That’s
a RHAPP?
by
Dawn
Iacono, Director of Diocesan Office of Pro-Life
Activities
On March
10, I crossed the
Empire
State
to the Capitol preparing to participate in
the annual NYSCC Public Policy Day slated for
March 11, 2008. Accompanied by hundreds
of Catholics to lobby our legislators our
intention was to bring the light of our
Catholic voice up against the most urgent
issue of the day; Eliot Spitzer's Program Bill
#16, also known as S. 5829 or RHAPP (Reproductive
Health and Privacy Protection Act). Only later
would we realize that we would be in
Albany
during some of the most historic days in NY
politics.
Well known to pro-life advocates for his
virulently pro-abortion position Governor Spitzer
personally introduced the Reproductive Health and
Privacy Protection Act which, if passed, would make
New York the most liberal state in the country
when it comes to abortion and declare it a
fundamental human "right" ensuring
that abortion would remain legal and unrestricted in
New York even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe
v. Wade.
The Diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities in
concert with the NYSCC and Dioceses
across
New York
launched an intense campaign opposing the
bill on the grounds that it could threaten
religious freedom. The Bishops of NY
released a joint statement voicing their
opposition to the radical abortion bill
S.5829, and were prepared to address this
extreme legislation with Eliot on that
Monday.
Little did we all realize that instead of meeting
privately with Cardinal Edward Egan
and the Bishop's of
New York
at 3:00pm, mercy hour, prayers were offered
for the Spitzer family as news broke that the
governor was tied to a prostitution ring.
Instead, Spitzer would be addressing the
public, apologizing for the "private
matter" of adultery, betraying the trust his
wife and three daughters, engaging in illegal
activity that violates federal prostitution laws
and breach of electoral trust which sheds a very
different light on his inauguration address to
pledge to bring ethical government to
New York
. Quite a blow to those who coined him
as the champion of moral convictions, ethics
and combatant of corruption.
David Paterson is Pro-Abortion: Preparing to lobby
in the Capitol on March 11 was
challenging as events were still unfolding. When I
inquired to various legislators what the future
held for RHAPP bill, they all agreed that the
state budget was an immediate priority but
everything was uncertain as transitions would most
likely be taking place in
Albany
. And change they did.
On March 13, Spitzer resigned in disgrace and with
it came many questions as to the new Governor's
positions on life. Spitzer strongly pushed his
legislation, citing the passing of the Act as a
top priority but with a new Governor, priorities
may change. So, what do we know about David
Paterson's position regarding the life issues?
Bottom line, he is pro-choice.
In 2004, Family Planning Advocates gave him their
"Margaret Sanger Award" named after the
woman who founded Planned Parenthood, the nation's
largest abortion business. Interestingly,
Paterson
was called to stand in for Spitzer to
address the Family Planning Advocates of NYS
(representing Planned Parenthood clinics) annual
conference on Monday, March 10. The Cardinal and
Bishops didn't even get a stand-in for their
scheduled meeting with the governor later that
same afternoon.
Paterson
previously stated in a letter to the group that he
applauded their efforts to keep abortion safe and legal
and their leadership in promoting abortion
which has made NY a model for other states.
When he was in the State Senate, he either voted
against or sponsored bills against the Church's
position on: Partial Birth Abortion Ban, Unborn
Victims of Violence Act, Limits on Medicaid
Funding for Abortion, Parental Notification,
Embryonic Stem Cell Research, False Cloning Ban,
Emergency Contraception, forcing Employers to
Cover Contraceptives in Health Insurance, Clinic
Access Bill (Restricting pro-life protests at
abortion clinics).
According to an article in the
New York
Sun, he supports RHAPP and same-sex marriage. He
has been a prime mover in Governor Spitzer's stem
cell research initiative, which will spend
hundreds of millions of dollars, primarily on
embryonic stem cell research despite the recent
reprogramming breakthrough that makes unethical
research unnecessary.
Future of RHAPP? RHAPP to date, survives Eliot
Spitzer in two bill versions the Democratic bill
(S.6045-A) and the Republican bill (S.5829 by the
Senate Rules Committee). It could be introduced at
any time in the Assembly. The abortion bill may
not have the “steamrolling” momentum behind it
now that Spitzer is the focus of his own
prostitution scandal. But, despite the uncertainty
of the future of RHAPP, my advice is to
remain vigilant in our defense against the
threats to human life. Top Spitzer advisors
and others said they were "left in the
dark" about the governor's future. I
recommend that Catholics continue to show
opposition to the abortion bill to ensure that the
future of RHAPP S.5929 remains in the
dark, never to see the light of the floor of the
legislature.
As stated in the bishop's reflection on faithful
citizenship, there are some things we must never
do, as individuals or as a society, because they
are always incompatible wit love of God and
neighbor. These intrinsically evil acts must
always be rejected and never supported. Disrespect
for any human life,
whether through human trafficking or abortion,
diminishes respect for all
human life. Let us pray that our new Governor will
help protect the dignity of women and children by
pursuing policies and creating laws that protect human
life on every level.
Information
on RHAPP
