Catholics in New York will converge on their state’s capital, Albany on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s bishops on matters or public policy, released the following statement:

Archbishop Dolan and state’s Bishops to join Catholic lobby day in Albany on March 8

Archbishop Timothy Dolan and the state’s Catholic bishops will join about 1,000 New York State Catholics for the 2011 public policy day, “Catholics at the Capitol,” to be held Tuesday, March 8, in Albany at the state Capitol complex.

The archbishop and other bishops have scheduled meetings with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in their offices at the Capitol.

Participants will gather for 10 a.m. Mass at the newly renovated Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception near the Capitol, then meet with their legislators and attend workshops, including one on continuing advocacy at the diocesan and parish levels. This full list of issues for the day is as follows:
• Oppose the radical “Reproductive Health Act” abortion bill and support for alternatives to abortion
• Support comprehensive conscience protection for individuals and institutions
• Preserve Catholic schools
• Protect the poor and those severely impacted by the economic downturn
• Maintain the health care infrastructure and health care coverage for low- and moderate-income individuals
• Support juvenile justice reform that results in a system that better serves youth and community
• Oppose the redefinition of marriage

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Convention Center. Mass at the cathedral will be at 10 a.m. Archbishop Dolan will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Lunch will be provided after Mass and workshops begin at 11:45.
At the conclusion of Mass, Jack Balinsky, director of Catholic Charities of Rochester and longtime member of the Catholic Conference’s Public Policy Committee, will receive the J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service from the New York State Bishops. The late Alan Davitt was a former executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference.

The Diocese of Brooklyn also has buses to take people to Albany that day. For more information, check out the diocese’s website.