AUSTIN — Catholics from across Texas spilled into Austin in April for Catholic Advocacy Day, a biennial event during which lawmakers are lobbied on behalf of causes important to the faithful.
A crowd of more than 300 assembled on the south steps of the state capitol with more than 20 bishops that represented the 15 dioceses in Texas assembled on the south steps of the capitol. A particularly large group, including a busload of Catholic school students, attended from the Diocese of Lubbock. Bishop Michael J. Sis led the San Angelo contingent, along with Deacon Freddy Medina, Director of the Diaconate, who organized the trip; three seminarians — Deacon Tim Hayter, Thomas Shows and Kevin Lenius —and deacon candidate Tom Collier and his wife, Pat, of Midland.
Catholics from the diocese visited with four state lawmakers on issues as wideranging as school choice, immigration reform, foster care and adoption reform, healthcare, abortion and payday lending. State representatives Tom Craddick of Midland; Drew Darby of San Angelo, and Stan Lambert, of Abilene, met with the San Angelo group. A representative from Brooks Landgraf’s office answered questions on behalf of the Odessa lawmaker who was not in attendance for the group’s visit.
“I think we had all of our questions answered,” said Bishop Michael J. Sis. “But we did not always agree with the answers we received. It’s quite common for elected state officials to share our perspective on some bills, but disagree with us on others. We are not their only constituents.”
“When we make our voices heard, we can make a difference,” Bishop Sis said. “It takes lots of hard work and persistence, but we can actually influence the outcome of state laws. For example, in the legislative session of 2015, our promotion of pro-life bills made a major impact on the state's landmark legislation in favor of the rights of the unborn.”
Three weeks after Advocacy Day, the Texas Senate voted to approve SB 4, which will punish local police officers if they do not fully cooperate with detainer requests issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops had lobbied vigorously for the bill’s defeat. SB 4 would also allow local peace officers to inquire into the legal status of people who are arrested or detained.
Bishop Sis said passage of the bill shows a continuing need for the federal government to take concrete steps to repair the nation’s broken immigration system.
Bishop Sis called Advocacy Day a good example of the democratic process in action. Although he deemed the day an overall success, he expressed a desire to have more attend from the Diocese of San Angelo on the next Advocacy Day in 2019.
Added Deacon Medina: “I believe we make a difference on Advocacy Day. Even if it just planting a seed with the representative or staff members that will grow and edify them to see the TCCB's position in a more positive light that some day may bring forth changes.”