The Tablet March 5, 2005

How Catholics Can Influence Policy

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Each year during the month of March, Catholics from all over the state of New York gather in Albany to take part in the Public Policy Forum, which has become known as "Catholic Lobby Day." Coordinated by the New York State Catholic Conference, this year's forum will be held on Tuesday, March 8, at the EmpireStatePlazaConvention Center, near the State Capitol. People representing the eight (arch)diocese will convene to speak to legislators regarding issues that appear on the Bishops' public policy agenda.

A panel of experts in social policy from around the State sets the public policy agenda, which is presented to the Bishops for approbation. All of the issues presented have a critical importance, with respect for life from conception to natural death, and legislation surrounding this issue, an ongoing concern. Specific issues this year also include:

· Supporting parental choice and fair funding in education.

· Promoting ethical stem cell research and banning embryo experimentation.

· Abolishing the death penalty.

· Ensuring safe and affordable housing.

· Securing funding and equity for behavioral health services.

· Continuing the reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

· Maintaining Medicaid benefits and adequate health coverage.

The strength of Lobby Day is that the participants will be lobbying in support of a number of issues rooted in Catholic social teaching, thereby insuring better access to legislators than if they were to attempt to schedule single-issue visits. I agree with those who say Catholic social teaching is a "great secret" of our wonderful tradition.

It is an impressive sight on Lobby Day to witness more than one thousand individuals on the Capitol grounds, knocking on doors, asking the legislators to hear and understand their point of view. Our right as citizens to address our legislators is undeniable. Our moral force is all that we offer. This is not influence-peddling in any way, but rather an expression of the right of citizens to make known their views to their legislators.

Another effective means to communicate our message is the growing State Legislative Network. It keeps us informed as key issues develop and it empowers us to have our voices heard in the corridors of the State Capitol.

In November, we launched a diocesan-wide campaign to build the network and thereby strengthen our advocacy of a specific present need: tuition tax credit legislation. The response of the people of our Diocese was overwhelming. More than 90,000 parishioners sent me postcards requesting that I urge our Governor and State Legislature to take action on an important issue that will assist the parents of school children throughout our Diocese and state. Thirty thousand of you are so concerned about this issue that you included your e-mail address. You can expect to hear from me soon about ways that we can work together to prod our elected officials in Albany to reject the arguments of special-interest groups that oppose tuition tax credits.

The Legislative Network provides us with the means to work hand-in-hand to demand that state officials act in the best interest of their constituents who sacrifice to save their hard-earned dollars to make a Catholic school education a reality for their children. If you have not done so already, I invite you to join the Legislative Network. We need you to be a voice for our state's precious young people.

Joining the network is easy. Go to www.nyscatholicconference.org, or, if you prefer, contact Father Kieran Harrington, director of the diocesan Office of Government Affairs and Public Policy, at (718) 399-5900, ext. 5503, for more information.

As a community of faith we should get involved in the public policy process and educate voters, candidates, and elected officials on the social teachings of the Catholic Church. Active participation in the public policy process can have a great impact on our faith community and our people. As stated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in its recent statement on political responsibility, "Faithful Citizenship": "In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation."

Catholic Lobby Day is certainly an exercise in putting out into the deep. Clearly, the complexity of our social concerns today, and the difficulty that we have in coming to mutual understanding regarding the public policy matters that affect us most, such as taxation and the redistribution of our resources, demand we give these issues much thought and attention. If you are able, join us in Albany on March 8.