Catholics push state legislators on various faith-related issues

Delegations from dioceses across California met with state legislators in Sacramento, seeking support for issues important to Catholics.

A record-breaking turnout of about 1,300 people attended Catholic Lobby Day April 30 at the Crest Theater and the state Capitol, sponsored by the California Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the state’s bishops. It was the largest number of participants in the event’s four-year history.

Participants were reminded of the power of organized people with a vision for social justice by keynote speaker John Carr, secretary of the department of social development and world peace for the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.

“This is a great day, but these are not easy times,” he said. “You belong here to speak up for poor families; for the elderly, blind and disabled; for immigrants and parents without health care; for those at the very beginning of life and those on death row.”

He called for “a new kind of politics” in an economy that “pushes our nation forward,” but in some ways is “pulling our people apart” in a culture of violence which too often looks to violent measures to solve difficult social problems.

“The measure of our advocacy is not which party gains, but how ‘the least among us’ fare,’” Carr said.

Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand, one of five California bishops attending the event, echoed that sentiment. He told participants they are sent forth by their faith “to be a force for justice,” to make their voices heard, and “to let (their) light shine.”

The day included a spirited noontime rally at the Capitol, visits with legislators and information sessions, before concluding with Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

“The numbers were up, there was a nice group of those who have come before, and new people bringing enthusiasm and excitement,” according to Ned Dolejsi, executive director of the California Catholic Conference.

About 275 people from the Diocese of Sacramento presented their concerns to area legislators, including 21 students from Mercy High School in Red Bluff, accompanied by religion teacher Annie Kramer, 25 staff members from the Diocesan Pastoral Center and 24 priests and women religious.

The students said they came because they care about children and they wanted to learn more about the legislators who are making decisions that are shaping their future.

Strongly represented among the participants from the diocese were 80 members of the Sacramento Valley Organizing Community, a church-based group dedicated to empowering the poor. Sylvina Frausto, a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Woodland, was among those representing one of 12 Sacramento-area SVOC churches at the event.

“I think that being a Christian is about opening your eyes to the needs around you,” said Frausto, who is co-chairperson of SVOC.

Frausto voiced support of a bill, endorsed by the bishop’s conference, that would provide identification changes to allow non-citizens who have applied for lawful immigration status to receive a California driver’s license. AB 60 by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), Frausto said, is about fair treatment of people working to make a living while waiting for their legal status to be finalized.

Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Garcia, who has personally lobbied legislators on the driver’s license identification bill for the past two years, went with a group of 60 people to Cedillo’s office for an update.

“I was told if we can assure (Gov.) Davis will get the Latino vote, he would be in favor of it,” he said. “There are more groups with us now, so I think the chances are good he will sign it.”

Assemblyman Anthony Pescetti (R-Rancho Cordova) and Senator Mike Machado (D-Linden) specifically expressed their support for AB 60. They were among five legislators who met with delegates from the diocese during an afternoon session at Westminister Presbyterian Church.

Other legislators present included Assemblywoman Helen Thomson (D-Davis), Assemblyman Tim Leslie (R-Tahoe City) and Assemblyman Richard Dickerson, (R-Redding). Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) was represented by legislative director Kathryn Dresslar.

Deacon Bill Sousa, coordinator of the social justice ministry for the diocese who organized the Lobby Day delegation, said a bill that would legalize stem cell research from both adult and embryonic sources attracted greatest interest.

Among those speaking out against SB 1272 by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), was Christine Cipperly, respect life coordinator for the diocese. The bishop’s conference also opposes the measure.

“Stem cell research is not just about the rights of the embryo,” she said. “It has to do with us as human beings, how we perceive one another. Every one of us is an embryo at one point. As Catholics, we believe in universal moral truths.”

Cipperly also spoke out about the sanctity of human life as a speaker during the rally at the Capitol.

“A culture of death is casting a shadow on the entire state,” she said. “Each one of us is cherished by God, and today we are looking at what each of us as individuals can do to dispel darkness and bring light.”

Mercy Sister Maura Power, a member of the leadership council and regional liaison for social justice for the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn, was among those expressing support for SB 1362, endorsed by the bishop’s conference. It would allow female prisoners serving life sentences to have overnight visits with their children under age 21.

“The concern is for women in prison being separated from their children and for children deprived of their mothers. The issue is how to keep families united,” Sister Power said.

Thompson also expressed support for the bill during her remarks to the diocesan delegation.

“Female inmates in state prisons don’t see their children, which is a difficult situation for the growth of the mothers in rehabilitation as well as their children,” she said.

Denise Sewart, a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Roseville, was among several Catholics supporting SB 530 by Sen. Byron Sher, (D-Stanford). The bill requires the state energy commission to designate a panel of experts to access technology options to meet California’s energy and environmental needs.

“We need to wean ourselves from dependency on finite and polluting energy sources,” she said. “Those who suffer the most are the poor and vulnerable who are unable to afford increasing energy bills, and poor children without health insurance breathing polluted air.”

Other issues of interest to diocesan participants included several state budget items. Elizabeth White, executive director of Catholic Social Service of Sacramento, was among those urging support of swifter implementation of the state’s Healthy Families program.

“Making affordable health coverage available to low-income parents means one less obstacle they have to face in their struggle to provide a decent life for their families,” she said.

While Davis is said to be committed to including coverage of uninsured parents in the Healthy Families program, start up is not scheduled until July 1, 2003.

Deacon Luigi Del Gaudio of St. Mary Parish in Sacramento said his concern is that when budget cuts are made, programs supporting children in foster care may be weakened.

“Given the fiscal situation in California, we need to be aware of all the gains we’ve made in serving the most vulnerable and not lose ground we’ve secured,” said Deacon Del Gaudio, who has worked for 30 years for the state Department of Social Services.

Florence Dixon was one of several members of the Sacramento Diocesan Council of Catholic Women attending the event. She echoed the bishop’s conference’s opposition to Davis’ proposed freeze of a cost-of-living adjustment increase for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payments (SSI/SSP) to aged, blind and disabled recipients not eligible for food stamps.

“The poor are increasing in California. We’ve got to take care there is no reduction to the poor and the aged,” Dixon said.

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