Catholic Advocates Are 'Salt and Light'

By Irene Lagan
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 1/30/03)

RICHMOND — "We are all called to be salt and light. I thank you for standing up for truth, and justice and life." Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde told social justice and pro-life advocates from the Arlington and Richmond dioceses, who gathered for Catholic Advocacy Day at St. Peter Church in Richmond last Monday.

Richmond Bishop Walter Sullivan welcomed the large contingent from Northern Virginia. "You do make a great difference," Bishop Sullivan said. "We are a public Church. Our voices need to be heard."

After a short prayer service, Stephen Colecchi, director of the Richmond diocesan Office of Peace and Justice, briefed approximately 170 advocates on abortion, capital punishment, immigrant rights, housing, homelessness and child poverty legislation.

Colecchi detailed supportive positions on bills to require parental consent for minors seeking abortion (HB1402/SB 1124); ban the execution of the mentally retarded (HB 1923/SB 1239); exempt death penalty cases from a 21-day time limit on providing evidence to prove innocence (HB 1912/SB 705); oppose partial-birth abortion (HB 1541/SB1205) and oppose requirements to offer emergency contraception.

Colecchi explained why Catholic advocates support a budget amendment to restore Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), funds for homeless shelters and services; a $7.5 million budget amendment to use TANF funds to provide rental assistance to low-income families; a budget amendment to use TANF funds to "pass through" child support to children living in poverty and amendments to reduce administrative costs for families receiving transitional food stamps through TANF.

Bishop Loverde led representatives of the diocese, including Rev. Msgr. Roy R. Cosby, Bob Laird, director of the diocesan Family Life Office, Anne Murphy, Catholic Charities program director for Parish Social Ministry, Marsha Williams and Joyce Lewis Howard, representatives of the Social Action Committee at St. Joseph Parish in Alexandria to the General Assembly Building on Capitol Street. Also lobbying were members of SALT Catholic (Social Action Linking Together) and representatives of other parishes including Our Lady, Queen of Peace in Arlington, St. Charles Borromeo in Arlington, St. Mary in Fredericksburg and students from Pope Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax.

"We are here to witness to the presence of the Catholic voice in Richmond. Being here in numbers lets our delegates and senators know we are tracking the life issues through the lens of Catholic teaching," Murphy said. "We are also here to thank them for those areas where their votes support legislation that is consistent with Catholic teaching."

Del. Timothy D. Hugo (40th District) stepped out of an education committee to meet with Bishop Loverde. Hugo, who supports legislation requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortion and other pro-life legislation, appreciated the bishop’s concern for pending pro-life bills and pledged his support.

Speaker of the House William J. Howell (28th District), a staunch supporter of the ban on partial-birth abortion and other pro-life legislation, welcomed the bishop. Howell assured Bishop Loverde that a ban on partial-birth abortion as well as a bill supporting a conscience clause on abortion and contraception was "likely to pass."

Bishop Loverde thanked Speaker Howell for his pro-life position and asked him to be mindful of the consistent life ethic in supporting those who cannot help themselves.

Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (37th District), a junior member of the Senate, also appreciated the visit from the bishop, and other Catholic advocates.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your spectacular language in addressing the life issues," Cuccinelli told Bishop Loverde. In light of the recent document issued by the Vatican on "Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life," Cuccinelli, who is also a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton, expressed his concern that Catholics support a consistent ethic of life in the public arena. "If you would consider extending your push in the pro-life arena even beyond prayers in front of abortion clinics and strong rhetoric, it would go a long way," he said.

Cuccinelli also expressed his support for a consistent life ethic, acknowledging Bishop Loverde’s "pyramid of priorities" and the fact that "all issues are not weighted equally."

"I think government does way too much, but one of the fundamental things it should do is help those who cannot take care of themselves," he said.

The final visit was to Delegate James (Jay) O’Brien (40th District), another member of St. Andrew Parish. "I am very clear that I cannot be Catholic without being consistently pro-life," he said.

Laird expressed his gratitude to the bishop and others who journeyed to Richmond. "It is important for Bishop Loverde, as the shepherd of his flock, to visit those legislators who represent him in Richmond in their offices to thank them for their support and to challenge them to witness to the Gospel of Life," he said.

Later in the day, a House of Delegates Committee approved four pro-life measures, including a bill requiring parental consent for minors to have an abortion and a ban on partial-birth abortions.

The House Courts of Justice Committee also passed a conscience clause that would allow health care professionals to decline to prescribe birth control pills or abortion-inducing medications, as well as a measure that would remove mental health of a mother as a consideration for allowing late-term abortion procedures.

To register views on pending state legislation call the Legislative hotline at 1-800-889-0229 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. An operator will record your message and e-mail to our state legislator. For information on bill status or identifying numbers, call 1-800-698-1500.  

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