed in his May Revision. However, the budget is mostly a placeholder until California’s state income tax revenues are known later this year and to see if Congress provides any additional pandemic assistance to states.

The Legislature’s approved $143 billion spending plan includes $14 billion in potential federal aid and only triggers cuts in October if those funds doesn’t materialize, unlike Governor Newsom’s plan that does not include federal aid at all.

The California Catholic Conference is excited to report that, largely due to your help, two vital budget items are in the budget that the State Senate and Assembly passed.  

The bill includes California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) for filers with an ITIN number and a child under the age of six. Immigrant tax filers contribute $3.2 billion in state and local taxes every year and represent more than a third of our state workforce. Thank you to all who supported this item! Please stay vigilant and click here for the alert asking the Governor not to line-item veto the ITIN CalEITC measure.  

Additionally, the lawmaker’s budget includes funding for Community Based Adult Services. This will continue to provide vital care services for those who need them. A heartfelt thank you for all that supported the alert for this item.

  

USCCB Statement on SCOTUS Ruling of “Sex” in Civil Rights Law

USCCB President and Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles provided a statement on this week’s Supreme Court decision prohibiting discrimination in employment based on “sexual orientation” and “transgender” status.

“I am deeply concerned that the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively redefined the legal meaning of ‘sex’ in our nation’s civil rights law. This is an injustice that will have implications in many areas of life,” Archbishop Gomez said.

“By erasing the beautiful differences and complementary relationship between man and woman, we ignore the glory of God’s creation and harm the human family, the first building block of society,” he said.

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World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests

The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests will be celebrated by the universal Church on June 19, 2020. Occurring annually on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests was established by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002 and encourages priests to reflect upon the importance and dignity of their vocation.

In his Holy Thursday homily. . . on April 9, 2020, Pope Francis reminded priests that in order to serve others, they must first allow themselves to be served by Christ. Just like Saint Peter, priests must be willing to be washed by Christ, forgiven by Christ, and loved by Christ so that they, in turn, may be dispensers of divine forgiveness and love to others. The Holy Father also remembered those courageous priests in hospital ministry who have died in service to their brothers and sisters suffering from coronavirus. He also commended those priests who serve prisoners and those ministering in remote parts of the world.

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 The Lord knows that evil and sins do not define us; they are diseases, infections. And he comes to heal them with the Eucharist, which contains the antibodies to our negative memory. With Jesus, we can become immune to sadness.  @Pontifex

 

June 19, 2020
Vol. 13, No. 22

En Español

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