On January 18, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal challenging Florida’s Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarship Program, effectively ending an ongoing lawsuit attempting to declare the program unconstitutional. The Court, in a 4-1 decision, upheld the August 2016 ruling of First District Court of Appeal that ruled the plaintiffs in McCall v. Scott did not have legal standing to challenge the FTC scholarships.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Mourning the millions of lives lost to abortion since the January 22, 1973, U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida remain committed to the promotion of public policies that defend the sanctity of life. The bishops are hopeful that proposals at both the federal and state levels will protect babies in the womb, promote the dignity of parents, and preserve conscience protections for health care workers and taxpayers. Full statement follows:
For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week. This year's theme, "Creating a Culture of Encounter," is drawn from Pope Francis' homily given at his first Pentecost as pope. The Holy Father emphasized the importance of encounter in the Christian faith: "For me this word is very important. Encounter with others. Why? Because faith is an encounter with Jesus, and we must do what Jesus does: encounter others."
Catholic Schools Week is a time to recognize and celebrate the gift of Catholic education. Through a variety of events, such as Masses, assemblies and open houses, Catholic schools focus on the value they provide to young people and their contributions to our Church, communities and nation.
National School Choice Week, January 22-28 Held every January, National School Choice Week is the world's largest annual celebration of opportunity in education. Across the country, more than 20,000 independently planned events will shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for children. Events are diverse in size and type - from pep rallies featuring the National School Choice Week dance to open houses, parent information sessions, large-scale rallies, roundtable discussions, and more.
Upon the retirement of Bishop Robert N. Lynch who faithfully served as ordinary for over twenty years, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Gregory L. Parkes as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Bishop Parkes was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Orlando in 1999 and was named bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee in 2012.