He said the bishops are seeking a new way to remind Catholics of their obligations and to discuss important issues, similar to what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has done with their document “Faithful Citizenship.”
Asked about the issues active in New York state, Poust said the abortion issue was not at stake.
Calling New York “the most liberal abortion state in the country,” he commented that “even commonsense restrictions do not get to the floor of the legislature.”
“Same-sex marriage is a big issue here,” he continued, noting that New York Governor David Patterson is “strongly supporting it.” Poust noted that the governor had instructed state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in other states.
Further, he commented that the New York State Assembly has already passed a same-sex marriage bill, which is opposed by the GOP-controlled New York Senate.
However, the Republicans control the Senate only by a few votes. If control swings to the Democrats, Poust reported, same-sex marriage “could become a reality in this state.”
Poust also described proposed state legislation that would open a window on the statue of limitations for civil claims of sexual abuse of a minor.
Poust stated that the proposal is “aimed at destroying the Catholic Church.” Comparing the proposal to similar failed Colorado legislation, he said the bill would allow people to sue private institutions “going back 60 or 70 years” but not public institutions.
The New York legislature’s proposed Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act is also a threat to religious freedom for Catholics and other pro-life groups. The bill would state abortion is a “fundamental right” and, Proust said, could conceivably force Catholic health care providers to perform abortions.
Another possible outcome would be putting Catholic hospitals out of business as well as Catholic charities which refuse to provide or refer for abortions.
The bill was pushed “very heavily” by the disgraced former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Poust told CNA. While Gov. Patterson has supported the bill, he has not indicated if it is going to be a political priority.
(Story continues below)
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CNA asked Poust if the New York bishops’ conference take a stand on whether the abortion issue can qualify or disqualify a candidate.
He explained that the document echoes the U.S. bishops’ remarks in “Faithful Citizenship” and reiterated the New York bishops’ comments that the extent to which candidates support abortion, should make them “less acceptable” to Catholics.
While a candidate’s support for abortion could disqualify him or her as an ethical choice, there could be “morally grave” reasons to support a pro-abortion rights candidate, he added.
However, Poust characterized such cases as requiring “a very high bar” of judgment and a “very difficult bar to pass.”