Legislative Action Committee

The Public Policy Committee promotes community and legislative action for issues of concern generally identified by the Diocese of Rochester on an annual basis.  Last year, "Seeking Justice for Children" was formed to help ease the pressures on urban and under privileged youth especially in the Rochester Area.  This year "Care of God's Creation" was born to advocate for immediate action to preserve and protect our plant and its environment.

 

Ongoing Diocesan Public Policy Initiatives

Health Care:  The 111th Congress recently passed an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program  (S-CHIP). This program provides health insurance for children from low-income families.  We are working for the day when every person in the United States will have access to affordable health insurance.

 

Care of God's Creation

 

Success! Our Voices Were Heard

Thank you for participating in the February 2008 Diocesan Public Policy Weekend advocacy focused on global Warming/climate change. Petitions signed in our parish that weekend called on New York State leaders to take immediate and effective action to address global climate change - beginning with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in New York State and the region. Rules governing how the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will work in New York State direct the Governor to use the revenues for the purposes we advocated: renewable energy development, energy efficiency and conservation, which will help New Yorkers (especially poor and low income) with energy costs. Consider contacting Governor Paterson (518-474-8390) to let him know you support this.

Seeking Justice for Children: Learn more about all of this groups activities.

 

Immigration Reform: Immigration reform remains an important concern for Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Rochester.  Learn more about it the issues on the DOR website. Transfigurations Migrant Ministry provides assistance to individuals caught in the immigration confusion.

 

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development: Nearly 37 million people in the United States live below the poverty line, and 13 million of those are children. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) works to create lasting solutions to the problem of poverty through real community change. Please donate prayerfully and generously to CCHD on September 21st to help those in poverty help themselves. Visit www.povertyusa.org   to learn more

 

Affirming the Dignity of the Unborn Human Being is an ongoing concern for public policy.

 

RHAPP

The Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act

When abortion first became legal, many people accepted it because they thought women were safer when doctors performed abortions. If RHAPP becomes law, a physician will no longer be required to perform most surgical abortions.

Advances in ultrasound make it apparent that a human life is taken by abortion and many doctors want nothing to do with it.  But that doesn’t mean a woman’s health should be jeopardized too, by letting non-doctors perform surgical procedures. For these and many more reasons, RHAPP must be opposed. Bishop Matthew Clark, through the Diocesan Public Policy Committee, designated   education about this bill a public policy priority.

RHAPP ensures that a 12-year-old girl will be able to obtain an abortion at any time during pregnancy, without parental knowledge.  If RHAPP is passed into law, it means that no new regulations may be placed on abortionn, not even parental consent legislation. For these and many more reasons, RHAPP must be opposed.

The New York State Legislature needs to hear that you oppose this bill.  It does not respect the rights of parents; it removes health care providers’ conscience protection; it jeopardizes the health of women; and disregards the lives of the soon to be born. For further information, please go to www.dor.org or contact Jann Armantrout at armantrout@dor.org or (585) 328 3228 ext 1304

Please contact State Senator James Alesi at Legislative Office Building; Albany, NY 12247 and Assembly Member Joseph Errigo at Legislative Office Building, Albany, 12248 or at their local offices. For information

 

Local Coordinator: Trish Goodman 381-1134

 

"Lord, how good it is for us to be here..."  Matthew 17