Five Things To Remember On July 17

1. Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha, Nebraska, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Catholic Education, applauded recent action by the Senate and the House to reauthorize the Elementary Secondary and Education Act (ESEA). The Senate passed the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177), July 16. The House of Representatives passed the Student Success Act (HR 5), July 8. Both bills contain significant improvements for providing equitable services for students and teachers in religious, private and independent schools.

2. Join today's Call To Prayer at http://usccb.org/pray

3. In case you missed it: The bishops chairing two committees of the USCCB renewed the bishops’ opposition to the death penalty in a message, July 16. The message commemorated the 10th anniversary of the bishops’ Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty and their accompanying message, “A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death.”

4. Catholic News Service has a fun piece on how to greet and understand Pope Francis, based off his recent visit to South America. The pope will be in the U.S. this September.

5. God loves you.