Catholic voices, Catholic advocates
Nolan students cheer during a rally at Catholic Advocacy Day on April 1, 2025 at the Capitol. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
AUSTIN — An estimated 2,500 Catholics from across the 16 Catholic dioceses in Texas spoke, listened, prayed, and rallied at the Texas Capitol on April 1 to encourage legislators to pass bills that improve education; promote strong families; provide safe, affordable housing; and protect those on the margins of society.
The majority of the approximately 100 faithful from the Diocese of Fort Worth were students from Nolan Catholic High School, Cassata Catholic High School, and Holy Family Catholic School. Energy levels were high despite their 5:30 a.m. departure from their respective schools.
This year was the first time that seventh and eighth graders from Holy Family attended Catholic Advocacy Day, led by Jan Barker, who has taught for 33 years at the Fort Worth school.
The 16 middle-school students attended a mock hearing, toured the Capitol, and participated in a rally — all before lunch. Led by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, the rally on the Capitol’s front steps promoted several bills prioritized by the TCCB.
Students held signs and chanted as Jennifer Carr Allmon, executive director of the TCCB, gave short summaries of several pieces of legislation.
“Representation is important,” said Barker, “and it’s important to advocate in the right way.” Her students, she explained with a laugh, initially assumed the large assembly would be a protest.
In the afternoon, Barker, a former history teacher, took the Holy Family students to the Bullock Texas State History Museum, followed by a stop for kolaches in West, Texas, before their return to the school at 8:30 p.m.
The full day was an opportunity to strengthen the students’ identities both as Catholics and as Texans. Barker said, “We have deep roots.”
Legislative visits
While most students attended mock hearings, others joined representatives from the diocese and Catholic Charities Fort Worth to visit 26 legislative offices from districts in the Diocese of Fort Worth.
For CCFW President and CEO Michael Iglio, meeting with legislators or their aides was more about “establishing a relationship of trust and community” than locking in a vote for a specific bill.
When legislation about affordable housing or decreasing reliance on government assistance is under consideration, “I would welcome them to talk to me about issues or clarify uncertainties,” said Iglio, emphasizing CCFW’s research-based solutions to eliminating poverty for local individuals and families through long-term case management.
“As an organization that works with tens of thousands of individuals within their communities that they’re representing, we can share with them how [a particular piece of legislation] might impact those they are trying to serve. There is a desire and a need to help those who are more vulnerable, but what they want to accomplish and ultimately how the bill gets written can sometimes be miles apart,” Iglio continued.
An appointment with the office of State Representative Charlie Geren gave legislative aide Benjamin Clements an opportunity to ask his Catholic visitors to explain the Church’s positions on topics in the headlines.
Father Jonathan Wallis, vicar general, gave Clements thorough explanations for the Church’s teaching on immigration and the prohibition of abortion, even for victims of rape or incest. The priest emphasized that the Church takes a “both/and” approach. A secure border and the just, humane treatment of immigrants. The health and healing of the woman and the unborn child.
Healthy collaboration
For those participating in Catholic Advocacy Day, time spent in the Capitol reduces the polarized view of society, suggested Frank Perez, associate superintendent of schools.
That lesson is especially important for students, who may not have life experience beyond a divisive culture.
Perez said meeting with the legislators “who may or may not be on the same political side as their families” benefits students “to see that there’s dialogue that’s happening that can be fruitful.
“If you presume positive intent and you see the good in all, all the folks, despite your point of view — all of us are trying to work towards a greater good. So it's important for our kids to see the adults working that way,” the educator continued.
All the education bills are of particular interest to Perez, not just SB 2 and HB 3, which establish a universal education savings account to provide parents the opportunity to choose private school education. He emphasized, “I’m here to advocate for everybody. This [proposed legislation] is supposed to make education better for everyone … all the kids deserve that.”
More than numbers
About 9 million Texans are Catholic, roughly a third of the state’s growing population.
Those who participated in Catholic Advocacy Day have a special responsibility to speak for those whose voices are unheard.
Bishop Michael Olson said, “It's important for members of the Church to advocate for the common good in society, especially for the poor and those who live on the margins of society, in accord with human dignity.”
Nolan senior Sarah Hornick hopes that speaking with legislators will help them look beyond the numbers and statistics they consider when crafting legislation to see each human person.
“We have to look beyond the numbers and realize we’re defending human dignity. That’s something worth pursuing,” she said.