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The annual Florida Culture of Life Conference, formerly known as the state Respect Life Conference, keeps with Church teaching that all human life has dignity and is to be protected. This year's conference, hosted by the Diocese of Palm Beach, will be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the COVID pandemic, volunteers have largely been unable to visit the imprisoned since mid-March. As of August 12, the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) reports 12,988 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and 70 inmates have died due to the coronavirus. 1,866 DOC staff members, including Secretary Mark Inch and Deputy Secretary Ricky Dixon, have also tested positive. We invite you to pray this COVID-19 prayer of solidarity for all of them.

TALLAHASSEE, FL (July 29, 2020) – Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) is pleased to announce that Michael T. (“Mike”) Barrett, Esq. has joined the staff as an associate for education. Barrett serves as a professional resource person for the FCCB in education matters; coordinates, monitors and advocates issues relating to government programs affecting Florida Catholic schools, their administrators, faculty, and pupils; and represents Catholic education at the state level in Florida and in coordination with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at the federal level. He represents the FCCB with the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (FAANS) and maintains relationships with various school-choice organizations and special needs groups.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops thanks Governor Ron DeSantis for signing into law SB 404, a bill that requires parental consent before a minor has an abortion. This common-sense measure simply holds abortion to the same consent requirements as most every other medical decision involving a child, including simple interventions such as taking an aspirin or getting ears pierced.

On June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, upholding a tax-credit scholarship program in Montana. The Montana Supreme Court invalidated the program as a violation of the "Blaine Amendment" against aid to religious schools in its state constitution, because families benefiting include those who choose to send their children to religiously-affiliated schools.

The U.S. Department of Justice has scheduled three executions to take place over a five-day span beginning on July 13. A fourth has been scheduled for the end of August. The four men scheduled to be executed are: Daniel Lee on July 13; Wesley Purkey on July 15; Dustin Honken on July 17; and Keith Nelson on Aug. 28.

Within the span of a month, the Holy Father named two Florida priests to serve as bishops. Bishop-Elect David L.Toups & Bishop-Elect Stephen Parkes

A new episode of Catholics Across the Aisle: Commentary on Public Policy and Civic Life is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. In this episode, Executive Director Michael Sheedy discusses the 2020 legislative session with Ken Kniepmann, associate for health, and James Herzog, former associate director for education. They cover a variety of topics ranging from health care to Catholic education and schools.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops thanks Governor Ron DeSantis for signing into law today SB 404, a bill that requires parental consent before a minor has an abortion. This common-sense measure simply holds abortion to the same consent requirements as most every other medical decision involving a child, including simple interventions such as taking an aspirin or getting ears pierced.

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law several bills engaged by the FCCB during the 2020 legislative session:

Governor Ron DeSantis has until the end of June to sign the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The budget was passed by the legislature in an extended session that concluded on March 19. Due to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, significant line item vetoes by Governor DeSantis are anticipated. The FCCB has sent the governor correspondence urging budgeted allocations be maintained for the following three key areas:

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a podcast under the name of Catholics Across the Aisle: Commentary on Public Policy and Civic Life. On this podcast, the FCCB seeks to bring a non-partisan, moral voice to the public dialogue on key policy issues of the day and assist listeners to become educated and active participants in civic life.

Beginning June 22, the Feast of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, the U.S. Catholic Church celebrates Religious Freedom Week. The annual celebration concludes on June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. Join us in promoting religious freedom "For the Good of All," which has been selected as this year's theme.

The U.S. Bishops, "...unequivocally state that racism is a life issue" (Open Wide Our Hearts, 2018). Tragically, the murder of George Floyd and so many other people of color like him shakes all of us into confronting that the dehumanization of black and brown people continues today.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was implemented in 2012. Approximately 700,000 people who were brought to the U.S. as children are DACA recipients. After having paid a fee and submitting to a background check, this status allows them the opportunity to work legally and access educational opportunities without fear of deportation. DACA recipients alone contribute over $42 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Many of them have been working on the frontline of the COVID response in healthcare, transportation, and warehousing industries.

In a May 20 letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, asked the governor to consider the needs of students in Catholic schools as he decides how to use emergency funding awarded to state governors' offices to meet the needs of students and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27.In a May 20 letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, asked the governor to consider the needs of students in Catholic schools as he decides how to use emergency funding awarded to state governors' offices to meet the needs of students and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27.In a May 20 letter to Governor Ron DeSantis, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, asked the governor to consider the needs of students in Catholic schools as he decides how to use emergency funding awarded to state governors' offices to meet the needs of students and schools impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27.

Scholarships are available to assist with Catholic school tuition for families facing financial difficulties and whose financial situations may have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families may qualify for a Step Up for Students scholarship to send their child to a K-12 Catholic school in Florida. For example, a family of four that makes less than $78,600 annually may qualify. Two income-based scholarships are available: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and Family Empowerment Scholarship. Both scholarships give students an option to find the best schools to meet their K-12 learning needs. For more information, see a video message from Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach and FCCB education moderator and visit the website of Step Up For Students.

In March, the U.S. Census Bureau mailed official notices to every household requesting participation in the 2020 Census. With an online option for the first time, as well as mail and phone options, the survey has never been easier. It only takes a few minutes to complete.

This month, Bishop Felipe Estévez of St. Augustine released a pastoral letter to the faithful of his diocese. The 20-page document is entitled, Standing Up for the Dignity of all Human Life: A Pastoral Letter on Capital Punishment in Florida, and it addresses the teachings of the Church about the intrinsic value and God-given dignity of every human life from conception until natural death.

Confronted with the challenges of the coronavirus, the bishops of Florida have been meeting weekly via video conference to discuss how to continue the mission of the Church while also protecting the health and well-being of the faithful and the broader community. As of March 20, each of Florida's bishops had made the difficult decision to suspend publicly-attended Masses and parish gatherings.