CATHOLICS TO LOBBY LEGISLATORS

As presidential candidates debate issues nationwide, two bishops will cover some of specific concern to New York's Catholics through a keynote at the annual Public Policy Forum, March 11 at the State Capitol in Albany.

The lobby day is expected to draw 1,000 Catholics from across New York to meet with lawmakers on an agenda of issues from abortion to the environment.

Bishops Howard J. Hubbard of Albany and Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn will also speak on "Faithful Citizenship," a 2004 document on political responsibility by the U.S. bishops. Their combined keynote will take the form of a conversation with one another.

Catholic voices

Dennis Poust, director of communications for the New York State Catholic Conference, which sponsors the event, said the lobby day's goal continues to be Catholic visibility in the Capitol.

After meetings and the keynote at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, he explained, "the afternoon will be focused a lot on the Capitol, on sending people over to be a presence: handing out flyers, sitting in the galleries, meeting with legislators."

Topics of interest

The lobbyists, who come from all eight dioceses in New York State, will make their voices heard on seven issues:

* opposition to Gov. Eliot Spitzer's abortion bill;

* support for education tax credits;

* opposition to legalizing "same-sex marriage" or civil unions;

* support for the poor and working poor (including affordable housing, child care and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit);

* support for increased access to health insurance for the poor and middle class;

* support for immigrants and migrants; and

* support for a reduction in the state's greenhouse gas emissions.

Range of issues

Mr. Poust noted that the list of issues is wide-ranging because "it's good for people to see that the Catholic Church isn't just [concerned] about abortion. This is a well-balanced agenda that mirrors the principles of Catholic social teaching."

Nonetheless, he called abortion "first among equals" on this year's agenda.

Mr. Poust blasted Gov. Spitzer's "Reproductive Health and Privacy Act" as "an obnoxious bill." The proposal would guarantee that abortion is protected and available through all nine months of pregnancy -- and could require even Catholic healthcare institutions to support and allow abortions to be performed.

"This could force Catholic Charities to make direct referrals for abortions. It could destroy our ministries," said Mr. Poust.

Radical bill

Under the bill, any healthcare provider could also perform abortions, from midwives to chiropractors. Parental notification for minors would be banned.

Mr. Poust said the proposal is so radical that Catholic lobbyists hope Republicans in the State Senate will take a stand against it. Already, 24,000 Catholics have emailed lawmakers through the statewide Catholic Advocacy Network (CAN) to protest the bill.

"That's a strong amount, and we think the number is going to continue to go up as people see what the Governor's trying to do here: to raise abortion to the level of freedom of speech or religion," Mr. Poust stated.

Health care

Access to health insurance for the needy is also on the agenda. With universal healthcare already a hot issue in this presidential election year, Mr. Poust hopes to see New York's 400,000 uninsured children get coverage through Child Health Plus.

Forum-goers will also lobby for better access to the Family Health Plus insurance program for low-income families and a streamlined recertification process.

"We're asking to make it easier for people to get on and stay on the plans," Mr. Poust stated. On that issue, Catholics will support Gov. Spitzer, who has been "doing his part" to move the process forward.

Working families

Low-to-moderate-income working families also need other support, Mr. Poust said.

While the state has focused for several years on moving people from welfare to work, he explained, supportive services -- such as child care, transportation, education and affordable housing -- have yet to catch up.

Access to such programs to help families achieve self-sufficiency, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families and increasing the public assistance grant to support them in transitioning to work would be "not handouts, but investments in people," said Mr. Poust.

People on move

Also in need of essential services like health care and education is New York's immigrant and migrant population.

Mr. Poust said Catholics at the forum will lobby for many services under this umbrella: immunization of children, preventive medical care, English literacy programs, farmworkers' rights (including overtime pay and days off), even state funding to help victims of human trafficking.

"It's a moral responsibility to help those folks. We're not taking sides about 'legal' vs. 'illegal,'" Mr. Poust noted. "Everyone is a child of God, regardless of their papers."

Education

Since Gov. Spitzer did not come through on his promise to include a tuition tax deduction in his budget this year, Mr. Poust said that the Catholic Conference has returned to lobbying for education tax credits.

The credits would offset the cost of children's education, allowing families to more easily choose the best schools for their children -- something Mr. Poust termed a crisis in New York State.

When Catholic schools are forced to close, the influx of students taxes an already overburdened public school system, he said, citing the example of the Rochester Diocese, where 13 Catholic schools just closed.

"Catholic education can't continue this trend," he said. "We're losing more than 10 schools per year [statewide]; it's not good for the state."

Same-sex unions

In the Public Policy Day's earlier years, Mr. Poust said that the concept of same-sex unions was never an agenda item "because it never crossed anyone's mind."

Now, he said, the traditional definition of marriage is under attack in New York State. Catholics at the forum will protest the proposed legalization of "same-sex marriage" or civil unions.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that homosexuals "most be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity," and not denied their rights as citizens, he quoted; but he added that historically, marriage has never been defined as anything but a union between a man and woman, for the purpose of procreation.

That definition should stand, he said, and Catholics are counting on the State Senate to stand behind them in protecting it.

Environment

"We are called to be good stewards of the earth. The earth is warming, and man-made causes are at least partially responsible. Let's change that."

With that statement, Mr. Poust summed up the forum lobbyists' position on reduction of the state's greenhouse gas emissions, which he called "definitely a Catholic issue."

While New York's lawmakers have already enacted the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, Mr. Poust believes more needs to be done: Buildings, vehicles and agriculture also must be held accountable through state initiatives to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

A summary of the issue sent to forum participants noted that New York State today produces more global warming pollution than 99 developing countries.

Youth on march

Along with the adult lobbyists at the forum will be a strong youth presence.

A workshop led by Rev. Paul Catena will help to educate young Catholics on the issues.

(Also on the day's agenda will be a special Mass with the state's bishops. Register online to attend the Public Policy Day at www.nyscatholic.org. The New York State Catholic Conference represents the state's bishops in public policy concerns.)

(02/28/08) [[In-content Ad]]