Catholics gearing up for lobby day

"Energized" is an oft-repeated word by organizers of this year's Public Policy Forum at the State Capitol.

The March 14 event, with more than 1,200 Catholics from across New York State gathering to lobby lawmakers, will build on excitement generated by Gov. George Pataki's recent budget proposal of education tax credits for families in poorly performing school districts. Proponents, including Catholics, have called the tax credits "a historic move for the school choice movement."

The annual forum is sponsored by the New York State Catholic Conference, which advocates for the state's bishops on legislative issues.

Keynoter

The keynote at this year's general assembly will be given by Rev. James Goode, OFM, director of Solid Ground Ministry, a New York City-based Franciscan ministry to African-American families that addresses social justice issues.

Dennis Poust, director of communications for the Catholic Conference, called him "a very energizing speaker" who is sure to enthuse attendees.

A record number of youth are expected to attend the forum; they are nearly a third of those registered so far. Mr. Poust noted that, with such a huge turnout, the Catholic Conference is considering creating a separate lobby day for young people.

Issues in focus

Participants at the forum will speak with their Assembly members and Senators on five targeted issues:

* approving education tax credits for parents in religious, independent and public schools;

* promoting ethical stem-cell research, and banning embryonic stem-cell research and cloning;

* passing "Timothy's Law" to ensure equity in insurance coverage for mental illness and substance abuse treatment;

* ensuring access to health care for the poor; and

* continuing to reform the Rockefeller-era drug sentencing laws.

Education

Mr. Poust stated that Gov. Pataki "acted very boldly" in including education tax credits in the 2006 executive budget. Long seen as a "Republican, anti-public-school issue," he said, tax credits have now become popular with Democrats in both the Assembly and the Senate.

The Catholic Conference hopes to see passage of a bill such as that proposed by Sen. Martin Golden and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, which would provide a more substantial credit and apply to families in all school districts.

But, "right now, we're focusing on the Governor's bill, because that's what's in the budget," said Mr. Poust. "We want to make sure the Governor's proposal does not get cut out of the budget. Then we'll push for an expansion."

Drug laws

Catholic lobbyists have been encouraged by efforts in the State Legislature over the past two years to reform the New York's Rockefeller-era drug sentencing laws, which mandated harsh sentences for minor drug offenses and didn't have enough options for treatment for addicts.

Two areas still need reform, Mr. Poust told The Evangelist: greater judicial discretion in sentencing and increased funding for treatment.

"Without those two elements, we really can't say reform has been reached," he stated. "Justice is not 'one size fits all.' Judges must have the ability to make the distinction between a non-violent drug addict and a kingpin who preys on children."

Addicts, he said, would be better served by being sent to treatment facilities, helping them to overcome their addiction and become productive members of society.

"Let's finish the job," he said of reform.

Stem cells/cloning

Proposals by the State Assembly to spend $300 million on embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning, and by Gov. Pataki to create a $200 million biotechnology/biomedical research facility in New York State, have raised concern among Catholics.

Mr. Poust said the Catholic Conference has responded to the Governor's proposal with "cautious optimism," since it doesn't specifically mention stem-cell research, and that he hopes those in charge of grant funding for such research will "take into account the dignity of human life."

Forum participants will urge more funding for ethically acceptable adult stem-cell research and umbilical cord blood research.

Healthcare

Health benefits for low-income New Yorkers are "a basic human right," said Mr. Poust, but the Governor's budget would cut both the Medicaid and Family Health Plus programs.

Forum attendees will lobby lawmakers to increase, rather than decrease, state funding for these programs in order to make it easier for low-income individuals and families to enroll, and to do more outreach to identify New Yorkers in need of free or low-cost health coverage.

Timothy's Law

Catholics who attend the Public Policy Forum "become very passionate" about advocating for passage of Timothy's Law, according to Mr. Poust.

The law was named for Timothy O'Clair of Schenectady, who committed suicide in 2001 just before his 13th birthday after not getting the mental health treatment he needed.

"His parents' insurance company cut off payments for his treatment, because most insurance plans do not treat mental health the same as physical health," Mr. Poust explained. "There are thousands of New Yorkers who need [mental health or substance abuse] treatment, but their insurance won't cover it."

Timothy's Law would require parity in coverage for mental health and chemical dependence services with coverage for physical illness.

Liturgy

Mr. Poust noted that a special liturgy at the lobby day, concelebrated by Cardinal Edward Egan of the Archdiocese of New York City and the bishops of New York's other dioceses, remains popular with attendees.

This year, the choir from Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady will sing at the Mass. (The children's choir from St. Casimir's Regional School in Albany will sing at a morning prayer service.)

"For many, [the Mass] is the highlight of the day," Mr. Poust said.

(To register for the Public Policy Forum, go to the New York State Catholic Conference's website, www.nyscatholic.org, or call diocesan Catholic Charities at 453-6650. During the forum, retired Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Sullivan of the Brooklyn Diocese will receive the New York State Catholic Conference's award for exemplary service. He spent much of his ministry in Catholic health care and human services, and was active on the Catholic Conference's public policy committee.)

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