Call To Action
New York
For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good. In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. --Faithful Citizenship, USCCB
From New York Catholic Conference
Send a message to Gov Patterson on his decision to recognize same-sex "marriages" from other states as valid
Recently, Gov. David Paterson unilaterally ordered all state agencies to recognize same-sex "marriages" from other states as valid marriages in New York. The Governor took his action even though New York's highest court ruled two years ago that New York State law does not permit same-sex "marriage." Please contact Gov. Paterson today and tell him that you are unhappy with his action and that marriage can be nothing other than the union of one man and one woman.
Go to the link below for a pre-written e-mail message to send to Gov. Paterson. Simply fill in the required information and hit Send. If the link doesn't work, just go to www.nyscatholic.org and click the Take Action Now button on home page. Thank you for taking the time to support traditional marriage in New York State.
New York state's bishops take stand against same-sex marriage
New York's eight bishops today urged Catholics and other New Yorkers who believe in the sanctity of marriage to express their opposition to same-sex marriage to Gov. David Paterson.
This morning the bishops released a statement in response to the governor's recent directive that all state agencies recognize same-sex unions legalized in other states and countries. In the 1,200-word statement, which can be accessed at Web site of the New York Catholic Conference, the bishops explained the theological and practical reasons for their opposition to same-sex marriage, which would be permitted under a measure approved by the state Assembly last year. The state Senate has yet to approve a similar bill.
"Passage of such a bill, whether the legal union is called 'marriage' or 'civil union' would be a destructive development for our state," the bishops said in the statement.
The bishops emphasized that marriage between a man and a woman is a constant, visible reminder of God's goodness and the beauty of his plan for mankind, and that all of the world's great religions view marriage as a holy bond between a man and a woman. Theology aside, they said this view of marriage also is consistent with biology and natural law and allows men and women to grow in love and bring forth children in a stable family structure that allows civil society to flourish.
"Common sense and empirical evidence tell us that children's welfare is best served in most cases by their being reared in a stable home with their mother and father," the bishops said. read more CatholicCourier
New York Catholic Conference: Oppose Senate Bill 5829
"Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act"
NYCC urges Catholics to contact their state lawmakers to protest the bill, which makes abortion a “fundamental right,” like freedom of speech or religion. It would prohibit almost any restrictions on abortion such as parental consent, guarantee late-term abortion availability for nearly any reason, allow non-doctors to perform surgical abortions and even potentially compel religious institutions to allow abortions or make direct referrals for abortions.
Here in New York, Gov. Eliot Spitzer has acted aggressively to make abortion even more available and common than it already is, while stomping on the rights of religious providers like Catholic hospitals. His euphemistically titled ‘Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act’ would raise abortion to the level of a fundamental right, like the freedom of speech, and would therefore prohibit virtually any restrictions at all.
“This bill would ensure the easy availability of late-term abortions of fully formed infants, even if there was no threat to a woman’s physical health, and allow non-doctors to perform abortions. It would prohibit ‘discrimination’ regarding the right to abortion to such an extent that Catholic hospitals could be forced to provide abortions or lose their license to operate. It would prohibit parental notification, expand the over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill to children of any age and force all insurers to cover abortion for any reason.
“In many ways, this intolerable bill is more radical than the original state law legalizing abortion nearly 40 years ago. It would potentially force the closure of Catholic health care institutions and undoubtedly lead to the deaths of countless unborn children who otherwise might have had a chance at life. No matter what Mr. Spitzer calls his bill, clearly it is not about reproductive ‘health.’ On the contrary, this bill is about death, and it must be rejected.” New York Catholic Conference
View the YouTube Video on the Spitzer Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection act HERE.
A video presentation urging resistance to Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s radical abortion bill has been placed on YouTube to educate Catholic voters about the bill’s dangerous implications. It is the Church in New York State’s first foray into advocacy through YouTube.