MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

Officials at the New York State Catholic Conference (NYSCC) say it’s “more important than ever for Catholic citizens to make their voices heard.”

Dennis Poust, interim executive director and director of communications for NYSCC — the working arm for state bishops on public policy issues — said the organization is doing its best despite the “very challenging environment” for making a case on public-policy issues.

“The Capitol is closed to outsiders, so that makes advocacy more of a challenge,” Poust said. “Legislators are largely voting remotely … so making your voice heard as an advocate is more challenging than it has been in the past.”

Now is the time, he said, for Catholics to get involved in lobbying state officials on critical legislation on the table for the 2021 session, such as the fight against legalizing recreational marijuana use, sports betting and assisted suicide; while pushing for needed aid for human services groups and Catholic schools.

Budget crisis
The budget crisis continues to be one of the most pressing issues facing New York State. Exacerbated by a second wave of the coronavirus and a lack of federal aid, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is left to deal with a $15 billion revenue shortfall — the largest in the state’s history — and a growing deficit at ­almost at $60 billion.

“We could be looking at unprecedented cuts in funding for human services,” Poust said. “We’re seeing now the potential, with the state budget deficit, the people most in need not getting the services they depend on.”

The question still remains of what organizations will be drawing a short straw, leaving advocacy groups up to the challenge of making the case for who most needs funding.

“And there are a lot of cases that need to be made,” added Poust. “We’re not advocating for ourselves; we’re not advocating to replace the pews in the church and paint the steeples, we’re advocating to serve the poor and the vulnerable and the elderly. The money we’re seeking is not for ourselves but for those who need it the most.”

Marijuana/sports betting
After years of fighting the expansion of recreational marijuana in the state, the financial ruin the COVID-19 pandemic has left the state in will likely lead to more support for this issue.

“That looks like a freight train that’s coming down the track pretty fast,” Poust said, “and the fiscal crisis serves as a way to justify it and let some opposition slip away.”

Cuomo is aiming to legalize both recreational marijuana use and mobile sports betting this session, a seemingly hopeful source of revenue to combat the budget crisis. However, Poust added, these short-term solutions could lead to long-term problems.

“We have grave concerns about raising money in that way … both areas are raising money off people’s addictions, and the state has to be very cautious about relying on addictive behavior.”

Despite concerns, Poust said he would be surprised if both did not pass this year.

Life Issues
The NYSCC is continuing to support the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which would limit the time an inmate can spend in solitary confinement and end confinement for vulnerable people.

“Solitary confinement is really a form of torture,” Poust said, “and some reform is in place but more needs to be done.”

Still on the table is the issue of physician-assisted suicide; a bill that has long been opposed by the NYSCC and the Church. After such a painful year, Poust hopes that the pandemic gives light to the dignity of life for the elderly and the sick.

“We’re working so hard to save the lives of those in nursing homes, who have a human dignity that can’t be taken away,” he said. “And our hope is it causes people to look at the assisted-suicide issue in a new light. We think we have a chance to be successful … (but) it’s going to be very close. There are some legislators that need to be lobbied.”

Catholic education
“Our Catholic schools are in crisis due to COVID,” Poust warns. While Catholic schools have struggled in recent years, the battle to stay afloat has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

To help, Catholic schools are calling for reimbursement on state-mandated services (standardized testing, like NYS Regents exams) even in cases when testing couldn’t be administered due to the pandemic.

“That would be consistent with what the states have done for public schools,” Poust said. “If you don’t meet requirements you might receive a cut to your aid; those automatic cuts were waived in the case of public schools. We’re hoping to be treated equally so we can receive the mandated service aid that our schools count on in their budgets.”

Catholics are needed now more than ever to help advocate on public-policy issues. To get involved, sign up for the Catholic Action Network (CAN) to receive educational updates on important issues being debated and receive simple tools to contact elected officials.

Text CAN to 50457 to sign-up for text alerts right to your phone, or register online at www.nyscatholic.org/action-center.