Catholic Transcript Online

HARTFORD – As the legislative session heats up, the Connecticut Catholic Conference will once again bring together the three Roman Catholic dioceses in Connecticut on Feb. 9 at the state Capitol for Catholic Awareness Day, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Formerly called Catholic Concerns Day, the event is designed to give participants an opportunity to learn about the legislative process, become aware of issues that are of utmost importance to Catholics and meet with elected officials.

The 10 annual such gathering begins with a brief overview of the legislative process by Michael C. Culhane, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, at 9:30 a.m.

For the remainder of the morning, four workshops will be held on the topics of immigration, life issues, health care reform and challenges to parochial schools.

The first two simultaneous workshops start at 10 a.m., followed by the remaining two workshops at 11. The workshops will be held in the Old Appropriations Room and the Old Judiciary Room on the third floor of the Capitol.

The bishops of the three dioceses will be on hand for a noon press conference to talk about the Catholic agenda with reporters.

While the workshops are underway, Connecticut’s bishops will meet with Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele as well as with the Senate and House leadership from both political parties.

“We are urging everyone to come and meet with their legislators, telling them why they are there and encouraging them to support the position of the Catholic Conference regarding our legislative agenda,” said Mr. Culhane.

“We want people to be aware of the issues that are important, not only to Catholics but to all citizens of Connecticut,” he said.

Pastors are being encouraged to send groups of people from their parishes to learn about the issues and meet with their legislators.

Parishes can plan ahead by making appointments with their elected officials by calling the following telephone numbers: Senate Democrats: 1-800-842-1420; Senate Republicans: 1-800-842-1421; House Democrats: 1-800-842-1902; House Republicans: 1-800-842-1423.

Among hot issues on its agenda is immigration. The Connecticut Catholic Conference was successful in helping to establish a task force on immigration that has led to several recommendations that are expected to move through the legislative process this year.

In health care reform, the Connecticut Catholic Conference, as the chief lobbying arm of the Church in the state, has submitted three reports that will be brought up by the legislative committee during this session.

In education, the Conference is pursuing corporate tax credits that will go toward scholarships for students in private and parochial schools.

It is also supporting a bill calling for counseling for minors who are considering an abortion, as well as a bill seeking parental/adult notification for minors prior to an abortion.

As the Catholic Church at large grapples with issues from abortion to same-sex marriage, Connecticut bishops have used the day, over the years, to speak out against the increase in Catholic bashing, an anti-Catholic legislative bias, threats to religious freedom and a move by groups of people whose apparent goal is the destruction of the Catholic Church.

In response, the Connecticut Catholic Conference – as the public policy and advocacy office of the bishops – has drawn thousands to the state Capitol over the past decade.