On March 10th many of our co-religionists joined the bishops of the New York province in petitioning our state government in Albany. Young and old alike they advocated measures supportive of Catholic moral teaching. This effort certainly is in tradition of those who supported the working man's rights to organize, who confronted the ignorance of the Know-Nothing Party, and who created institutions of educational and medical excellence. As they approached our elected officials they embodied the view of Pope Benedict XVI in his first encyclical: Deus Caritas Est: "From God's standpoint, faith liberates reason from its blind spots and therefore helps it to be ever more fully itself. Faith enables reason to do its work more effectively and to see its proper object more clearly. This is where Catholic social doctrine has its place: it has no intention of giving the Church power over the State. Even less it is an attempt to impose on those who do not share the faith ways of thinking and modes of conduct proper to faith. Its aim is simply to help purify reason and to contribute, here and now, to the acknowledgement and attainment of what is just." In their reflection "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" the American Bishops have encouraged the People of God to recognize "Respect for the Life and Dignity of the Human Person; A Call to Family, Community and Participation; Recognition of Human Rights and Responsibilities; Special Concern for the Poor and Vulnerable; The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; Solidarity with Our Brothers and Sisters; and Care for God's Creation."
The Hierarchy of New York aware of these concerns, the needs of their fellow citizens and the proposals of the political leadership of the state, have encouraged the faith community to speak out that true justice might prevail. Much publicity has been given to the cuts in the area of health care. The NYS Catholic Conference urges restoration of adequate payments to providers to maintain needed health care services to all; the elimination of barriers to enrollment into the Family Health Plan insurance program, which provides health coverage to low and moderate income working adults; the expansion of opportunities for these adults and for young adults not living at home to enroll in Family Health Plus; further development of home- and community- based services; and expansion of the health care workforce." We realize that good health care is a basic right of every person. Unfortunately we are in an environment where the most essential services are being cut especially towards those who could afford it the least. As a member of several boards of nursing homes I have witnessed cuts which are having a detrimental effect on our seniors, many of whom are veterans. Our children too are lacking fundamental medical assistance.
And our unborn children are being placed in even greater jeopardy. Presently being proposed a radical piece of legislation called "The Reproductive Health Act." In reality this is an abortion bill which promotes killing and makes any regulation or restriction on the same untenable. Parental notification, informed consent, and alternative treatment are deemed as non-permissible areas of concern for the citizenry. This bill seeks to ensure that abortions are legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy. It seeks to imbed protection for all third-trimester abortions into state law, ignoring the state's legitimate interest in protecting the life of fully formed children in the womb. The bill seeks to eliminate conscience protection in current law by requiring every institution licensed or funded by the state - including religious hospitals, agencies and schools - to support abortion, provide coverage for abortion, or to permit abortions. This legislation declares that "the state shall not discriminate" against the exercise of the fundamental right to abortion in the "provision of benefits, facilities, services or information." It opens the door for state regulators, such as the State Health Department or State Insurance Department to mandate support for abortion. The bill could be used to undermine the state's maternity programs, such as the Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP). Under this bill, these beneficial programs, which are working well to reduce infant mortality, could be ruled "discriminatory" for favoring childbirth over abortion. In short, this law essentially states those who are pro-life will have no choice.
One might not be blamed if the conclusion is reached that those who have a religious viewpoint are under fire. Not only because of the above but in terms of other issues as well. In our Catholic schools administrators are required to fulfill certain mandates. They do so willingly because of their concern for their students. However, now the state wishes to renege on the payment for this work. It refuses to recognize that Catholic and other religious and independent schools save tax payers 8.5 billion dollars each year.
In another area of concern legislation is coming forth which redefines marriage. It should be remembered that marriage is not merely a private arrangement between two individuals, but is of vital concern to all of society. Throughout history, marriage between a man and a woman has been humanity's way of assuring the procreation, education and stable rearing of children.
Laws to grant equivalent marital status to homosexual couples undermine marriage by removing from it the link to procreation. In effect, heterosexual marriage becomes simply one more lifestyle choice, no more preferable to society than cohabitation, single parenting or same-sex relationships. Empirical evidence tells us clearly that children do better in nearly all aspects of life when they are raised in a family with a mother and a father. This is why a redefinition of marriage that removes children and their best interests from the equation is bad for society. Legalizing same-sex "marriage" or "civil unions" creates serious religious freedom issues. For instance, Catholic Charities of Boston was forced to stop placing children for adoption because it would have been required to place children into the homes of same-sex "married" couples. In New Jersey, a Methodist-run association was found guilty of discrimination by the state's civil rights commission for refusing to allow a homosexual civil union ceremony in a beachfront pavilion it owns in Ocean Grove. And in New Mexico, a private wedding photography business was found to be discriminating by declining to photograph a homosexual commitment ceremony. This issue like others has not been explained to the public fully and honestly.
Church and State questions are not independent but interdependent in our society. When we vote we do so as Catholic Americans aware that our views must possess an inner consistency. On March 31st some of our parishioners who dwell in the 20th Congressional District have the privilege of being part of the democratic process. May all remember their obligation as Catholics and Americans.
Vivat Jesus
Fr. Brian
