In the Catholic social vision, the human person is central, the clearest reflection of God among us. From the point of conception to the point of natural death, all human beings are sacred, deserving of respect and worthy of government protection.

The Catholic Church has long promoted respect for religious liberty, a core value that helps to shape international, national and state policy. The Church supports the fundamental right of individuals and institutions to conduct their activities publicly and privately according to their religious or moral beliefs. These rights are increasingly endangered by intrusive legislation and regulation, and are inadequately protected under current law. The Church strongly affirms the principle of religious freedom in the provision of all publicly funded services.

Education

Ensure full reimbursement for health, safety and security mandates

All schools are expected to be safe, secure and void of health risks. Yet health, safety and security concerns continue to rise within our schools. While public schools receive state aid and are able to levy taxes to respond to these concerns, independent and religious schools are unable to respond to these concerns without additional funding. more

Ensure that all schools have full-time nurses

Public schools are required to provide nursing services on an equitable basis to independent and religious schools. Insufficient funding for school nurses, coupled with the shortage of school nurses leaves school children without adequate nursing coverage. more

Help parents offset the cost of their child's education with tax credits for choice and investment

Parents have a fundamental right and responsibility to direct their children's education. An education tax credit would enable all parents to choose a school best suited for their children, and an education investment tax credit would give schools added revenue to help offset rising costs. more

Ensure full reimbursement for Academic Intervention Services

The Conference seeks $20 million to enable independent and religious schools to fully implement with the Regents’ AIS regulations. more

Reform and expand school transportation services for all students

Limited and inconsistent transportation services impose a significant burden on parents who enroll their children in religious, private or independent schools. Moreover, the availability of bus service often determines whether parents can exercise their right to select a school for their children. The Catholic Conference supports increased services for children in these schools. more

Provide funding for to establish entry-level teacher support programs to assist new teachers

The Catholic Conference seeks to ensure that teacher recruitment programs and policies designed to attract new teachers into the profession apply in a way that benefit all children. more

Ensure sufficient and quality professional development programs for all teachers

The Catholic Conference seeks to ensure independent, private and religious school teachers have the opportunity to participate in meaningful and sustained professional development programs. more

Ensure Access to Appropriate Ethical Health Care

Monitor implementation of legislation to enhance access to affordable health insurance

Despite enactment last year of provisions to extend coverage to hundreds of thousands of children and adults, the numbers of the uninsured in the state is once again on the rise (to 2.7 million). Monitoring is necessary to ensure that the goals of last year's actions are met and that potential coverage gaps and solutions are identified. more

Promote expansion of home health care, including an increase in payments for home health care workers, and expansion of telemedicine

A persistent and growing shortage of certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides (HHAs) and licensed and registered nurses poses a substantial challenge to the ability of health care providers to meet the health care needs of our communities. This shortage impacts disproportionately on the provision of services for the frail elderly and in rural and inner city communities. more

Establish collaborative efforts to address health staffing and health faculty shortages through enhanced salaries and benefits

The Catholic Conference supports a variety of recruitment and retention initiatives designed to attract workers to the home health care profession. more

Increase medical reimbursement rates for essential health services

Providing services to Medicaid recipients, particularly emergency room and outpatient services, creates significant problems for providers who cannot meet their costs. more

Support promotion of appropriate pain management, palliative care and hospice care for the suffering and terminally ill

Compassionate pain management is an appropriate treatment option for individuals suffering from advanced stages of degenerative diseases, but current statutes restrict its application. Those seeking appropriate palliative and hospice care as alternatives to other measures can face obstacles in accessing such services. more

Promote increased access to care through voluntary physician and nurse practitioner programs to serve the uninsured

The Conference supports the establishment of a statewide program to enhance opportunities for primary care in rural and inner cities by combining the efforts of volunteer physicians and nurse practitioners with subsidies to cover operating and other costs. more

Promote ethical research into the life-saving potential of adult stem cells

The New York State Catholic Conference strongly supports ethical scientific inquiry using adult stem cells in the fight against disability and disease. At the same time, the Conference strongly opposes human cloning of any kind, as well as destructive embryonic stem cell research, and supports legislation at both the state and federal levels to prohibit it for any purpose. more

Foster Restorative Justice

Modify the sentencing provisions of the Rockefeller Drug Laws

New York State'ss drug sentencing laws must be further modified to permit greater judicial discretion in considering the circumstances and disposition of drug offenses. We further seek increased state resources dedicated for alternative sentencing treatment and addiction treatment programs in prison and in our communities. more

