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Making Education Investment Tax Credit legislation into law will top the list of advocacy priorities for the hundreds of people from across New York State who attend "Catholics at the Capitol," the state Catholic Conference's annual lobby day, to be held March 19 at the State Capitol.

The Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's bishops, wants to sway lawmakers to pass the proposal, which would give incentives to those who make charitable donations to schools and credit teachers for out-of-pocket expenses.

"We're cautiously optimistic about it," said Dennis Poust, director of communications for the Catholic Conference. "We really believe that this is a year it can get done. It's in everyone's interest to provide support. This benefits public schools, as well as independent and religious ones."

On the agenda
About 1,000 people are expected at this year's lobby day, which will give Catholics an opportunity to meet with state legislators and their representatives to discuss the education issue, as well as:

•  funding for vulnerable New Yorkers;

•  humane treatment for incarcerated individuals;

•  opposing abortion expansion and supporting pregnant women; and

•  justice for farmworkers.

Knights of Columbus will lead a prayer rally and procession from the legislative activities at the Empire State Plaza in Albany to the nearby Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York will be the principal celebrant at a Mass.

The day will also include advocacy awards and workshops on issues of concern to Catholics.

Catholic schools
The Catholic Conference is prioritizing the education legislation this year because of the "crisis" facing Catholic education across the state, Mr. Poust said. More than 250 Catholic schools in New York State have been closed in the last two decades; there are now fewer than 600.

"You can't just keep raising tuition," Mr. Poust said, adding that, with fewer religious staffing schools and higher tuition, families may struggle to afford a Catholic education. When schools close or parents can no longer send their children to a Catholic school, the public school system feels the pressure of taking on those extra students.

More donations to Catholic schools would help keep the schools afloat, would save the state and taxpayers money and would provide options for low-performing students.

"Parents are desperate for a choice," Mr. Poust said. "It won't solve the [Catholic school] problem all by itself. But it will be a big help, particularly to families in need."

The Catholic Conference joins more than 40 community, labor and religious groups in support of the legislation.

Ill and in prison
Lobby day participants will also ask lawmakers to provide adequate funding to meet the needs of people with mental illnesses, offering more community-based facilities and services, as well as substance abuse treatment and services for people with developmental disabilities.

On the topic of incarceration, the Catholic Conference welcomes the news that New York State plans to limit the use of solitary confinement, but hopes that solitary confinement can be eliminated altogether for inmates with mental illness.

"We think it's just a bad idea in general," Mr. Poust said. "They're being punished for behavior they can't control."

"Catholics at the Capitol" attendees will also ask the state to consider the compassionate release of elderly or sick inmates to their families, once the inmates have been carefully screened. The Catholic Conference estimates that, if 10 percent of inmates over the age of 60 were released, it would save the state $8.4 million in medical services.

Abortion argument
The abortion fight is a continuation from last year's opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Women's Equality Act, which opponents say holds nine other worthy laws "hostage" because of a late-term abortion expansion piece.

The State Assembly passed all 10 parts, but the Senate passed all but the abortion piece. Now, "it appears to be in a stalemate," Mr. Poust said.

The Catholic Conference believes "this is really about late-term abortion," he said. "There is no one in New York State who can't get an abortion if they want it.

"The real 'war on women' is aborting late-term females," he continued. "The problem is too much access" to abortion.

As it has every year in recent years, the Catholic Conference will also push for state funding for the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation, which helps low-income single mothers by supporting organizations that provide pre- and post-natal care services across the state, including Catholic Charities' Community Maternity Services.

"We want to be consistently pro-life and give women alternatives," Mr. Poust said.

Farmworkers' rights
The final issue on the agenda is equitable labor standards for farmworkers, who are excluded from many laws that establish worker protections, including overtime pay, a day of rest and collective bargaining.

"It's a simple matter of social justice: They are the only group that is exempt from these," Mr. Poust said. "We're talking about simple things that everyone else takes for granted. Every year the fight starts up again, and, sadly, every year the farmworkers are denied. It's time for everyone to get on board."[[In-content Ad]]

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