Catholics lobby for issues at Capitol

"Is this the Catholic policy day?" asked a parking attendant, marveling at the cars streaming into the Empire State Plaza's parking garage on March 13. "I'm Catholic; I should go! I will!"

The annual Public Policy Forum at the State Capitol drew more than 1,000 Catholics to Albany from all of New York State's eight dioceses. They spent the day lobbying lawmakers on seven areas of concern:

* enacting Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposed tuition tax deductions for families with children in religious and independent schools;

* opposing taxpayer funding for human cloning and embryonic stem-cell research;

* expanding supports for low-income working families;

* increasing access to health care for low-income New Yorkers;

* expanding education and treatment programs in the criminal justice system;

* ending human trafficking and supporting its victims; and

* supporting the freedom of religious health and human service providers in operating without violating their religious conscience.

Buttonholes

The halls of the Convention Center at the Capitol were filled to bursting with participants wearing bright-red buttons reading, "Catholic voter."

Seated in a morning briefing session with fellow students, high-school junior Adrienne Zacaroli of Our Lady Queen of Apostles parish in Frankfort wasn't old enough to vote, but that didn't stop her from trying "to make a difference in what goes on in the state."

Adrienne, whose group was scheduled to meet with Senator Neil Breslin, had been upset to learn about the struggles of New York's uninsured residents.

"The process is so hard for them," she complained of complex recertification requirements for people on Medicaid, Child Health Plus or Family Health Plus to keep their insurance. "Technology has come along; they should try to make it easier."

Helping clients

Keith Brown of diocesan Catholic Charities' AIDS Services planned to lobby for streamlining the recertification process, as well. One major responsibility of AIDS Services staff is to help clients through the process, he explained; but, even with help, clients still find it overwhelming.

"It's extremely burdensome," he told The Evangelist. Documentation like proof of residency or statements from a landlord "is not stuff [people] have sitting around," and the time it takes to assemble it is time low-income families go without health benefits.

Speaking out

"What's important is that you communicate your message," B.J. Costello of diocesan Catholic Charities urged all forum participants from the Albany Diocese. "Do not be discouraged; this is a time of hope."

Panelist Meg Bergh addressed the group about that hope: specifically, the hope that Catholic influence would counter Gov. Spitzer's plan to fund embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning in New York State. She chairs the diocesan Family Life Office.

"We oppose any means of taking one life for another. It's that simple," she stated, noting that Catholics do advocate stem-cell research using adult stem cells: "We support the research of ethical means."

Being heard

Her message rang true for Mary Andrade of St. Matthew's parish in Voorheesville. As someone who works with respect life ministry on the parish level, she said, "I see the stem-cell issue as fundamental."

Ms. Andrade had attended two prior lobby days at the Capitol to make the Catholic voice heard on life issues, including a gathering of Feminists for Life.

People need to protect "our children, babies, fetuses," she said.

Prisoners

For Anne Narciso of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany, persons in other dire circumstances were the focus. She was selected to speak with a legislator on treatment programs for those in the criminal justice system, instead of incarceration.

Previously a prison chaplain for the Albany Diocese at the Great Meadow and Coxsackie Correctional facilities, she now works with the families of those in prison.

Having seen the connection between mental illness and involvement in the criminal justice system, she approved of the forum's agenda item advocating "transitional, rehabilitative and community-based reintegration programs for ex-offenders."

Press conference

In a meeting room down the hall, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese addressed the media on the same issue.

"The Governor has actually proposed to increase spending in a number of very positive areas, such as for expansion and enhancement of mental health services, substance abuse treatment, vocational development, residential stabilization programs and re-entry transition and alternatives-to-incarceration programs," he noted.

He added: "We urge the Legislature to continue to invest in these necessary services."

Health care

Bishop Hubbard also spoke on an issue he termed "more philosophical, but no less critical": the right of religious-affiliated health and human service institutions to operate in accord with their religious conscience.

He said that bills currently in the State Legislature would, if passed, require Catholic healthcare facilities to make direct referrals for procedures like abortion and inhibit Catholic facilities' ability to affiliate with non-Catholic ones.

"Works of charity are not optional for Catholics, but a necessary component in achieving our salvation," he stated. "The Legislature has given itself the power to effectively close down our ministries by creating obstacles to providing services we may not overcome. We urge them to refrain from doing so."

'Opportunity'

Joining Bishop Hubbard at the forum's press conference were Cardinal Edward Egan of the Archdiocese of New York; Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, executive director of Albany diocesan Catholic Charities; and Edward Mechmann, chair of the diocesan Respect Life directors of New York State.

Cardinal Egan called the forum "a great opportunity to share some of our concerns that effect both government and Church -- and, indeed, the entire population of New York."

In particular, he applauded Gov. Spitzer's plan to offer families of students in non-public schools a small tuition tax credit. While he admitted incredulity at having to plead for a $50-$80 tax break, he called the proposed credit "at least a statement of a beginning."

Cardinal Egan called charter schools "untested," as opposed to Catholic schools, which have "virtually a 100 percent graduation" rate in New York State. Parents, he said, need the chance to choose their children's schools: "Can you imagine the Empire State of New York denying parents the opportunity to give their children the essentials?"

Transition

Another necessary avenue for low-income families, said Sister Maureen, is expansion of supportive services to help them transition from welfare to work.

She advocated for increased child care, housing, health care, transportation, education and training programs for working families.

"Simply moving people off the [welfare] rolls should not be our overriding public policy issue," she declared; but self-sufficiency can only be achieved through "education, training and supports" that will help struggling families "share in the American dream."

Sister Maureen also encouraged legislation to end human trafficking in New York State, and support the 45,000-50,000 women and children who fall victim to traffickers in the U.S. each year. New York City, she pointed out, is "a major port of call for this shadowy industry," and victims need "services, support and sanctuary" in escaping and starting over.

As the press conference concluded, hundreds of forum participants were beginning to gather in the Convention Center for a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Egan and concelebrated by the bishops of New York State.

(The Public Policy Forum was sponsored by the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishops in matters of public policy.)

(3/15/07) [[In-content Ad]]