Ensure human conditions of prison confinement and appropriate access to worship and ministerial services

The Catholic Conference seeks to ensure that disciplinary options within the correctional system be designed in a way that respects the dignity of the human person, guarantees access to religious counsel and worship and ensures no further harm will come to the disciplined individual. more

Increase funding for alternatives to incarceration and treatment

Many of those incarcerated in New York State prisons are afflicted with mental health or addiction problems. These individuals, and the greater society, would be best served by offering lower-cost alternatives to incarceration to address the problems that are at the root of their criminal activity. more

Increase funding for educational and vocational programs for the incarcerated and transitional services for ex-offenders

Community reintegration programs for ex-offenders should be established. Programs might include but are not limited to select counties establishing resource centers, faith-based communities recruiting volunteer mentors and, if possible, providing a halfway house, and the inclusion of returning ex-offender in parish social ministry programs more

Support the compassionate release of elderly and/or sick prisoners

The Catholic Conference supports the compassionate release of elderly and sick prisoners who no longer represent a threat to public safety. The state must also ensure post-release support, including housing, health care and transitional services. more

Enhance the use of merit time as an earned rehabilitation incentive for early release of inmates

Merit time represents a concrete incentive to encourage prisoners to undertake long and difficult rehabilitation programs. Participation in meaningful programs ultimately increases public safety and could reduce unnecessary prison cost for inmates who have earned early release by demonstrated rehabilitation. The Conference supports an expanded use of merit time to include a greater number of inmates and a greater incentive for completion of specific rehabilitative accomplishments. more

Other

No Current Issues with this subject

Promote Health System Reform

Support adequate financing for a reconfigured health care delivery system

The Conference supports the provision of financing adequate to handle the costs associated with reconfiguration, including mortgage and bond retirement, health workforce retraining and severance, and related expenses. more

Support investment in the health care infrastructure and in expansion of coverage

The New York State Catholic Conference has repeatedly called for greater public support for the health care delivery infrastructure, particularly for investment in home- and community-based health care services, as a complement to downsizing efforts. more

Enact measures to streamline the administrative processes in health insurance

The Conference supports legislation to establish statewide databases to verify health insurance eligibility and standardize insurance enrollment and to centralize and streamline credentialing of health care professionals. more

Promote the Rights of Unborn Children

Enact the Unborn Victims of Violence Act

The Catholic Conference supports this legislation, which would prohibit the assault or homicide of an unborn child during the commission of a crime against the mother. more

Prohibit post-viability abortions

The Catholic Conference supports enactment of this legislation, which has been repeatedly passed by the New York State Senate, but has never been afforded a clean floor vote in the State Assembly. more

Restrict the use of taxpayer funds (Medicaid) for abortion

The Catholic Conference supports proposals that restrict or prohibit the use of state taxpayers' dollars for the purpose of performing abortions. The Conference advocates that the expenditure of these monies should, instead, be directed toward the goal of producing healthy birth outcomes and providing income security to decrease the perceived need for abortions. more

Protect the Environment

No Current Issues with this subject

Protect the Health of Women and Children

Promote adoption as a positive alternative to abortion

The Catholic Conference supports adoption to provide stable families for abused and neglected children and as a positive response to crisis pregnancies. The Conference urges the Legislature to take action to encourage adoptions. more

Ensure informed consent for women seeking abortion and 'emergency contraception'

The Catholic Conference supports legislation that would require physicians to provide women considering abortion with information concerning the risks of abortion, alternatives to the procedure and the gestational age and development of their fetus. Doctors and pharmacists should also be required to provide information to women concerning the potential risks of emegency contraception to the woman and a newly created embryo. more

Oppose further expansion of 'emergency contraception'

The Catholic Conference opposes efforts to expand access to emergency contraception. The Conference opposes any legislation that would allow pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception over-the-counter to minors. more

Require parental notification for minors seeking abortion

In New York State, parents are required by law to give permission when their minor child has a tooth drilled or bone x-rayed, but they do not even have to be notified when their daughter is pregnant and considering the invasive surgery of abortion. Surely, parents have a right to know of a medical decision that could affect their daughter physically and emotionally for the rest of her life. more

Provide for Basic Human Needs

Adopt fiscal and regulatory policies that encourage responsible private-sector job growth

The Roman Catholic Bishops are concerned about the rising gap between rich and poor, the loss of jobs caused by the increasing globalization of the economy, the growing poverty in rural areas, and the increased economic insecurity for the poor and middle class. The Bishops, therefore, propose that the State's leaders work together to develop policies to stimulate the creation of jobs and a stronger economy for all New Yorkers. more

