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by Tom Tracy
Each year, prior to the annual Red Mass for
Catholic lawmakers working in Tallahassee, the
state’s Catholic bishops traditionally are
granted an informational meeting with Florida’s
governor.
This month the Florida bishops hope to continue
that tradition with the new Florida Gov. Charlie
Crist.
But that church-state relationship is not a
once-a-year affair.
The Florida bishops have a permanent presence in
Tallahassee in the form of the Florida Catholic
Conference (FCC), a relatively small but
expertly staffed group of lay professionals that
help the bishops liaise with state government on
matters of concern to the Catholic Church. Under
the guidance of Executive Director Michael
McCarron, the FCC is a nonpartisan public policy
voice assisting to coordinate the cooperative
undertakings among the seven dioceses in the
Province of Miami (The province encompasses the
state of Florida).
By establishing relationships with key
representatives and agencies of Florida
government and analyzing the moral dimension of
public policies, the FCC’s mission statement
proclaims the sanctity of life and dignity of
the human person, assists decision makers in
reaching just solutions and provides an avenue
for Catholics in Florida to carry out their
responsibility to participate in political life.
While staying nonpartisan and guided by Catholic
teachings, FCC representatives are not violating
church and state nor are they endorsing
candidates or political parties, but rather
letting the Catholic faith help form an approach
to politics and public policy in areas of
pro-life, social justice, education,
immigration, bio-ethics and much more.
McCarron said that despite policy differences
over the state death penalty and the approach to
educational vouchers, that the FCC found an
exceptional alley in the sanctity-of-life arena
with former Gov. Jeb Bush, to a degree that may
not be easily found in future governors.
Nevertheless, the bishops hope to establish a
good working relationship this year with key
state officials and the Charlie Crist
administration.
“We have been working with him for many years
when he was in the Florida Senate, as
commissioner of education, and as attorney
general in terms of defending laws Gov. Bush
assisted in enacting dealing with the sanctity
of life,” McCarron said.
“He knows the personnel in our office and he
knows about the FCC. We feel we can go forward
with developing a relationship with him, but we
are on different pages on embryonic stem cell
research. We are actively working to oppose any
state funding of it.
Another issue we have different perspectives on
is the death penalty, and we are concerned the
governor might escalate a (death penalty) rate
that is already alarming.”
To help facilitate its work, the FCC has added a
new position this year called Associate for
Communications, in the person of Michele Taylor,
who in the past served as personal assistant to
McCarron. Taylor will help communicate to the
media and public the FCC objectives, legislative
actions and statements from the Florida bishops.
One of its keys means of communications is the
FCC website (www.flacathconf.org) and a
Legislative Advocacy Network, which Taylor hopes
to expand to some several thousand individuals
statewide who receive email notifications on
pertinent legislative developments.
Moreover, McCarron said the FCC’s priorities for
the 2007 legislative season include pro-life
issues: “We have an astounding number of
abortions in our state - more than 90,000 a
year, but it is also an astounding statistic
that 90 percent of young mothers who find that
there is help available make a decision to keep
their child,” he said, “so funding for pregnancy
support services is a critically important
priority.”
Likewise the public confusion of embryonic stem
cell research is on the FCC radar, and McCarron
said the bishops oppose state funding for
research that destroys a human embryo — “that
will be one of our toughest battles,” he said.
Other legislative priorities for 2007 relate to
affordable housing crisis following the recent
hurricane seasons and an increase in property
tax and home-owners insurance; farm worker
justice; the environment; Catholic education;
and much more.
Each year, Catholic laity in Florida are invited
to attend a two-day event (March 13-14) called
Catholic Days at the Capitol, which allows
participants to learn about some of the current
issues of concern to the Catholic Church in
Florida under discussion in the legislature.
Then, as a constituent, they are encouraged to
meet with their legislators to speak to them
about the Catholic position.
“Catholic Days is an extension of our efforts to
communicate our concern for issues that affect
the lives and dignity of the human person,” said
Sheila Hopkins, associate for Social Concerns at
the FCC. “This also allows participants the
opportunity to become involved in the political
process. Many are hooked once they come and see
they have an opportunity to make a difference.”
To participate in Catholic Days at the Capitol,
March13-14, call Lorraine Allaire of the Respect
Life Office at (904) 308-7474 or email:
lalla001@jaxhealth.com. Van transportation will
be available to travel to Tallahassee. |