Going on Record

More than 40,000 sign postcards against FOCA and RHAPP

By CLAUDIA McDONNELL

When state and federal legislators proposed two new laws that would further promote abortion and threaten religious freedom, the archdiocesan Family Life/Respect Life Office began a campaign against the proposals and in defense of life.

Office staff, with the help of hundreds of pro-life workers throughout the archdiocese, asked parishioners at weekend Masses to sign postcards expressing their opposition to the proposals.

Since the campaign began March 28 and 29, the office has received more than 40,000 signed postcards. The effort is continuing in a number of parishes, and more postcards are coming in.

Sister Mary Elizabeth, S.V., director of the Family Life/Respect Life Office, said in an interview that she is not surprised by the success of the campaign.

"Poll after poll shows that the majority of Americans are pro-life," she said, "and when given an opportunity, they express their viewpoint."

The campaign is part of a nationwide effort endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and launched in January. Sister Mary Elizabeth explained that the campaign in the archdiocese has been adapted to local needs because of an additional legislative proposal in New York state.

The two proposals are the federal Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and the New York state Reproductive Health Act, which formerly had the words "privacy protection" in its title and has been known as RHAPP.

Both proposals, if enacted as law, would establish a "fundamental right" to abortion, similar to the rights of free speech and voting. They would prohibit basic, common-sense provisions such as informed consent, waiting periods before an abortion may be performed and parental notification. Also prohibited would be bans on partial-birth abortion and later-term abortions.

"There has been no bill that goes this far," Sister Mary Elizabeth said. "And the threat that it poses to religious liberty is quite serious."

FOCA and RHAPP would threaten the freedom of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose convictions prevent them from cooperating in an abortion. Also threatened would be Catholic health care institutions, social service agencies and schools. Government agencies could deny licenses, funding or other benefits to hospitals that choose not to promote abortion, and social service agencies could be forced to provide counseling supporting abortion. Schools could be required to make referrals for abortions, and insurance plans could be required to cover abortion.

In addition, FOCA and RHAPP would jeopardize any program that encourages pregnant women to bear their babies, as well as any program that promotes alternatives to abortion.

Parishioners who filled out the postcards were asked to provide their names, addresses and telephone numbers. They also were asked to give their e-mail address, if they wished to, so that they could be registered with the Catholic Advocacy Network, a program sponsored by the New York State Catholic Conference to help citizens to keep abreast of legislative issues affecting the Church.

The information on the postcards will be entered into a database. Sister Mary Elizabeth said that even if FOCA and RHAPP are not introduced as legislation, the postcards will be sent to legislators "so that they'll be aware of the strong opposition" to both proposals among their constituents.

Sister Lucy Marie Vasile, S.V., who directs Respect Life programs for the Family Life/Respect Life Office, told CNY that the success of the postcard campaign is due largely to pastors and pro-life workers.

"We have wonderful, dedicated pastors facilitating this in their parishes," she said, "and excellent respect life coordinators working with them...They were volunteering, helping to man tables, speaking at Masses."

Angela Liebold is the right-to-life coordinator at Holy Child parish on Staten Island, which collected more than 1,300 postcards. She said that the effort was helped by the pastor, Father Alan F. Travers, who put information about the campaign into the parish bulletin.

"We're just praying that God will open the eyes of the people who are in the culture of death to come and be enlightened to the culture of life and the sacredness of all human life," Mrs. Liebold said. "Without prayer, it's impossible, but with prayer, all things are possible."

Jackie Nagle, the right-to-life coordinator at St. Barnabas parish in the Bronx, spoke with CNY about the postcard campaign and why it has been so successful. She said that at her parish, three members of the right-to-life group—including herself—were on hand all weekend, with one of them speaking at each of the Masses with the permission of the pastor, Msgr. Edward M. Barry.

"We covered the basic issues that we thought would have an impact on the congregation," Mrs. Nagle said. "We received such an awesome response, it was unbelievable...So many people said, ÔWe didn't know this was out there.' " She expected to run into some "mixed feelings" among those who heard the message, but instead, people shook her hand and thanked her for what she was doing. The parish collected 650 postcards.

Mrs. Nagle added that the entire effort received strong support from the priest-celebrants. Helping to hand out postcards were postulants of the Sisters of Life.

Mrs. Nagle is convinced that FOCA and RHAPP can be prevented from becoming law.

"With God, anything can happen," she said.

Sister Mary Elizabeth and Sister Lucy Marie both mentioned that the campaign is more than an effort to get names and e-mail addresses. It's also an opportunity, they said, to convey the pro-life message. Sister Mary Elizabeth said that one priest spoke to the congregation about the pain that abortion has caused to individuals and families, and he invited those affected by abortion to seek healing through the sacrament of reconciliation.

Sister Lucy said, "For us, the postcard campaign is successful if it reaches souls...We're not just looking at the numbers...We want to reach souls to bring them healing and truth." Including, she added, the truth about FOCA and RHAPP and the harm they will do if they should become law.

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