Alleviate poverty for the working poor through enactment of a living wage

The Catholic Conference supports the development of public policies that will alleviate poverty by enhancing job skills of all New Yorkers; requiring that jobs pay a living wage, including health insurance and other benefits; and investing in the development of good jobs, through public and private activities. more

Ensure safe, affordable quality housing for low- and moderate-income families

The continuum of safe, affordable housing opportunities with appropriate support services for low- and moderate-income families and individuals needs to be preserved and expanded, especially in rural areas. more

Use the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant to reduce suffering, meet human needs

The Catholic Conference supports public policies that will invest the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant surplus to: 1) expand supportive services including case management to recipient; 2) increase the public assistance benefits to allow individuals and families to live with dignity; 3) provide assistance to help working families transitioning off welfare; and, 4) evaluate the effectiveness of policies to move individuals and families into the workplace. more

Enact policies that meet the special needs of rural New Yorkers

The Catholic Conference supports public policies that meet the special needs of individuals and families in rural areas when they attempt to access social services, housing, employment, transportation, health care, childcare and education. more

Maintain the public-private partnership in the delivery of health and human services

For decades, not-for-profit providers have worked with state and local government to deliver services in a cost-effective manner. However, contracts and payments have failed to keep pace with inflation, placing the partnership at risk. The Catholic Conference advocates for sufficient funding by state and local governments to ensure the development and delivery of essential human services. We oppose the privatization, or the "profitization"of services. more

Provide affordable and accessible transportation options for low- and moderate-income workers

Working individuals and families face significant barriers in accessing affordable and reliable transportation in many parts of the state. This problem is particularly acute in rural areas and at non-peak hours. There is a need to invest in innovative solutions to overcome this significant barrier. more

Provide quality, affordable child day care opportunities for working families

There is a significant need for increased access to safe, affordable, quality child care programs, as families move into an era of welfare reform which relies heavily on work. Without an increased investment in expanding child care programs, many working low income families will find themselves without safe, affordable, quality child care. more

Increase funding for emergency food programs, pantries and food stamp education and outreach

Over the past several years, a significant rise has occurred in the number of people turning to emergency food programs and pantries. Many are members of working families who use these pantries to supplement their paychecks and feed their families. A need for increased funding exists to ensure that the emergency food pantries can provide needed assistance. more

Provide funding for essential social service case management services

The Conference advocates for state and local governments to ensure that essential "non-categorical case management services" are adequately funded on a par with all contracted services. more

Provide education and training programs leading to gainful employment with adequate benefits

Funds for education and training programs have increasingly been diverted to reduce budget deficits over the past several years. The resulting reductions in these programs threaten New York’s historic commitment to an educated workforce. more

Expand supports for low-income working families

The Catholic Conference supports increased funding of supportive services (such as child care, housing, education and training, transportation, health care coverage and the Earned Income Tax Credit) to enable families to participate in the work force and live above the poverty level. more

Encourage cooperation, incentives and standards to promote economic growth in upstate urban cities

The Catholic Conference urges cooperation among the political, business and labor leaders in New York to foster an environment that encourages economic growth in all regions of the state. The Conference encourages the provision of incentives to support economic growth in areas of the state that are lagging behind and struggling. more

Restore Respect for All Human Life

Maintain the state's current prohibition on physician-assisted suicide

The Catholic Conference seeks to maintain New York State's current prohibition on assisted suicide while ensuring increased support, resources, care, appropriate pain relief and treatment for the terminally ill. more

Repeal the death penalty

The Catholic Conference supports abolition of the death penalty in New York State to ensure that no more executions ever take place in the state. more

Promote adult stem cell research, and prohibit cloning and embryonic stem cell research

he New York State Catholic Conference of Bishops strongly supports ethical scientific inquiry using adult stem cells, umbilical cord blood cells and the newly-discovered iPS cells, in the fight against disability and disease. At the same time, the Conference strongly opposes human cloning of any kind, as well as destructive embryonic stem cell research, and supports legislation at both the state and federal levels to prohibit it for any purpose. more

Oppose efforts to further expand abortion

Because of the Catholic Church's fundamental teaching that human life is sacred from the first moment of creation, the Conference strongly opposes the radical Reproductive Rights and Privacy Protection Act (RHAPP). The Conference believes that every human life must be respected in law, including the woman facing an unplanned pregnancy and the innocent unborn child she carries in her womb. more

Strengthen and Protect Families

Oppose efforts to legalize the union of same-sex couples, whether called marriage or civil unions

