When the New York State Bishops went to Albany this past week to present a moral perspective to the public debate, they made the Education Investment Incentives Act a major focus of their agenda.
As we have outlined here before, the proposal is a no-brainer as it seeks to encourage donations to public schools and scholarships to students who wish to attend private and parochial schools. It also offers reimbursement to all teachers who take money from their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies.
The Senate has twice passed the measure and a majority of Assembly members are co-sponsoring the bill. The time is right to enact it into law as part of the state budget.
Catholic and other religious and independent schools educate nearly 500,000 children, save New York’s taxpayers $9 billion each year, and are an integral part of New York’s economy. Encouraging scholarships to these schools is win-win for everyone in New York.
But the bishops brought with them more proposals to the State Legislature and they also deserve our attention and support. For instance, the Church is opposed to the mislabelled Women’s Equality Act which would make New York State a safe haven for late-term abortionists. By imbedding a “health” exception in New York law, the bill would ensure that abortions are legal through all nine months of pregnancy for any reason. Thus late-term abortionists, such as Dr. Kermit Gosnell of Philadelphia, who can be tried and convicted of illegal abortions in their states, will flee to New York to set up their clinics without fear of prosecution. This invites mistreatment and harm against women.
The bishops support funding for the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation (MECF) that helps low-income single mothers by supporting organizations that provide pre- and post-natal care services across the state. No funds distributed through MECF are used in the counseling or provision of abortion. Unfortunately, funding for the foundation has decreased from $1.2 million in 2009 to $533,000 in 2013. Urge your lawmakers to restore and increase funding for the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation to a minimum of $600,000.
The state’s bishops also support compassionate release of incarcerated individuals who are elderly or infirm. This proposal is both humane and cost effective.
One of the best predictors of recidivism is age. Older and sick individuals are a low risk for reoffending.
They also realize that the closure of mental health facilities and lack of appropriate treatment resources in community settings has resulted in mentally ill individuals ending up in state and local correctional facilities. Savings from closure of mental health facilities must be reinvested in community-based programs, for the good of all.
While the Diocese of Brooklyn is an all-urban diocese and has little immediate need for passage of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act (A1792/S1743), we realize its impact on the rest of the state.
The history of farmworker exclusions from basic rights is the product of another era and is rooted in bigotry. Agriculture is a critical industry in this state, much too important to carry with it the stain of the bigoted policies of the past.
Justice demands that basic human needs must be met for all members of society. While the Church and other non-profits are willing to do their share, the obligations of the state cannot be overlooked.
Providing services to vulnerable people in the least restrictive setting is beneficial and cost effective. At the same time, not-for-profit providers must be reimbursed for these services at a level that supports the cost of providing quality care.
The Catholic agenda in New York State is a multi-faceted one. We urge our lawmakers to take a look at what the bishops brought to Albany this past week and to vote their consciences and not merely continue to vote according to strictly political considerations.
