Forum Catholics lobby for causes

Each year, Catholics come from all over New York State to attend the forum, where they meet with legislators on issues of concern. The day-long event is sponsored by the State Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's bishops.

This year's target issues included:

* banning partial-birth abortion;

* preserving Catholic health care through protection of conscience, not requiring Catholic hospitals to perform morally objectionable procedures and not requiring health insurance to cover such procedures;

* upholding the ban on assisted suicide and promoting palliative care for the terminally ill;

* expanding supports for working families (i.e. access to child care, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit, expanding health insurance coverage and boosting the minimum wage);

* expanding health care for low-income children and pregnant women through PCAP (the Prenatal Care Assistance Program);

* ending the Family and Children's Services Block Grant (which has resulted in under-funding of services for children at risk of abuse or neglect);

* investing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) surplus funds to reform welfare and help individuals move from welfare to work;

* modifying the Rockefeller drug laws to provide addiction treatment for non-violent drug offenders;

* funding teacher training and Academic Intervention Services (AIS) for independent, religious and private schools so that they can meet new Board of Regents standards;

* meeting the needs of rural New Yorkers through additional funding; and

* opposing casino gambling.

Busy schedule

Afterward, the group adjourned to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for a Mass concelebrated by bishops from around the state -- with the notable exception of Cardinal John O'Connor of the Archdiocese of New York, who has undergone treatment for a brain tumor and was unable to attend.

Bishop Henry Mansell of Buffalo, who presided at the liturgy, remarked on the Cardinal's absence, noting that "we miss our leader, and our prayers are with him."

Prayer and activism

He reminded participants that they also represented the seven-and-a-half-million Catholics who live in New York State. "We come with experience; we come with convictions; we come in advocacy," he stated.

During the Mass, the Prayer of the Faithful included petitions for Gov. George Pataki and state lawmakers, "that God may pour upon them gifts of wisdom, insight and compassion."

Honorees

Bishop Hubbard presented a new award for extraordinary service to the Church, named in honor of Cardinal O'Connor, to the Cardinal. The Bishop called him "a strong voice for the freedom and conscience of people of faith" and "a tireless evangelist for the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

During lunch, back at the State Museum, Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue was presented with cards representing millions of hours of community service by Catholic school students throughout New York State. The gesture marked the bicentennial of New York's Catholic schools. In turn, she presented Bishop Thomas Daily of Brooklyn with a proclamation commemorating the event.

Meeting legislators

Betty Higgins of St. Teresa of Avila parish in Albany told The Evangelist, "What I like about a day like this is that you get a broad spectrum of Catholic issues. People say we're one-issue, but we're not."

Each member of the group chose an issue to address before trooping off to the Assemblyman's office. "I've been coming to the forum for five or six years now," noted Victor Bobnick, who attends Christ the King parish in Westmere and Our Lady of the Assumption in Rotterdam. "I've met with legislators three times and aides twice. I don't know if that's above average or not, but it gives us hope."

Encounter

"Isn't it better to vote your conscience?" countered Eileen Sullivan of St. Catherine of Siena parish in Albany. "I would feel guilty if I voted a way for a political reason."

On other issues, the Assemblyman agreed with the group. Mr. Bobnick argued against casino gambling, saying, "We're thinking about the long-term common good of society: It can bring jobs to the area, but how many? and how long will that stave off unemployment?"

"I have very strong feelings against casino gambling," Assemblyman McEneny replied. "I think the state is dangerously addicted to gambling."

Advice

"The shorthand that a legislator uses is the names," he added, explaining that lawmakers look at which of their fellows have already signed off on a bill before deciding whether to support it. "You only have to know 150 names, and they know who's senior and who's powerful," he said.

After the meeting, group members were enthusiastic. "I thought it was a nice conversation. He seemed to support most of our legislation," said Kathy Paulsen of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany.

"He took the time. On the issue he wasn't with us on, partial-birth abortion, he didn't shunt us off to another issue," Mr. Bobnick remarked. "I was very satisfied."

Forum participants were invited to finish the day by attending a Senate session.

(04-06-00) [[In-content Ad]]