Their faces were as diverse as the state of California, but their cause was the same: to speak to state legislators about preserving and protecting life and human dignity.

Nearly 100 Catholics from the Diocese of Sacramento joined 800 Catholics from across California who came together on April 26 for Catholic Lobby Day in Sacramento, sponsored by the California Catholic Conference.

“Do not be afraid to be who you are, to announce what you believe, to speak out for those who are weak and alone,” said Auxiliary Bishop Jaime Soto of Orange in a greeting at the state Capitol to delegates from 12 California dioceses.

“First is saying a yes for life, a yes for human dignity, a yes to standing in solidarity with those weak and less fortunate,” he said.

One bill given priority concern at Lobby Day is AB 654, the California Compassionate Choice Act, which would which would legalize physician-assisted suicide for people diagnosed with a terminal illness who have six months or less to live.

AB 654 has been passed by the Assembly Judiciary Committee is expected to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 18.

Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference, challenged Lobby Day participants to “remind legislators what we believe about the gift of life.”

“Remind all of them that there are not millions of Californians asking for assisted suicide. They are asking for health care equality in a just society,” he said.

Marci Coglianese of St. Joseph Parish in Rio Vista was one of the members of the delegation from the Sacramento Diocese paying constituent visits to state legislators.

For Coglianese, former mayor and city council member of Rio Vista, participation in civic affairs and speaking out for social justice is the leaven in life.

“I grew up with the notion you could make a difference,” said Coglianese, who put her law degree from UC Davis to work in local government.

“Government at its finest takes care of what others can’t do or won’t do,” she said.

When Lobby Day arrived this year, Coglianese was there to tell a very personal story about why the enactment of AB 654 is “a slippery slope” with the potential of becoming “a nightmare.”

She joined a group of constituents who visited the office of Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, (D-Davis). Coglianese told the story of being the primary caregiver of her mother who had been determined by her doctor to be terminally ill.

“She spoke to me about not wanting to live if she couldn’t take care of herself,” said Coglianese, who moved her mother, who suffered severe depression, into her home.

Surrounded by family who cared, her mother lived on and at the end died peacefully.

“She was able to have relationships with her grandchildren as adults she wouldn’t have had if she had short circuited that fear and depression,” Coglianese said. “It was a gift, really.”

During a meeting with Assemblywoman Wolk’s staff member, Lisa Ramer, Coglianese said that a major concern is that physicians would find themselves in “impossible situations making assisted suicide decisions.”

“There is what patients may say they want, questions of competency and what family members want. It sounds like a nightmare,” Coglianese said. “To involve the state and medical community whose job it is to heal I think is a terrible mistake.”

Also of concern to Lobby Day participants is AB 696, social services legislation which would provide that CalWORKS and food stamps replace a quarterly re-determination requirement with a semi-annual re-determination.

George Manlo-LeClair of California Food Advocates spoke during a rally at the Capitol about why the bill needs to become law.

“So often when hungry people go to find help (receiving food stamps), they find hassles instead,” he said. “California is last in the country for food stamp participation access because we have hassles here that just don’t exist anywhere else.”

Another bill receiving the support of diocesan delegations is AB 930. The New California Initiative, a naturalization services program, would require the Department of Community Services and Development to provide funding to local government and community-based organizations for assistance in naturalization services.

Al Hernandez-Santana of the California Catholic Conference told Lobby Day participants that the bill would enable the state “to show that we care about including and welcoming others into our home.”

“These are people who have dedicated their sweat and blood and staked their families’ future on making a life for themselves here in California,” Hernandez-Santana said.

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