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The future of Catholic schools is weighing heavily on the minds of Catholics in New York State - and Conor Genovesi and Ben Valentine want to tell their legislators about it.

"Youths need to be more involved in the community," Ben said. "If there are good schools, they'll be more involved."

The two teenagers from St. Paul the Apostle parish in Schenectady attended the annual Public Policy Day at the State Capitol in Albany on March 9.

They, along with more than 1,000 others, participated in workshops and visited state lawmakers to lobby on issues of concern. The event is sponsored by the New York State Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's bishops.

A group of administrators from St. Mary/St. Alphonsus School in Glens Falls and Christ the King School in Albany knew what they wanted to ask for: full reimbursement for the costs Catholic schools incur in complying with state mandates. In all, about $243 million is missing.

"It's an issue of justice," explained Kate Fowler, principal at the Glens Falls school.

"It's really driving costs up," agreed Rose Meehan, a junior from Catholic Central High School in Troy.

Administrators from Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady were pushing for state funding vouchers to promote school choice. They support Catholic schools because of the safe environment and because family values are taught.

Participants hoped to lobby legislators on several other social justice issues:

• opposition to the "Repro-ductive Health Act," which would legalize all abortions in the state;

• support for poor families, including affordable housing, job training and sufficient transportation;

• ensuring care for elderly and disabled;

• support for successful post-incarceration community re-entry; and

• restoration of funding for the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation.

Danielle Audette, a junior at CCHS, was concerned about the proposed abortion bill, which could legalize even partial-birth abortions. She wanted to see pro-life organizations receive funding because "even pro-choice people should support a mother wanting to keep her baby."

Supporters of the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation said cuts there would undermine the pro-life cause, too. The state used to give $1.2 million in grants to 31 pro-life organizations that provide care to 5,600 teenage, poor or single mothers.

One such organization is Community Maternity Services, an Albany Catholic Charities agency that serves young, unmarried and pregnant mothers in high-need areas with alternatives to abortion. The annual Bishops' Appeal campaign brings in about $50,000, but this is only partial funding for a six-person staff.

There is no local funding, and counties will not pick up the costs, said Gen Overholt, program director. The organization will lose $133,000 if funding is cut.

"Who's going to help these kids if we're not here?" asked Mrs. Overholt. Clients, she said, look for help if their baby is sick, they were expelled from school or they need help preparing for a job interview.

A reduction in funding won't change that, she said: "The kids won't know that. They'll still come banging down the door saying, 'Why aren't you here to help me?'"

CMS representatives said they help the state financially because clients are kept healthy, off of public assistance and out of foster care. Administrator Penny Szumowski and volunteer Anne Marie Couser met with Sen. Neil Breslin and Assemblyman Marc Butler.

Some Catholics came more for the experience than the chance to lobby. "We're looking at this as a learning experience," some parishioners from St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar told The Evangelist.

Pam Seward, Judi Doody and Maureen Cahill looked forward to a special Mass at the lobby day with Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, as well as workshops on Catholic social teaching.

They wanted to bring back knowledge to fellow parishioners and encourage them to join the parish's public policy committee. They brought letters from parishioners to lawmakers on reducing poverty.

Sister Jean Davis, O.Carm., of Germantown, also came for the liturgy, as well as a speech from the president of Catholic Charities USA on its campaign to reduce poverty.

"It's important for us to come together and share our thoughts on where Catholic ministry is heading," said Sister Jean, "and where it is going in the future."

(03/11/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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