Bishop's Interview: Christ is with us as we usher in a new year

Editor: Bishop, it’s a new year. There are high expectations for 2021. Are you ready for it?
Bishop Vásquez: Yes, I am! 2020 was extremely challenging for our nation and our whole world. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause so much suffering – people have died, many have been seriously ill and people have lost their jobs. Family and friends have been isolated and been unable to see their loved ones for months on end. Also our country has faced social unrest regarding racism and the presidential election. Even though all of this is true, as Christians, we remain a people of hope because our hope is in Jesus Christ. We have our Catholic faith, and we know that even in the midst of all these difficulties and problems and challenges, we are not abandoned. As he promised us, Christ is with us and will be with us until the end of time.

Editor: Let’s talk about some of the hot topics right now. First of all, we have a new president. What are your hopes for the next four years?
Bishop Vásquez: First as Americans, let us pray for our president that he will lead with justice and work for the common good. I pray we as bishops of this country will be able to work with our president regarding matters of high importance. The issue of life is greatly important to me as a bishop and to the bishops of this country. Our Catholic faith asks us to defend human life from conception until natural death. We know the present administration may have different opinions on life issues, so we must continue to clearly articulate our views about the sacredness of all human life.
We also want to work with the new administration on issues such as immigration, health care and ending systemic racism. As a church we must hold our public officials accountable for the policies and laws they enact which should always seek to establish the common good.
Too often our politicians become entrenched in partisan rhetoric, but it is essential that they work together for the good of our nation. My hope is that the new president and the Congress will be able to get things accomplished for the good of the people.

Editor: Secondly, Pope Francis recently installed as Cardinal Archbishop Wilton Gregory. What does this mean for the church in the U.S.?
Bishop Vásquez: Pope Francis recognizes Cardinal Gregory as a dedicated bishop who loves the Catholic faith and who is an excellent leader in our church. Cardinal Gregory leads the Archdiocese of Washington D.C., which is a prominent see because it is the capital of our country. Also he is African American, and the first black bishop in our country to be appointed to the College of Cardinals. His love for the church is well known and he has served the church in the U.S. with great distinction. I believe he is a great blessing for our nation and for our church.

Editor: There are now coronavirus vaccines available. What are your thoughts on this?
Bishop Vásquez: Several vaccines have been developed to inoculate us from COVID-19. For a year, our nation has suffered from this pandemic, and I am hopeful that receiving the vaccine will protect us from this virus. Eventually, this will help us feel more comfortable with going to work, sending children to school, and visiting our loved ones who are ill or in nursing homes. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has reviewed the vaccines and has determined that it is morally permissible to receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. For more information on the vaccines, see this Message to the Faithful.
Meanwhile, the diocese will continue to implement the protocols that we have in place to ensure everyone’s safety and health in our parishes and schools. We want to make sure that our priests are healthy and safe, and we want to make sure that our people who come to celebrate the sacraments are healthy and safe. I am extremely proud of our priests and our people as they have diligently followed these protocols for their own good and for the well-being of others.

Editor: The Texas legislature meets this year as well. What are the Texas bishops hoping to see from this legislative session?
Bishop Vásquez: Once again, I ask our Catholic faithful to join me in praying for our legislators. We want our civic leaders to enact laws that are just. The issue of life is preeminent – we must work to end abortion at the state level and continue to defend the rights and lives of the unborn. We must speak for them because they have no voice.
We also want to work with the state government on the availability of health care, on ending the death penalty, on caring for the poor and vulnerable and on serving our immigrant populations. Our government is called to serve for the good of the people. It’s not about serving the good of a particular party or the good of a politician, but it’s about the good of the people. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops will monitor legislation and evaluate proposed legislation according to the tenets of Catholic social teaching. Visit the TCCB website at txcatholic.org for legislative priorities and positions on upcoming legislation.

Editor: What is your prayer for the new year?
Bishop Vásquez: God, our Father, we look to you, the source of all goodness, to renew our faith and fill our hearts with joy. Even in the midst of difficulties, we know your Son Jesus is with us. We are confident that he will be with us always. May the Holy Spirit guide our church into the future filled with hope and continue to lead us to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we strive to build up his kingdom. Amen.