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While regularly scheduled Masses and parish gatherings are suspended in response to the coronavirus, the bishops are urging Catholics to "keep holy the Sabbath" and close to the Lord through prayer and reflection on the Word of God. Additionally, dioceses and parishes are offering opportunities for prayer and virtual Mass via live stream or video.

Pope Francis has invited Christians throughout the world to join him in prayer in response to the coronavirus pandemic. "Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried," said the Holy Father after the March 22, Sunday Angelus.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25, we also mark the 25th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). This prophetic document on the value and inviolability of every human life remains an indispensable source of truth. It reaffirms the "greatness and the inestimable value of human life" (EV 2) and addresses present-day legal, ethical, and moral threats to life, including abortion, artificial reproduction techniques, contraception, the death penalty, euthanasia, sterilization, and suicide. 

In mid-March the U.S. Census Bureau mailed official notices to every household requesting participation in the 2020 Census. Instead of receiving a form to fill out and mail in, basic information on all persons living and staying at your residence can be entered online. Households are to submit responses by April 1. All information provided is confidential and cannot be shared with other government agencies or local authorities.

The Regular Session of the Florida Legislature will come to a close on Thursday, March 19. Because of delays in negotiating the budget and a mandatory 72-hour review period, the session was extended past its scheduled end date of March 13 to hold a final vote on the spending plan. All other business before the Legislature has concluded.

Bills passed by the legislature will be presented to Governor DeSantis for final action. From the date the governor receives a bill, he has 15 days to either sign, veto, or let the bill become law without his signature. Links are provided to final House and Senate votes.

DEATH PENALTY 2020 Catholic Days at the Capitol Issue HB 6045 (Geller) / SB 938 (Farmer, Jr.): Support Proposed repeal of the death penalty for capital felonies; Catholic Days Backgrounder. House: Died in Committee; Senate: Died in Committee

In the final days of the legislative session, bills are either being taken up and passed by the chambers or are dying. The session is scheduled to end March 13. However, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker Jose Oliva said earlier this week that they expected the session to extend into the third week of March because of delays in negotiating the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Passing a state budget is a constitutionally required duty of the legislature.

On Friday, March 6, SB 664 (Lee), was taken up on second reading by the full Senate. The bill was amended to require that all private employers use either the Department of Homeland Security E-Verify system or the documents required by Form I-9 to determine work eligibility for all new employees. The amendment also provides that the Department of Economic Opportunity shall conduct audits and investigate complaints of suspected improper employment. Employers would be required to turn over employment documents when requested by state prosecutors or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement without warrant or probable cause.

On Thursday, March 5, the full Senate unanimously passed SB 994 (Passidomo). The bill strengthens protections for vulnerable elderly persons with court appointed guardians by improving guardianship laws with respect to conflict of interest, compensation and appointment of guardians. Additionally, the bill requires that guardians may not consent to or authorize do-not-resuscitate orders for their wards without court approval. The House companion, HB 709 (Burton), is on the House Calendar on second reading. The FCCB supported this measure as it moved through the committee process in both chambers.

HB 1059 (Grall) would designate the "Parents' Bill of Rights", bringing together in a single statute the various parental rights that currently exist in law. The bill would highlight the role of parents by clearly outlining the rights parents have in the upbringing, education and care of their children. The bill is poised for a vote of the full House on Monday, March 9.

HB 1217 (Beltran) authorizes hospitals, emergency medical service stations, and fire stations that are staffed 24 hours a day to install newborn safety devices or "baby boxes" to accept surrendered newborn infants. Florida's existing safe haven law allows parents who are unwilling or unable to care for their newborn children to anonymously surrender their infants and grants the parents immunity from criminal prosecution. HB 1217 increases the age that an infant may be surrendered from seven days to 30 days old.

On Friday, March 6, the full House took up HB 7067 (Education), and Rep. Jennifer Sullivan, chair of the House Education Committee, answered questions on the bill. The proposal would accelerate growth of the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program, which provides scholarships for nearly 18,000 students from low-income families to attend non-public schools this year. In addition to boosting the formula that increases the number of students allowed to participate in the program each year, the bill removes the requirement to attend public school the year prior to participation for students in grades 1 and 2. It also allows students to take up to two Florida Virtual School courses per school year without reducing their basic FES scholarship amounts.

On second reading in the House, HB 7103 (Education), was amended with an FCCB supported measure that provides dual enrollment equity for private school students. Public and home-school students currently do not have to pay for dual enrollment courses at nearby colleges. The provision would make college more affordable for Florida families by increasing access to dual enrollment courses at state colleges and universities for private high school students. Certain courses would be made available without requiring payment by the family or the student's school. HB 7103 was placed on third reading for Monday, March 9.

On February 26, the FCCB joined lawmakers and parents at a press conference at the state Capitol to encourage passage of HB 1059 (Grall) and SB 1634 (Stargel). These bills would designate the "Parents' Bill of Rights", bringing together in a single statute the various parental rights that currently exist in law. The bill would highlight the role of parents by clearly outlining the rights parents have in the upbringing, education and care of their children. Several legislators spoke on the importance of these bills including the bill sponsors. Representative Erin Grall addressed the value of parental rights in a child's life and believes this is a fight for all families in Florida. Senator Stargel stressed the responsibility of legislators to protect the rights of parents in Florida.

SB 698 (Book) seeks to limit the harm done in the current practice of in vitro fertilization (IVF) by providing a framework to discipline physicians who commit egregious acts. While the Church prohibits the practice of IVF, the FCCB sees value in the intent of the proposal. FCCB is pursuing amendments to better reflect the dignity of human embryos created in this process.

House and Senate committees approved bills that would accelerate growth of the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) program, which provides scholarships for nearly 18,000 students from low-income families to attend non-public schools this year. In addition to boosting the formula that increases the number of students allowed to participate in the program each year, the bills remove the requirement to attend public school the year prior to participation for students in grades 1 and 2. They also allow students to take up to two Florida Virtual School courses per school year without reducing their basic FES scholarship amounts

On February 27, the House Commerce Committee passed (15-8) HB 1265 (Byrd). The bill was amended to require that all public and private employers use either the Department of Homeland Security E-Verify system or the documents required by Form I-9 to determine work eligibility for all new employees. Businesses that choose not to use E-Verify will be precluded from certain state incentives.

Approved by the bishops of Florida, the Election & Political Activities Guide is intended to encourage Catholic clergy and laity to facilitate the involvement of their faith communities in appropriate election-related activities. These efforts are designed to increase parishioners' interest in the policy issues that will characterize election-year debates, focus their attention on candidate positions, and encourage them to exercise their right to vote. The document includes guidelines for parish involvement in political activities and identifies approved and prohibited activities for parishes and ministries.

On Thursday, the Florida House passed SB 404 (75-43). In a press release, the bishops of Florida commended our state legislature for passing, with bipartisan support, legislation that ensures a parent provides consent before a minor can terminate her pregnancy.