The Catholic Conference will oppose efforts to legalize same-sex marriage or to grant equivalent status to non-marital relationships, and will support legislation to prohibit the recognition of same-sex civil unions and/or same-sex marriages. more

Reverse the state´s expansion of legalized gambling

The Catholic Conference opposes all casino gambling in New York State including casinos on Native American-owned land, as well as expanded opportunities for non-casino legalized gambling. more

Increase funding for services for domestic violence victims and their abusers

The Catholic Conference supports initiatives to increase both non-residential and residential programs serving victims of domestic violence and their families. more

Increase funding for counseling for addicted persons

The Catholic Conference recommends increased funding for programs that break the cycle of domestic violence by addressing the behaviors of those who abuse, including funding for counseling for compulsive gamblers, alcohol and substance abusers. more

Promote sexual abstinence education programs

The New York State Catholic Conference strongly disagrees with this decision, and believes that the abstinence programs funded since 1998 were contributing positively to the health of New York’s adolescents. Many of the faith-based providers of abstinence education in New York had been receiving positive program reviews over the years. more

Support legislation that prevents child access to firearms

The Catholic Conference supports measures to ensure the safety of children from gun violence. Among the measures needed are those requiring safe storage of guns, with penalties for adults improperly storing guns, enabling children to access weapons to injure or kill. more

Strengthen and enforce laws against obscenity

The Catholic Conference recognizes that obscenity degrades our society and basic human dignity. The Conference encourages vigorous enforcement of New York State’s obscenity laws, supports increased funding for prosecutorial/judicial training on obscenity laws, and supports legislative action to correct judicial misinterpretation of the current statutes governing obscenity. more

Encourage efforts to strengthen and preserve marriage and oppose ´no-fault´ divorce

The Conference supports efforts to strengthen marital unions and to promote stable, lasting marriages, and opposes "no-fault" divorce. more

Support Those in Need of Special Services

Ensure adequate funding for and access to mental health, alcohol and sbustance abuse treatment

The Catholic Conference supports the enactment of legislation which prevents health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations from imposing arbitrary restrictions on visits and requiring co-payments higher than those required for other outpatient health care services. more

Require parity for mental health and substance abuse health insurance benefits

The Catholic Conference supports the enactment of legislation which prevents health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations from imposing arbitrary restrictions on visits and requiring co-payments higher than those required for other outpatient health care services. more

Establish initiatives to recruit, train and retain individuals in the mental health profession

There is a growing demand for well-trained mental health and chemical dependency treatment professionals. The economic and emotional stress many residents of New York State are experiencing requires the availability of competent professionals, appropriately trained to respond to the magnitude of the problem. more

Enact policies that promote economic and social independence among aging New Yorkers

The Catholic Conference supports public policies that promote economic and social independence among aging New Yorkers, including access to affordable, quality health care services and housing. more

Increase assisted living program units to enable the frail elderly to live at home

The Catholic Conference supports a package of reforms in the financing and delivery of services for the frail elderly to maximize scarce health care and housing resources and to minimize institutional care. more

Ensure adequate funding for and access to services for persons with HIV/AIDS and their families

The Catholic Conference supports public policies that will increase access to quality health and mental health services, in addition to community-based supports and testing, for persons living with, or at risk of, AIDS and HIV. more

Increase funding for residences and resources to serve persons with developmental disabili

Many adults with developmental disabilities are awaiting out-of-home placement. The need for community placement for persons with developmental disabilities continues to increase markedly as families are unable to sustain their children at home with ever-diminishing supports. more

Establish permanent state fudning for respite care for family caregivers

Families caring for aging parents with chronic illnesses frequently need respite services to preserve their own health and sustain emotional relationships with their loved ones. Current funding for respite services in New York State is tenuous. A secure funding stream is needed to provide respite for the primary caretakers for aging and chronically ill family members. more

Welcome Immigrants and Migrants

Provide access to essential service for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status

The Catholic Conference opposes the enactment of laws that deny essential health, social service and education services to immigrants and place workers in the position of enforcing the laws. more

Protect the rights of migrant farm workers and undocumented laborers and their families

The Catholic Conference advocates for policies based upon the principle of preferential option for the poor. A particularly vulnerable group is migrant farm workers in New York State, primarily comprising people of Hispanic culture from Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and other Central and South American countries. The Catholic Conference supports the enactment of measures that will enhance the quality of life of migrant farm workers. more

Increase access to adult English literacy programs

The Catholic Conference strongly supports increased funding for adult English literacy programs and improved access to such programs. more