Human life, dignity at heart of issues

Human life, dignity at heart of issues

* Communications director Rick Hinshaw of the New York State Catholic Conference noted that the forum encourages lawmakers to adopt "policies that promote human life and human dignity."

* Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese said the Catholic Church "is the largest private provider of health care, social services and education in New York State," with a mission founded on the principles of Catholic social teaching.

"Unfortunately, the Church's contributions can be hindered by those who would seek to force their values on us and violate our constitutional right to exercise our freedom of conscience," the Bishop added. "We are deeply concerned about state-imposed obstacles to the ability of parents to choose a Catholic school education for their children; proposed legislation that would interfere with Catholic health care; and health insurance mandates that would force Catholic healthcare providers to violate our moral and ethical principles, as well as laws that restrict the free speech rights of Catholics seeking to pray peacefully and to demonstrate in defense of human life."

Bishop Hubbard called on state legislators to collaborate with religious organizations in assuring delivery of needed services to all New Yorkers. He asked that the state also respect Catholic moral and ethical principles.

"Historically, in New York State, we have had such a constructive partnership. We hope to continue that as we move into the 21st century," he said.

* Sister Donna Franklin, DC, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Ogdensburg Diocese, focused on the growing needs of the poor.

"The situation becomes more dire as we approach the five-year cutoff of eligibility for federal benefits imposed by the 1996 Federal Welfare Reform Act," she said. "At a time of financial surplus in our state, it is in the state's best interest to increase support for non-profit providers who are working to give New York's long-term unemployed the help they need to enable them to transition from welfare to work."

In areas like the north country, Sister Donna told the press that many former welfare recipients have taken service-industry jobs that can't support their families, and are patronizing food pantries and other services more as a result.

"We do not have enough employment opportunities; there's a skill-gap issue, a child care issue, a lack of transportation issue," she said. When welfare reform laws were passed, "I don't think the pieces were in place to support the legislation. That's what we're asking for now."

* Education and health care were the targets for Bishop Henry Mansell of the Buffalo Diocese. He urged the State Legislature to add $6 million in mandated services aid to help religious and private schools provide Academic Intervention Services, and asked that legislators support an education investment tax credit to spark private donations to schools.

"What we're asking for is a fraction of a fraction [of funds] that would make a difference in the education of the children of New York State," he said.

Bishop Mansell also said that Catholic health care is under attack by abortion advocates and their allies. He objected to legislation that would require all health insurance policies to cover infertility treatments like in vitro fertilization and fetal reduction. Other legislation would force Catholic hospitals to treat rape victims with abortifacients and disrupt affiliations between Catholic and secular healthcare institutions by requiring the facilities to provide abortions and contraception.

"These proposals, if enacted, would compromise the very essence of Catholic health care," he stated.

* Kathleen Gallagher, associate director of the State Catholic Conference, spoke on the need to ban partial-birth abortion in New York State. "We are here again to call on the members of the Legislature to end this horrific process," she said.

Mrs. Gallagher noted that many of the mothers who may choose partial-birth abortion have been faced with crisis pregnancies. These women, she said, "need to know that there are options, services and support available to help them carry their baby to term."

Regarding the need for palliative care for those at the end of life, she said, "greater vigilance and greater efforts are needed to ensure that insurance coverage provides for appropriate end of life care; that medical and nursing schools include training on palliative care and pain management in their curricula; and that Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement is adequately available for these services." (KB)

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