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It's understandable that New York State has to balance its budget, but state lawmakers need to reevaluate which programs need cutting, Catholic leaders are saying as they prepare for their annual Public Policy Day, to be held March 9 at the state Capitol in Albany.

For example, poor families need access to affordable housing and childcare in order to become contributing members of society, said Dennis Poust, communications director for the New York State Catholic Conference.

The Catholic Conference is the public policy arm of the state's bishops.

Released prison inmates need access to vocational training, education and drug treatment to prevent recidivism, Mr. Poust continued. These types of assistance will save the state money, he said.

"Those with the least shouldn't suffer the most," said Mr. Poust, offering another example: proposed "draconian" funding cuts to hospitals and nursing homes.

This year, the economy dominates issues to be raised at the Public Policy Day. More than 1,000 Catholics are expected to attend, participating in workshops and talks and then visiting their representatives in the State Assembly and Senate to lobby on issues of concern.

On the issue of education, lobbyists aim for equality between public schools and non-public schools, said Sister Jane Herb, IHM, diocesan superintendent of the Catholic schools.

She rattled off the issues: Public schools should receive the same budget cuts that non-public schools receive. If state reimbursements to non-public schools are reduced, so should those at public schools. And faith-based schools should be a choice for parents of children at public schools, just as charter and magnet schools are a choice.

At the same time, Catholic leaders advocate education tax credits for parents of children who attend religious and independent schools.

The Catholic Conference will fight to get Catholic schools the money the state owes them for attendance policy reimbursements, services aid and more, Mr. Poust said. In all, about $243 million is missing.

"Catholic schools are in a real crisis, and the state can't afford for them to close," Mr. Poust said. "It's in the state's interest that our schools survive and are strong."

When a child leaves a Catholic school and enters a public school, it costs taxpayers about an additional $11,500 in the Capital Region.

Students from Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady and Bishop Maginn High School in Albany plan to attend the lobby day.

Pro-life points
Next on the agenda is restoring funding for the Maternity and Early Childhood Found-ation, suggested by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. The foundation used to dole out $1.2 million in grants to organizations that provide prenatal and post-birth care to teenage, poor or single mothers.

The cut will hurt Community Maternity Services, an Albany Catholic Charities agency that serves young, unmarried and pregnant mothers in rural and other high-need areas.

It's shocking to Mr. Poust that the state would cut funding to the foundation, but spend $40 to $45 million through Medicaid for abortions.

"We think that is horrendous public policy," he said. "Even someone who is pro-choice should support the choice of a woman to keep her baby."

On abortion, "we can promise a major fight," Mr. Poust said, referring to the Reproductive Health Act, which would make all abortions in New York State - possibly even partial-birth abortions - legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy if deemed necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.

If passed, the bill could also require institutions licensed or funded by the state to support, permit or provide coverage for abortion, thus undermining current protections for healthcare providers who object to abortions.

Tidal change
Mr. Poust is optimistic about the anti-abortion cause; a May Gallup poll showed that more Americans are identifying themselves as pro-life than pro-choice for the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1995.

"We are clearly winning the battle of hearts here," Mr. Poust said.

The main goal of the policy day is to make a public display and let state lawmakers know the Catholic vote transcends political affiliations, he said. Legislators tend to re-spect the consistency of fighting for life from conception to death.

Another goal is to educate Catholics, who will hear from New York Arch-bishop Tim-othy Dolan on Catholic social teaching and Catholic Charities USA on its anti-poverty campaign.

Mr. Poust said he hopes attendees will create parish-based public policy networks and continue visiting and writing to their local legislators.

(Cardinal Edward Egan, New York archbishop emeritus, will be honored during the day for his contributions to advance the bishops' legislative agenda; Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, will be honored for service to Catholic Char-ities of the Albany Diocese, where she is director.)

(03/04/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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