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Editor: Bishop, the 86th State Legislature is now in session. What is on the Texas bishops’ legislative agenda for this session?
Bishop Vásquez: Every other year as the legislature meets, the bishops look forward to this time because it is our opportunity for us as the Catholic bishops of this great state of Texas to engage our legislators and to express very clearly to them what we would like to see happen in this legislative session.
One of the things we are advocating for is life and family life, which is our biggest priority. This means we seek laws that not only will protect the child in the womb, but also support and preserve every human life at every stage of development.
The bishops support increased funding to abortion alternatives for expectant mothers, and we seek to eliminate all funding for abortion providers. We also support good foster care, which has been a challenge in our state over the last few years. There is a need for increased recruitment and formation of foster, adoptive and biological parents. The bottom line is that we seek to minimize the threats to innocent human life, from fertilization to natural death, and seek to promote strong, stable and healthy families.
The bishops also advocate for better immigration policies. We want to ensure that those immigrants coming to our country are coming here legally. We want to make sure that their inherent rights are also preserved. We support care for unaccompanied minors, and we seek alternatives to family detention. We also support the reunification of immigrant families.
We also oppose the death penalty. We want to protect the common good by deterring offenses and by rehabilitating offenders. We want to keep people out of prisons and jail by helping them to reform and change.
The education of our children in also on the bishop’s agenda. We support parental choice in education, and we want to make sure our children are safe in schools. We also want every person to have access to quality health care. We also want to promote the stewardship of the earthly resources God has given us. We must find ways to conserve energy and to make clean water available to all.
These are just a few of the items that we are asking our legislators to consider during this legislative session.
Editor: Many Catholics from across the state will gather at the capitol on March 26 for Catholic Advocacy Day. What is the significance of this day?
Bishop Vásquez: Over the last several years the bishops have made an increased effort to encourage Catholics to come to Austin for a day of advocacy. On that day we encourage Catholics to speak with one voice to our legislators. In years past, we have had great representation and participation from all the 15 dioceses in our state. We have had great turn out from our Catholic schools and wonderful participation from adults through the Knights of Columbus, social justice groups and others from across our state. It is a sight to behold to see parents, children, young adults and people from all walks of life speaking out on behalf of what we value as Catholics.
We want to make sure that our voice is heard clearly by our legislators; we want to let them know what we believe and what we hold to be true. We want those values to be passed on. So, Catholic Advocacy Day is our opportunity to engage our legislators and our officials who represent us.
Editor: What do you hope the faithful will accomplish during that day?
Bishop Vásquez: I sincerely hope that the faithful will come to Austin in great numbers, and that during that day each person will make their voice known. I hope our legislators will listen to them and understand the importance of each issue that is brought before them. We are advocating for very serious topics. We want laws that are just and that are good for all. We come together to advocate for the common good, which serves all people well. We are not trying to limit ourselves to advocating for Catholic issues, but we are speaking for the common good and for what is good for all the people in this great state.
Editor: For those who are unable come to Austin for Advocacy Day how can they participate?
Bishop Vásquez: I hope that they write or call their legislators and take the opportunity to visit with their legislators when they come back to their home districts. Legislators are representing the people, which is a great and noble profession. Thus our legislators must listen to the people so that they can speak on our behalf.
No matter what time of year it is, we are called to be faithful citizens, and as such we must keep abreast of what is happening in our government. We should have continued contact with our lawmakers in order to thank them when they do well, and express concern when they fail to uphold the life and dignity of the human person. For more information, visit www.austindiocese.org/advocacy.
Editor: What is your prayer for the 86th State Legislature?
Bishop Vásquez: I encourage everyone to pray for our government and our government officials –– for our president, for our legislators here in the state, and for all of those who hold public office. My prayer is that God, with the power and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, will guide and lead our elected officials so that they may enact good and just laws for the common good that will serve to strengthen the people of this great state of Texas.