Pope Francis has appointed Father Enrique Delgado as a new auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Miami. Bishop-elect Delgado is a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami and currently serves as pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Church in Weston, Florida.
Catholic Charities offices across the state have been collaborating with state and federal agencies and local community partners to assist populations affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Caseworkers are working with victims to help meet their needs, such as food and personal hygiene items, and temporary or permanent housing. Additionally, Catholic schools have been preparing to welcome students whose families have fled the damage and devastation of Puerto Rico.
Thank you to all FLCAN members who responded to our action alert to contact Governor Scott, requesting that Michael Lambrix's execution be stayed and his sentence be commuted to life without parole. Sadly, the execution was carried out on October 5. The next day, a death warrant was signed scheduling yet another execution. Patrick Hannon is scheduled for execution on November 8.
Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine has invited the Catholic Bishops of Florida to join him on Monday, Oct. 30, for a Mass in Memory of Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, the sixth bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine.
On October 3, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 36 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act by a vote of 237 to 189. The bill makes it unlawful to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater. Exceptions are included for cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother. The legislation needs to be passed by the U.S. Senate before it can be sent to the president for his signature.
On October 2, Governor Rick Scott hosted the 2017 Latin American Summit in Miami to discuss the important relationship Florida shares with the region. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, president of the FCCB, was among the speakers invited to give remarks during the summit.
Voting is a right in our country through which we are called to exercise faithful citizenship. The bishops encourage all persons who are eligible to vote to take the steps necessary to register. The website was created to comply with a 2015 law that required online registration to be available by October 1.
The 31st Annual Respect Life State Conference will be held October 20 & 21 at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Weston. Due to Hurricane Irma affecting so many areas of the state, early bird registration and the special room rate at the Bonaventure Resort have been extended until Monday, October 9.
The campaign launch is being followed in the U.S. by a Week of Prayer and Action, October 7-13, when parishes, schools and other institutions across the country will join in prayer, education and sharing of information to support migrants and refugees locally and around the world.