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CONNECTICUT CATHOLIC ADVOCACY NETWORK
NEWSLETTER
08/19/2008
State Primaries Are Over - Election Day Is Approaching: Who Should I Vote For? What are the Positions of the Candidates? Catholic Conference to Survey Candidates.
This November voters will be able to turn to the Connecticut Catholic Conference to find out where the candidates for State Senate and House of Representatives stand on issues of interest to many Catholics in our state. The Conference will soon be surveying all candidates on several key issues and publishing their responses on the Conference's website and in the four major Catholic diocesan newspapers in the state. Their responses will also be distributed in every Catholic church in Connecticut as inserts to the Sunday bulletins. A similar effort was done for the primaries held on August 12th, but the effort for the November elections will be more encompassing. Members of the Connecticut Catholic Advocacy Network will also receive information through email.
The Conference will publish the results of all candidates, not just those who reply. If a candidate for the district you live in does not reply, please follow-up and ask why they failed to do so and what their positions are on the issues covered in the survey. It is important to remember that the Connecticut Catholic Conference does not endorse any particular candidate. The purpose of the survey is to educate the public on the positions of the candidates related to various issues of interest to the Catholic community.
The Catholic Bishops of the United States urge all Catholics to vote. It is a special privilege that helps effect the path our nation and state will take on many important issues. Catholics are encourage to educate themselves on the issues, not just from a factual basis, but from a faith perspective. They are also called to educate themselves on how the various candidates stand on particular issues. If they are incumbents running for reelection, knowledge of their previous voting record or actions is also important.
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In its effort to help Catholic voters balance the positions candidates may hold on issues with Catholic social and moral teaching, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has developed a program know as FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP. Please explore the link below to learn more about this program and Catholic teaching on many issues.
CLICK HERE FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP WEBSITE
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In addition to Candidates a Constitutional Convention Question will be on the November Ballot
In addition to making a selection among a number of candidates for various public offices, according to Article 13 of the Connecticut Constitution, voters in the state will be asked to vote on a question that is asked only once every twenty years; "Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the State?". This question is required by the State Constitution and will not appear again until 2028. If approved, a Constitutional Convention would be called in the state with the aim of revising the existing document. The Connecticut Catholic Conference currently has no position on this question, but the debate on this question will be worth listening to before you cast your vote in November.
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Abortion Numbers Down Nationally, but Up in Connecticut! Catholic Conference to Issue First Ever Detailed Report on Abortion in September.
The Connecticut press reported this month that despite a decline in abortions nationwide (8% between 2000 - 2005), the number of abortions in Connecticut have increased by 12.6% between 2000 and 2007. A total of 104,992 abortion were performed in Connecticut over the last eight years reported, averaging 13,124 abortions per year.
The initial news report came from a small article in the Fairfield County Catholic. The numbers were provide by the Catholic Conference and are based on State Department of Public Health figures. The Connecticut Catholic Conference will be issuing a more detailed report on abortion, analyzing various trends and issues in late September. This report may prove to be an "eyeopener" on an issue not often discussed for many citizens in our state.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR - September 7, 2008 2:00 pm, Steps of the State Capitol, Hartford
Special Event Notice - "Silent No More" Public Gathering
The Connecticut Chapter of the "Silent No More" campaign will be holding a public gathering in Hartford on September 7th. The members of this organization are post-abortive women and men who have come together to share their personal testimonies of the harmful effects of abortion, together with their hope and healing. All too often we hear that there are no harmful effects of an abortion, but this organization exists to give testimony against this false claim.
Please plan to attend this event as a show of support for their efforts. If you have had an abortion, and are interested in becoming a member of this organization, you can contact Nicole Peck , Director, at jnpeck@mac.com.
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Connecticut Catholic Conference to be Represented on Task Force Examining Domestic Violence in the Immigrant Community
The Connecticut Catholic Conference, reflecting the Church's position of support and concern for the immigrant community, pursued the establishment of a special task force to examine the issue of domestic violence in the immigrant community during the last legislative session. Far to often women in abusive situations are fearful of seeking assistance due to worries concerning their immigration status or just a lack of understanding of the law. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, James Amann, established a special task force this month to address this issue, with the membership coming from many non-profit and state agencies that deal with our immigrant population and legal system. Michael Culhane, the Executive Director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, is a member of the task force.
Speaker Amann's letter to potential task force members clarified the issue:
"Domestic violence is a serious crime that impacts numerous women and children in
Connecticut each year. The State of
Connecticut, with the assistance of various organizations, has been able to provide a place for these victims to turn for help in their time of need. However, one group of victims still suffers in silence and fear. Immigrant women and children suffer abuse daily within our state due to their lack of understanding about our legal system, the assistance available, and above all their immigration status. I am sure you would agree with me that no woman or child should suffer at the hands of an abuser, fearful of seeking help, within the borders of our state.
In order to resolve this problem and assist these victims I am forming a task force on domestic abuse of immigrant women and children... The task force will examine current domestic violence law, support available for victims, law enforcement practices, and other related topics. The goal of the task force is to propose legislative or public policy changes that will insure these victims receive the assistance they need."
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