Bishop Leads Diocesan

Delegation to Albany

By Stefanie Gutierrez

Students, voters, parents and teachers from the diocese joined with Catholics from all over the state to speak with their legislators in the crowded Capitol corridors of Albany on Tuesday, March 13.

An estimated 200 students and parishioners from Brooklyn and Queens participated in the New York State Catholic Conference’s Public Policy Day. The issues that most voters advocated were the tuition tax credits for parochial schools and opposition to taxpayer funding for human cloning and embryo research.

Stefanie Gutierrez Photo

MAKING THEIR POINTS: Bishop DiMarzio, left, and State Sen. Serphin Maltese, right, chat while members of the Jewish community participate in the conversation.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio led a delegation to Albany and arranged for meetings with Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Sens. Frank Padavan, Serphin Maltese, Kevin Parker, and Malcolm Smith, as well as majority leader Senator Joe Bruno and Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The meetings were attended by both Jewish and Catholic leadership as discussions centered on three key issues: education and how parents sacrifice to send their children to parochial schools, the sanctity of marriage, and support for adult stem-cell research, but opposition to embryonic stem-cell research.

Over 70 staff members from Catholic Charities spoke on behalf of the constituents they serve. Derek Delvalle, a social worker at a community outreach center, came to speak with his lawmakers about the need for more accessible health care and public assistance.

“I see working individuals every day who are forced to get food stamps and find help to pay for rent and utilities,” said Delvalle. “Many of the families we serve have to often make the decision between food or rent each month.”

Another issue he says he cared deeply about was the availability of funding for rehabilitation for prisoners while incarcerated. “My job has given me an eye opening experience, where I feel compassionate about benefits for people who need them,” he continued.

Nina Valmonte, of Catholic Charities’ Parish and Community Outreach and Services, echoed Delvalle’s reason for the lobbying day. “I consider ourselves to be very strong advocates because we represent and work with the people we are here for, such as the working poor, victims of human trafficking, uninsured children. We have programs that address all of these issues,” she said.

Carol Bronnenkant, a teacher at Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village, brought her senior Justice and Peace class. Many had attended January’s March for Life held in Washington, D.C. “I think if kids do not learn to make use of their influence now, then they never will. This is an opportunity for them to learn that they can make a difference and be involved,” she said.

Joanna Kurylo, a student at Christ the King and a recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, added, “It interests me how policy works and public interest can change.”

As Kurylo and her fellow students met with their district Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, Christina Piecora, a senior, asked for Markey’s support in enacting tax credits for her parents and many others who choose to send their children to Catholic schools.

Markey told the room of 10 students she wished she could, because she knows how hard it is for parents to afford Catholic education. But, “I can’t, because it is a matter of separation of Church and state,” she claimed.
When another student told her that they did not agree with the $100 million that was going to be taken from taxpayer money for embryonic stem-cell research upon the governor’s budget approval, Markey said, “There are things in the budget that I don’t like, but do I vote the whole thing down? No.”

When another constituent in the room asked “How do you justify separation of Church and state when it comes to tax credits for parochial schools, but then take taxpayers’ money who disagree with embryonic stem-cell research due to religious beliefs? Shouldn’t that be a matter of separation of Church and state?”

Markey said she did not have time to answer that question, and hurried out for a meeting. Many of the students from Christ the King found their assemblywoman “indirect, and avoided every question with a different story.”

However, the day was not lost for Christ the King or the other diocesan high schools in attendance, Xaverian, Bay Ridge; Bishop Loughlin, Fort Greene, and Bishop Ford, Park Slope. Many of the students rallied behind tuition tax credits in other legislative offices.

Retired Bishop Thomas V. Daily also attended the Public Policy Day. “I never saw such a large crowd and a devotion of the people. It’s the best I have seen,” he said.

On the previous day, the State’s bishops met as a group with Gov. Eliot Spitzer for the first time since his election and outlined their views on legislative initiatives that concern Catholics in the state.

In a 50-minute session described as cordial and open, held in the State Capitol, seven diocesan bishops took turns in commenting on issues that reflect the agenda of the State Catholic Conference.

Cardinal Edward Egan voiced support for the governor’s $1,000 tuition tax deduction proposal, but stressed that it did not go far enough since the actual benefit to families would be far lower than the $1,000 proposed.
Bishop DiMarzio addressed the governor’s plan to fund human cloning and embryonic stem-cell research, expressing opposition and urging instead “ethical research that does not jeopardize human life.”

Gov. Spitzer said he understood the concerns raised, and while making no commitments, indicated a willingness to take their observations into consideration.
Five auxiliary bishops in the state also attended the session, including Bishop Octavio Cisneros. Joining the governor in the conversations was Lieutenant Governor David Paterson.

back to top