The 2016 Virginia legislature convened Jan. 13 with more than
1,000 bills awaiting legislative review and action. Many of
these bills will have a direct impact on Catholic interests
in the commonwealth.
The Virginia Catholic Conference is the policy agency for
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and Richmond Bishop Francis
X. DiLorenzo. Jeff Caruso, VCC executive director, came to
Holy Family Church in Dale City Jan. 16 to present the
conference’s legislative priorities to members of the
Arlington Peace and Justice Commission at the “Church in
State” conference.
Father Gerry Creedon, chairman of the commission and pastor
of Holy Family Church, welcomed more than 60 people who came
to hear Caruso speak.
Marsha Williams, a Holy Family parishioner, opened the
session with a prayer.
Before introducing Caruso, Father Creedon quoted from Martin
Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech delivered Aug. 28,
1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
“With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain
of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able
to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a
beautiful symphony of brotherhood,” said King.
Father Creedon then spoke of Pope Francis’ commitment to
Catholic social teaching.
“Pope Francis has done more (for peace and justice) than
theologians have done in 50 years,” he said.
Father Creedon also commented on the Jubilee Year of Mercy
that began in December.
“Where’s the mercy in abortion and the death penalty,” he
said.
In his presentation, Caruso detailed the priorities of the
VCC for this year. Topping the list was respect life
legislation that includes restricting state funding of
abortion and abortion providers, and preserving the gains
that were made in previous years.
Caruso said the VCC also wants to close the “gun show
loophole” that would require unlicensed sellers to perform
background checks on all buyers.
Other life issues included exempting individuals with serious
mental illness from execution. The VCC also supports raising
the grand larceny threshold from $200 to $500, opposes cuts
to community-based juvenile justice programs and supports
expanding Medicaid coverage in the commonwealth.
For a comprehensive list of VCC priorities go to
bit.ly/1n7GYaA.
Questions and comments from the audience were often spirited,
and Caruso addressed them all.
“We favor health care for all,” said Caruso on the Affordable
Care Act question, adding that there must be restrictions on
abortion.
John K. Bergen, a parishioner of Good Shepherd Church in
Alexandria, and public health and safety coordinator for the
Northern Virginia chapter of the Brady Campaign, said he
would like to see the diocese come out stronger on gun safety
issues.
Matthew Shadle, a theology professor at Marymount University
in Arlington, decried what he sees as unfair immigration
policies in some Northern Virginia municipalities.
Shadle said the VCC has a lot on its plate.
“It’s amazing to hear all the issues the VCC is engaged in,”
he said.
The event was scheduled to end at noon, but it went on for 30
extra minutes. Father Creedon introduced Lonnie Ellis of the
Catholic Climate Covenant and Richard Nagel, executive
director of Neighbor’s Keeper, a nonprofit, 501c3 education
organization, whose organization helps individuals navigate
the the complexities of the Affordable Care Act.
Before the conference ended, Father Creedon told the
attendees that they need to help create a world without anger
and hatred.
