The Knights of Columbus held their annual Prayer Rally at the Albany State Capitol on Tuesday, May 13 under the sunniest of skies. This year the gathering was held later in the year than usual, and so the Knights had the advantage of not fighting the crowds from other groups lobbying in Albany that day. This gave our two-busload group from the Westchester area more time to discuss RHAPP with our representatives during our scheduled appointments. The downside? The lower numbers and "energy" are not as palpable or impressive. 
A group of five, led by Rich Fuerst, the President of the Westchester-Putnam Right to Life PAC, walked past the architecturally stunning reflecting pool... 
...and into the massive chambers where they were scheduled to meet with Senator Vincent L. Leibell in the a.m. Told that the Senator was in a budget meeting, they met, again, with Robert T. Farley, Esq., Chief Counsel. Regina Riely quickly challenged the Senator, and Farley immediately was on the offensive. Rich Fuerst turned the convervation to the RHAPP legislation and our concerns about this egregious bill. Farley agreed that it is a terrible piece of legislation. Judy Anderson thanked the Senator for his work on projects he posts on his website, and asked why we never read anything about this issue. Farley said he wasn't sure what was on the website, but he would look into it. Tom Faranda asked questions about process at this juncture and the numbers we will be dealing with in the Senate. Farley was optomistic about retaining a Republican majority, if still very narrow. He also said that in his thirty years of working in Albany he'd never seen any politician more dedicated to being pro-abortion then Eliot Spitzer! He felt that Patterson, while pro-abortion, is not prepared to aggressively pursue a pro-abortion agenda with the same single-mindedness as Spitzer. Farley said the numbers currently against RHAPP in the State Senate were currently about 33 to 29.
When we had arrived at Leibell's office there were very prominently placed stacks of constituent cards on the RHAPP bill on the receptionist's desk. Everyone should keep these cards, notes and emails coming! Keep the pressure on - there is nothing in this bill worth salvaging, nothing! Governor Spitzer's problems, while tragic, reflect his personal loss of moral compass. For this reason alone, this bill - his bill - should be trashed. RHAPP is a danger to all women, especially minors, and an insult to the medical community and people of faith and conscience. Parents and their rights are also completely being trampled. Ask yourselves, how can some promote "choice" and then undermine parental rights at every juncture? The "right to choose" has been and continues to be a lie. RHAPP is the incontrovertible evidence.
Joseph S. Saladino, Nassau County Assemblyman in Albany, addressed the crowd at the prayer rally with rousing words. He challenged the Catholic community to vote and become aware of the issues. The attacks against life, morality and decency cannot stand unchallenged. Without our efforts, the direction of New York State under new Governor Patterson will remain unchecked, and Spitzer's bill will prevail.
At the rally site, the crowd recited the rosary...
...Bob Fallon, head of the New Haven, Connecticut Knights Council is seen speaking. He is an eloquent speaker on behalf of the rights of the unborn. He made popular reference to the statue of the horse and rider in the center of the plaza before him (seen above). He said it is no mistake that the "business end of the horse" is facing the State House!
Richard Barnes, Executive Director of the New York State Catholic Conference also addressed the crowd, as Kathleen Gallagher was not able to attend this portion of the rally.
Rich, Larry Keon, Tom, Regina and Judy head across the plaza...
...and down the long office corridor for the afternoon meeting with the Committee on Health.
Our group met with Barbara A. McRedmond, Esq., Council on Health Care Financing. She told us that Sen. Kemp Hannon is Chair of the Senate Health Committee. Richard N. Gottfried is Chair of the Committe on Health in the Assembly. She was attentive and took copious notes about the points we made in objecting to RHAPP. It seemed like she heard it all for the first time, athough we did not get the fast shuffle. We met for a least 30 minutes and covered it all. The question is how, if at all, this helps to change minds and hearts.
Fr. Stephen Moshe of the Apostles of Jesus from Tanzania and currently a pastoral visitor at St. Augustine in Ossining, prayed with us on the bus. John Mark, also from St. Augustine, and his fellow Knights deserve kudos for a well-run event. Thanks, too, to J&R Bus Company and their head for his help and transportation support on these trips.See you next year and remember the day's theme all year long:
"TURN THE WORLD AROUND WITH PRAYER"
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