A call to advocacy for Catholic school inclusion in HEROES ACT funding
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., shared the following message May 14 to all members of the diocesan community: Today, the Bishops of NJ and I learned that the House Democrats released The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, the fourth phase of economic stimulus relief or CARES 4.
H.R.6800 includes several provisions that would protect, and even expand, funding for programs that Congress established in the last CARES Act, such as an extension of unemployment benefits until January 31, 2021, expansion of the SBA payroll protection program loans to include all nonprofits regardless of size, and increased funding for the Supplemental Nutrition assistance program. However, unlike the previous CARES Act, H.R.6800 WOULD PROHIBIT NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDING OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON FROM ACCESSING ANY PORTION OF THE PROPOSED $200 BILLION INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION FOR EDUCATION.
Our Catholic schools struggle to stay open as it is, and the pandemic will impact them negatively as our neighboring dioceses in New Jersey have revealed. Please visit njcatholic.org/faith-in-action or click here to contact our New Jersey Senators and Congressmen using the message template there. We need to work quickly to ask their support. Thank you and God bless you in these stressful days.
Respectfully yours in the Lord, Bishop O’Connell
VISIT THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON WEBSITE
Follow this link to see what’s new in our diocese – http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org
UPDATE FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Catholic Charities is fully operational at a heightened state of precaution, accommodating social distancing. To access our services or learn how the changes affect our clients via the internet type Https://www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/catholic-charities-coronovirus-pandemic/ or call our Help Line 1-800-360-7711
New Jersey Independent Victims Compensation Program
The Diocese of Trenton – along with the other Roman Catholic dioceses in New Jersey – has established an Independent Victim Compensation Program (IVCP) to compensate those who, as minors, were sexually abused by a priest or deacon of the Diocese. The IVCP is now open to claims.
The IVCP is independently administered by experienced victim compensation experts Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros. Mr. Feinberg was the plan administrator for the Federal 9/11 victim compensation program, as well as the Boston Marathon bombing compensation program.
The IVCP will handle the submission, evaluation and resolution of individual claims, and will operate independently of the Diocese or any Church-affiliated institution. The administrators of the IVCP will have complete autonomy to determine the eligibility of a claim with the guidelines of the established Protocol. The amount of compensation for those who make a claim will be determined by the IVCP administrators. All victims – no matter when the abuse occurred – are eligible to participate, and all matters will be handled confidentially.
Victims of clergy sexual abuse of a minor can begin the process of utilizing the program by going to www.njdiocesesivcp.com and reviewing the Protocol for submitting a claim.
Anyone who was sexually victimized as a minor by a priest or deacon of the Diocese is strongly encouraged to participate in the IVCP. The Diocese also asks that anyone who knows of someone who was abused to pass along this information to the victim so that he or she is aware of the IVCP.
Diocese of Trenton
THE UPPER ROOM
The Upper Room, Neptune, sponsored by the Diocese of Trenton, offers many programs. For info, go to
www.facebook.com/upperroomspiritualcenter. Then click on the Like button.
DVD of Bishop’s O’Connell’s Episcopal ordination
A professionally produced DVD of Bishop O’Connell’s Episcopal ordination, complete with both English and Spanish language commentary, is now available to purchase. The cost is $14.99. Call the “Monitor” office at the Diocese of Trenton, 609-406-7400 or go to the website www.trentonmonitor.com