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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 566
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in |
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welcoming a visiting delegation of 4,000 Catholics and their |
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Bishops from the 15 Roman Catholic Dioceses of Texas and in |
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saluting the Catholic Ministries of Texas for their service to |
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Texans of all walks of life, especially the most vulnerable in |
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our state; and |
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WHEREAS, The Catholic Bishops of Texas shepherd and serve |
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the 8.4 million Catholics in the 15 Dioceses of Texas by |
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providing nourishment for their body, soul, and spirit and |
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tirelessly advocating for the common good; and |
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WHEREAS, Catholic Respect Life programs offer services to |
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women facing crisis pregnancies, save the lives of thousands of |
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new Texans every year, and provide ongoing assistance for these |
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families; and |
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WHEREAS, Catholic Charities ministries, present in more |
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than 20 locations in Texas, as well as hundreds of parish-based |
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social ministries, including the Society of Saint Vincent de |
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Paul, extend to persons of all races, religions, and |
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socioeconomic backgrounds the healing power of faith, as well as |
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tangible assistance, with the goal of helping them reach |
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self-sufficiency; and |
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WHEREAS, Catholic schools, which emphasize moral |
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development, service to others, stewardship, and leadership |
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skills, are a valuable source of education, grounded in faith, |
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for over 70,000 Texas students; and |
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WHEREAS, Catholic religious education programs provide |
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religious instruction and formation to more than 384,000 |
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Catholic children and their parents and families, and they teach |
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Catholics to reflect upon the role that each person plays, by |
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virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to |
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the Gospel; and |
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WHEREAS, Catholic Family Life Ministries provide marriage |
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preparation and education to engaged couples, support marriage |
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enrichment programs, and provide support for families throughout |
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Texas in order to strengthen and nurture their relationships; and |
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WHEREAS, Catholic chaplains provide pastoral care and |
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reaffirm the dignity of those who are incarcerated in our prisons |
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and jails; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby extend a warm welcome to the members of the |
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Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops delegation on the occasion |
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of Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day at the State Capitol and |
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commendallthoseassociatedwiththeseministriesfortheir |
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ongoing efforts to promote the dignity of all human life from |
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conception to natural death and for providing valuable services |
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throughout our state, especially to the most vulnerable; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops as an expression of high |
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regard from the Texas Senate. |
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Lucio |
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| Bettencourt |
Huffman |
Uresti |
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| Hinojosa |
Menéndez |
Zaffirini |
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Patrick, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 4, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |