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Maryann Telesh, a 16-year-old parishioner of St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park, summed up the goal of the annual lobby day at the State Capitol for Catholics from across New York State.

"I care about basic human rights and human compassion," the Shenendehowa High School student told The Evangelist March 20 before joining her youth group to petition Sen. Hugh Farley on political issues. "[I want] to advocate for those who can't, to get more programs in place for them.

"I like that I'm missing a day of school, but I love the opportunity I have here to learn more and share experiences," she added. "It's a civil responsibility for people to be involved, to understand what's going on so they can advocate their own points [and] make better decisions."

Other Catholics from the Albany Diocese echoed the teen's sentiments as they joined nearly 1,000 faithful from throughout the state to meet with representatives in the State Assembly and Senate.

On the agenda
The New York State Catholic Conference, which advocates on behalf of the state's bishops on public policy concerns, prioritized stopping Gov. Andrew Cuomo's yet-to-be released abortion bill, which the Catholic Conference says would expand abortion and threaten religious liberty.

The state's bishops - without New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who was still in Rome after the papal conclave - met with Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders ahead of the lobbying day to advocate against the abortion bill and in favor of:

•  fair funding for Catholic schools,

•  increased funding for affordable housing,

•  health reform that does not hurt the poor and

•  humane treatment for incarcerated individuals.

Housing needs
Dina Kannes, who came to the lobby day from Sacred Heart parish in Castleton, had affordable housing on her mind early in the day.

"Housing is awfully expensive - and rentals, too," Mrs. Kannes said. "I take care of the bills in my household, and if I had to pay rent, too, forget about it. I think Cuomo's on the right track by not raising taxes, but rentals should be lowered. You need a roof over your head, and if you have a home, I think other things would fall into [place]."

The Catholic Conference asserts that funding of federal housing programs has not kept pace with demand and that the state should play a role in developing funding. In her keynote address, Kim Daniels of Catholic Voices USA told lobby day participants, "A society that doesn't make housing a priority is falling down on its responsibility to the common good."

Abortion bill
Mrs. Daniels also spoke about the state's plans for abortion expansion, which opponents say would undermine maternity and prenatal care programs, repeal a requirement that only licensed physicians can perform abortions and allow more late-term abortions.

"Women facing crisis pregnancies need actual material support that convinces them help is available," the speaker argued. "The Reproductive Health Act seeks to solve a problem that doesn't exist."

Sheila Blasch of St. Madeleine Sophie parish in Guilderland was appalled by "the Governor's attempt to kind of bury that legislation in the Women's Equality Act.

"[The Reproductive Health Act] has been around for years. The Legislature's never acted on it because it's bad law," she countered. "For the Governor to want to promote more abortion doesn't make sense. Abortion is not good for women; it doesn't improve their lives."

Ms. Blasch counsels women seeking abortions when she protests outside the Planned Parenthood site in Schenectady.

"Women don't forget that they were pregnant," she said. "You can only end a pregnancy; you can't undo it. [Gov Cuomo is] not thinking about women and he's not thinking about children."

Maria Mullin of St. Joseph's parish in Troy spoke to Assemblyman John McDonald about the abortion bill; she said he was "generous with his time" and told her he was undecided on the issue.

"All abortions, late-term or not, have tremendous psychological or even physical consequences," Mrs. Mullin told him, giving the example of a 29-year-old woman who died after an abortion in New Rochelle last month. "Every woman deserves the right to give birth to her child. She deserves to be supported."

Mercy for prisoners
Other participants championed for causes that attract a lot less attention. For example, Helmut Neurohr of St. Ambrose parish in Latham met with a member of Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell's staff to discuss the humane treatment of incarcerated individuals and show support for the legislator's proposal to allow "geriatric parole" for certain prisoners over the age of 60.

Mr. Neurohr says this program would save the state up to $150,000 in medical costs per person: "It's going to be more responsible to have somebody treated for illnesses outside of prison. And they'd probably get better treatment. In prisons, people are considered numbers rather than human beings."

Mr. Neurohr added that non-violent felons should enter rehabilitative tracking programs as alternatives to incarceration. "They could possibly learn things to do and become productive citizens rather than a drain on society," he said.

Medicaid reform
Three men from Our Lady of Victory parish in Troy met with Sen. Kathleen Marchione's staff to fight for a just redesign of Medicaid that does not diminish the quality of care. One member of the group, Joseph Burke II, uses Medicaid for costs associated with tremors and double vision.

A special pair of glasses he was recently prescribed would have cost him $900 without the insurance, and his medications would cost thousands of dollars a year.

"I'm afraid if the government keeps cutting back, I will lose my benefits," Mr. Burke said. "They're cutting back onto the poor. They think that we don't have a voice, and we do. I hope that they will strengthen the Medicaid and not cut it.

"I'm thankful that I [have Medicaid], but there are many that don't," he added.

Deacon Brian Lewis from Our Lady of Victory took the opportunity to thank Sen. Marchione for her opposition to the Reproductive Health Act: "I went there to let her know the majority of members of my parish support her stance. It's just as important to affirm when our legislators do something we support."[[In-content Ad]]

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