By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 4/8/04)

"If the Catholic community organizes it could achieve just about anything it wants," said Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va.

This is precisely what close to 100 local Catholics had in mind last week when they gathered on Capitol Hill and met with their congressional representatives to advocate for social justice domestically and overseas. Catholics have been gathering for Catholic Advocacy Day in Washington since 1998. Seventy percent of the advocates this year were from Virginia, about 30 people from the Arlington Diocese. Many of the advocates were members of newly formed JustFAITH groups in Virginia, a justice formation program sponsored by Catholic Charities and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Larry Couch from the Legislative Network of the Archdiocese of Washington provided the opening comments at St. Peter Church on Capitol Hill, reminding those gathered that this was their chance to "make real the teachings of Jesus."

Stephen Colecchi, director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Richmond, led an issue briefing before state caucuses met to plan their discussions with local representatives. Colecchi reminded advocates, "We are here to speak for ‘the least of these,’ here and abroad" (cf. Mt 25).

Colecchi encouraged people to participate as much as they were comfortable doing. He said no one needs to be a skilled lobbyist or expert on all the issues, but "know what you believe and what you care about. We just need to be concerned." The purpose of the day, he said, is to let legislators know "there are people who care deeply about these issues."

Issues the advocates addressed included:

— The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (S. 1397 and HR 3664). This act would clarify current laws to protect health care organizations, such as Catholic hospitals, schools and HMOs, from discrimination for declining to perform, refer for, train in or make arrangements for abortions.

— Affordable Housing. Congress has proposed cutting more than $900 million this year from the Housing Choice Voucher program and block-granting it to state and local housing agencies, forcing states to decide who receives assistance. Currently, only about 20 percent of the people who qualify for vouchers receive them. The Catholic advocates asked congress members to restore full funding and prevent block-granting.

— Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The Senate voted last week to increase TANF funding by $6 billion. But to improve welfare for those most in need, they asked congressmen to restore benefits to legal immigrants, maintain hourly work requirements instead of raising them, count rehabilitation, vocational training and education toward work requirements and provide optional marriage counseling for couples when appropriate.

— Agricultural Job Opportunity Benefits and Security Act (AgJOBS) (S. 1645, H.R. 3142). In order to help farm laborers, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has voiced strong support for the AgJOBS Bill. The bill has been negotiated between agricultural employers and the United Farm Workers of America and would ensure that growers had a stable workforce, and would provide an avenue to permanent citizenship and legalize the status of hard working immigrants.

— Global Development and Peace. Advocates asked their representatives to provide $3.6 billion for morally appropriate programs to fight AIDS to meet its goal of providing $15 billion over the next five years. Even when drugs are made available in third world countries to AIDS patients, they often times cannot take them unless they have proper nutrition. Advocates also asked for additional resources for the Title II Food for Peace Program.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has commended President Bush for the funding increases to the Millennium Challenge Account. Congress provided $1 billion for MCA in 2004 and President Bush has requested $2.5 billion in funding for 2005. The goal is to increase annual development aid to $5 billion by 2006. However, aid only goes to countries that prove they can govern justly, exhibit investments in its people and have economic freedom. Advocates are concerned that the standards may be set too high for the poorest countries to meet, including Haiti and countries in South Africa.

Groups of advocates discussed these issues with senators and congressmen representing Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Thirty-five advocates from Virginia descended upon the office of Sen. John Warner, R-Va., just before noon to discuss their concerns with Christopher Yianilos, deputy legislative director, legislative counsel to Sen. Warner; and Scott O’Brien, legislative correspondent.

"Ever since Joseph and Mary were refused room at the inn, homelessness has been a concern," Father Gerry Creedon, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish and chair of the diocesan Peace and Justice commission and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, said to Warner’s representatives.

"You have raised your voice at the appropriate time," Yianilos said. Congress is putting the final touches on its budget, which will be decided in the fall. He urged advocates to write letters to their senators and local congressmen to remind them of their stance on the affordable housing issue.

Although Catholics were advocating against raising TANF work requirements, Yianilos told them there is strong bipartisan support to raise the requirements from 30 to 34 hours a week for parents with children over age 6 and from 20 to 24 hours for those with children under age 6.

Tim McCarthy, an advocate from Virginia Beach, asked Yianilos to remember to focus on the reduction of poverty, not the reduction of benefits. He asked that former convicts be considered for benefits so that their families can overcome poverty and not turn back to crime for money.

Yianilos said Warner has made no commitment to a stance on the Freedom of Conscience Act. He continues to review the details. Yianilos said there is concern because it gets bogged down in abortion issues and is active on the minds of the pro-choice community.

"We will close (hospitals in Richmond) before we will perform abortions," Colecchi said.

Internationally, "Poverty helps to breed and sustain corruption," advocate Gail Goodridge, chair of the social justice committee of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, said to Warner’s representatives before imploring them to not forget about Haiti now that things have quieted somewhat. "Blocking of loans took a very poor country and put it in a worse situation," Goodridge said.

"It seems to me that this needs to be investigated — needs to be reviewed — so we don’t make mistakes all over Latin America," Father Creedon said.

Advocates were impressed with the reception they received from Yianilos, a close associate of Warner.

In the afternoon, several representatives from the Arlington area — including Father Creedon; Goodridge; Rachel Lustig, parish social ministry associate for Catholic Charities USA; Richard Urban, a member of St. Augustine Parish in Washington and resident of Alexandria; and McCarthy — met with Moran and his legislative director, Timothy Aiken.

"I’ve been very disappointed in the way we’ve been spending AIDS money," Moran said. When money is put in the hands of the government, it is used to reinforce political ties or distributed to male heads of household who often use it for women, alcohol and gambling, he said. He would like to see more money going to women, who would use it to support families. He would also like to see more NGOs in Sub-Saharan Africa to intervene and educate people.

"Women have very little control over what they are subjected to," Moran said. For this reason, he said, abstinence-only programs often do not work. Women do not have that option in many parts of Africa. So while there is currently a bias to give more support to abstinence programs, Moran said, "Cutting off funds for abstinence only programs doesn’t make sense."

After Goodridge and Father Creedon talked about their recent trip to Haiti and their experiences with the Haitian people, Moran said, "Listening to you makes me feel ill informed, misinformed and uninformed. With 33 coups, we need to support a government and change through a process of government and not through coups."

After speaking to advocates, Moran said they were "obviously concerned about the welfare of people powerless to change, both here and abroad." He was impressed by the advocates because they were both genuine and well-informed.

On his walk back to St. Peter Church in the afternoon, Father Creedon said, "I wish I could do more of this. These Catholic Advocacy Days are a dream come true for me."

Goals for advocates following the day of lobbying included helping younger generations to become better informed, educating parish staff and leaders and encouraging the Latino community and other cultures to become more involved in advocacy.