Clergy band together to protect teens

Fulton County clergy of many faiths are telling teens, "We care" -- through an official statement with that title, and through a candlelight procession in Northville.

The event is intended to highlight the group's concern for teenage drinking and drug abuse, which have been increasing in the town.

"We want the teen community to know that we are being vigilant for their sake," commented Rev. Thomas Morrette, administrator of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Northville and St. Joseph's in Broadalbin.

Father Morrette told The Evangelist that statistics in Fulton County, especially around Northville, have been rising regarding incidents and arrests involving teens driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

At a regular meeting of clergy from seven faith communities, including Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and Catholics, he said that someone mentioned Fulton County now has one of the highest rates of teen DUI arrests in New York State.

Grassroots

In response, the clergy group decided to form a coalition for faith-based community action.

"Rev. Kerianne Weaver of the First Presbyterian Church in Northville spearheaded this clergy effort. We wanted to make a visible statement to show that our individual faith communities are concerned about what's happening to our teens," Father Morrette said.

First, the group penned an official statement called "We Care" that laid out their concerns. It reads in part: "We are concerned about the prevalence of illegal drug use and underage drinking in our precious community. We hereby petition you, our elected officials, law enforcement and judiciary to do your utmost to help us address this very serious and dangerous problem."

Father Morrette noted that, "in some cases, we've learned that the rampant drug abuse by teens is the result of drug abuse in the home by their parents. This is of strong concern to us all."

He believes that poverty, lack of constructive things for teens to do and parental apathy and drug involvement all contribute to the high statistics.

Next steps

The clergy group also contacted the Northville Central School District, local and state police departments and teens themselves to find ways to help alleviate the problem.

To make the larger community aware of their concern, the clergy group scheduled a candlelight procession to the local high school so members of all faith communities and other interested citizens could get involved. 

Petitions were also distributed locally before the procession to be presented to town officials at the end of the march. The petitions urged officials to:

* increase surveillance of suspected or reported locations of drug abuse,

* respond quickly to information reported,

* issue and pursue search warrants on suspected properties,

* increase drug and alcohol abuse related arrests and

* make meaningful penalties upon conviction of drug and alcohol abuse.

Ongoing

"After the march, each faith community will return to their churches and post 'We Care' signs on church property," Father Morrette explained. "We want the entire town to know we are concerned. This is a positive declaration by people of faith in our community.

"We want our teens to know we care. We want them to know that they have choices, that life is precious and that life can be better for them if they choose to change what they are doing. There are ways out of destructive behavior."

Father Morrette also said that there are excellent school programs already established at the Northville Central School District to help teens and their parents fight drug and alcohol abuse. He urged families to take advantage of those programs.

"Our law enforcement team and the school officials are also aware of this problem. They are wonderful resources for our teens and their parents," he noted.

(The candlelight procession is May 8, 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.northvilleny.com.)

(05/08/08) [[In-content Ad]]