April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE

Calling politicians to account


By KATHLEEN LAMANNA- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

If there ever is a patron saint for corrupt politicians, it might well be someone like Fishhooks McCarthy, a political operative from New York City's Lower East Side in the early 1900s, who is best known for the prayer he supposedly said every day when he stopped for Mass at St. James Church in Manhattan: "O Lord, give me health and strength. We'll steal the rest."

Fishhooks may be gone, but his political descendants seem to be thriving today in our state capital, called the most dysfunctional in the country by the Brennan Center at New York University.

Over the past few years, a number of our state politicians have been convicted of various acts of malfeasance. Others may be actively doing things that may not be illegal, but certainly seem to push the boundaries of what is proper.

As someone who once worked in the State Legislature, I am not surprised by the story. While there are many hard-working and dedicated people in government, there also are people who are not the most scrupulous. Sometimes they get caught, but more often, they just get re-elected. Many polls show that people have a low regard for politicians - other politicians - but that they favor the individuals who represent them.

However, history shows us that we should not be so quick to trust, not even when the politicians are people of our own faith. As voters and citizens, we need to put aside our allegiance to religion and partisan politics so that we can consider who the best candidates are, and whether they truly will represent our interests.

Between now and election day, it might be good to contact your state legislators and ask them what they are doing on matters that are of interest to you as Catholic citizens. Do not be satisfied if they say they have sponsored a particular piece of legislation; ask them what they are doing to get it to their respective legislative chamber for a vote. Ask them if they are willing to challenge their legislative leaders if that is what it takes to get a bill to the floor for a vote.

If you get a canned reply from the staff that the legislator appreciates your comments and takes all such input into consideration, do not be put off. Insist on a "yes" or "no" answer.

The events of recent years have shown us that corruption is not limited to one political party or one area of the state, so let us be diligent in watching our politicians as we say a revised version of the prayer said by Fishhooks McCarthy: "O Lord, give me health and strength, and let me make sure that they don't steal the rest."

(Deacon Walter Ayres is assigned to St. Mary's Church in Albany.)

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