This year's annual New York State Catholic Conference Public Policy Day in Albany on Tuesday, March 11, was unusually unique. Governor Eliot Spitzer made his first public announcement about his "situation" the day before, on Monday, March 10, after the prostitution scandal broke. The feeling of numbed disbelief still permeated the atmosphere in Albany the day after.
Interestingly, Governor Spitzer was scheduled to meet with the pro-abortion lobby at their large gathering on that same, fate-filled Monday; and it was a day the pro-life community was dreading. It was a day that could have taken the Governor's egregious RHAPP bill (Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act) one step further in the New York State Senate on its way to possible passage in the Assembly and into New York State law. All were relieved at the unexpected reprieve, yet saddened by the Governor's sudden fall from grace and the personal effects on his life, his wife and daughters' lives.
Spitzer sent his regrets on Monday to the pro-abortion groups gathered via his then Lieutenant Governor, David Patterson, who adressed them in his stead. Sadly, this same courtesy was not extended to Cardinal Egan and the many Bishops who were also scheduled to meet with Spitzer in the State Capitol on the RHAPP initiative - a bill that would open the door to forced compliance from religious institutions, like the Catholic Church, that conscientiously object to abortion. Our now Governor Paterson could well have been Eliot himself that day, as Paterson's positions to date mirror his mentor's on abortion and other dignity of life issues. His take on this piece of legislation in particular is unknown at this juncture, but we are not overly optomistic.
The Catholic advocacy to lawmakers that day included, beyond the most critical RHAPP bill, support of education tax credits (Gov. Spitzer had renegged on his pledge to help Catholic schools in his budget); expanding supports for working families; access to health insurance; opposing the legalization of same-sex unions; providing immigrants and migrants with access to essential services; and the desire to cut greenhouse gas emissions from all sources.
The Public Policy Day itself was the best-attended Albany event of its kind to date. The day's activities included legislative lobbying, information booths with the Sisters of Life, et al, a youth workshop, a panel discussion with Kathleen Gallagher and Bishops Nicholas DiMarzio and Howard Hubbard, speaking and answering questions from the audience. This interesting forum heard the Bishops address the importance of joining the Catholic Conference Public Policy Network at www.nyscatholic.org, the importance of prayer, especially for elected officials, the necessary involvement of youth as voters and supporters of policy-making life and social issues, the right formation of a Catholic conscience, and a sense of the common good vs. individual interests, as several of the topics that day.
The Bishops did have their share of confusing directives. For example, they suggested that local parishes use only "approved voter guides", yet when asked if we can get the voter guides through the Catholic Conference, they said a comprehensive guide would not be available through the Conference due to the fact that candidates do not comply in a timely enough way. It was suggested that the Bishops' official document on "Faithful Citizenship" be used instead.
Another unusual statement involved Bishop Hubbard's comment that they feel like "generals without armies," and that "shared perspectives" are lacking from Catholic voters. This was interesting in that many Catholic voters opine that the Bishops are AWOL on too many pro-life issues that need strong voices from the hierarchy and from the pulpits in the parishes! Bishop Hubbard also said that leafleting of cars in Church parking lots is discouraged to avoid tax exempt problems. On this matter, LifeNet (hardcopy newsletter of the HVCL) in the July/August 2007 published an article that contradicts this point of view as an unwarranted fear. The article is called "Elections and the Church Parking Lot" and came to us via Orange County Right to Life. We will publish it soon on LifeNet Online.
Edward Cardinal Egan, the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass in the Convention Center, was also the presenter during the Awards portion of the day. His moving homily during Mass reflected on our ability to "see" as never before life developing in the womb, and yet the inability of some to accept this as a truly human life, deserving of dignity and full protection. He quoted his friend, the late William F. Buckley, Jr. who at an Al Smith dinner conversation commented in his well known, eloquent speaking style, "Well what do they think it is, a to-ma-to!"
Some pictures of the day's events:
A gathering of friends below: Chris Slattery of Expectant Mother Care Frontline Pregnancy Care Centers, Marie and Richard Brand (very instrumental in the recent post-card campaign against RHAPP), Linda Liverne of the Westchester Putnam Center for Life and Westchester and Putnam Right to Life Committee, and Marlene Galazin - a first-timer in Albany!
Auxiliary Bishop Robert A. Brucato, an award recipient that day, on the jumbo screen
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