My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

In recent months we have heard more about the so-called separation of church and state. Nowhere in the Constitution does this exist. It originates from Jefferson’s response to some ministers that there should be a wall of separation between church and state. One of our first presidents was correct.  There should be no interference in the state with church matters nor should the church as an institution place itself against the body politic.
Unfortunately today, some interpret this as a separation of religion from society. We have run into major problems of conscience, most recently, the mandate for contraceptive coverage by religious groups and nonprofits in healthcare as an intrusion of the state into the realm of the institutional conscience of the church. Unfortunately, many deny the fact that institutions may have ethics and consciences as well as individuals. At times, the consciences of individuals are trashed by unrealistic intrusions of government into private affairs.
The state’s bishops and over 1,000 laity, priests, deacons and religious went to Albany for the annual N.Y.S. Catholic Conference Day.  We were joined by the Knights of Columbus, who in the past have staged their own lobby day. The two groups produced an even stronger Catholic presence at the Capitol. The bishops met personally with Gov. Cuomo, Senate Leader Skelos, and Assembly Leader Silver in individual meetings during which priorities of the Catholic Conference were discussed. They included full funding for the mandated services such as attendance taking and test administration in our schools; the reproductive rights bill, which is currently being discussed in Albany; the lack of prison chaplains and their access to prisoners; bills that would affect farm workers and aliens who are without documentation having been brought here by their parents at an early age; and the statute of limitations for sexual abuse.  These issues and more were part of the discussions we had with the three men who have the most influence over legislative matters in the state. All the meetings were cordial and productive. The positions of the executive and legislative leaders were clarified.
Improvement in Albany’s Atmosphere
The atmosphere in Albany has certainly improved since last year when controversy over the budget was clouding every issue.  This year it seems that a budget may be passed within the legal limit and both parties seem to be working better together.
This year we will elect members to the state and national offices. The political campaign to this point has been certainly a free-for-all, especially among Republicans.  Debate and discussion are always good so candidates can clarify their positions. However, in the end, each party must unite behind one candidate and form a platform that reflects the views of party members and hopefully, one that is based on religious rights and conscience.
The Church as an institution should not be involved in partisan politics. Individual Catholics are free to express their feelings.  To retreat from involvement would mean to give up our moral responsibility to be educated voters.
Democracy is a good but not the perfect form of government.  It allows individuals and institutions to propose what they believe in the public forum. No one should be precluded from making his or her case. Dialogue, debate, and eventually even compromise are the best workings of democracy, which tries to respect the views of all citizens by trying to accommodate one’s beliefs and opinions when they are in concert with basic moral tenets. Here’s the conflict. Whose morality and whose principles will win the day?  Hopefully it will be those who reflect the truth best of all.
Whenever we set foot into the political arena, we truly put out into the deep. There are always misunderstandings that surround any type of activity which is viewed as political and everyone seems to have their own definition.
During the rest of  Lent, it would be a good work of penance to try to understand better the issues before us, educating ourselves so that we can have an informed conscience which will guide us in electing officials that reflect our values.
Join me as we pray that our country makes the right decisions about the candidates, so that those who best reflect a true understanding of the place of religion in society may be elected.