Public Policy Day Report

The Evangelist has an article on Public Policy Day at the State Capitol in Albany, as well as a meeting the bishops had with Governor Andrew Cuomo the previous day.

Ahead of the lobbying day on Monday, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the New York Archdiocese and their fellow New York State bishops met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders at the state Capitol.

During the closed-door meeting, the bishops thanked Gov. Cuomo for restoring a new sense of trust, confidence and fiscal responsibility in state government.

Bishop Hubbard said that the bishops monitor about 70 public policy issues, but pared the list down for their audience with the governor. Among other topics, they addressed:

• safe and affordable housing for the poor;

• farmworkers' rights;

• affordable and accessible day care;

• job transportation in rural communities;

• job training in prisons and for low-income people;

• funding for prison chaplains;

• Catholic education; and

• the public assistance grant.

Cardinal Dolan said Gov. Cuomo was "very attentive" and "well-briefed" and recognized the Church's role as a voice for the voiceless.

"In general, we [bishops] come up here to affirm and encourage" elected officials, rather than protest and oppose, Cardinal Dolan said. He added that meetings with governors are usually positive, but "with Gov. Cuomo, they're particularly friendly and substantive."

The entire article is here.