Maryland Catholic Conference Blog

As the 2011 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly comes to a close, it is disappointing to see that the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit (Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers in Maryland) did not pass this year. In fact, the bill (HB 932/SB 315), again did not advance out of the House Ways and Means Committee. The committee has repeatedly been the barrier to passage of the legislation and that fact remained this session, as well. BOAST would give businesses a 75% state income tax credit for donations to organizations that support Maryland’s K-12 public and nonpublic school students and teachers. This initiative would increase the availability of student scholarships for lower- and middle-income families, alleviate tuition costs at nonpublic schools, and create affordable education options throughout the state of Maryland. BOAST would also help enhance the quality of public school education by increasing the availability of enrichment programs. Enrichment programs target public school students’ needs and include mentoring, tutoring, and other education programs. In addition, Maryland businesses would benefit by seeing a reduction in their overall state

So what exactly goes on during the infamous Lobby Night? I have been hearing about Lobby Night since I first started my internship here at the Catholic Conference and up until the night I had no idea what I was in for. It is exciting to say the least; hundreds of Catholics from all over Maryland gathered in one room all preparing to lobby for the issues dearest to them. No- you don’t have to be a lobbyist to make a difference in public policy. Everywhere I looked there were people just like me and you discussing issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, and immigration. After being briefed by the staff here at the Maryland Catholic Conference, the constituents are ready to go out and lobby! It was inspiring to see just how many people came out to show their support not only for their faith, but their home state as well. You truly feel the catholic community at work on this night and I am happy I got to experience it for myself!

Back in early February I helped conduct research on gambling for the Maryland Catholic Conference. First, I reviewed what the official Catholic Church teaching is on this particular practice. I also needed to look up gambling-related bills that were being offered into the legislature in the 2011 session. To be honest, I was originally unsure of where exactly the Catholic Church stood on the issue of gambling. After all, gambling is not the most controversial political issue out there. Nevertheless, it is certainly an issue that our Church cares deeply about. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant” (CCC, 2413). In this sense, recreational gambling is not intrinsically evil. It becomes evil when a person lets gambling control

This past weekend I was at The American History Museum in D.C. As I was walking through the exhibit on slavery in America I thought how lucky I was to have been born into a world where slavery was a worry of the past. But is slavery only a horror of history? Human trafficking is the modern day form of slavery and it is happening in our own backyard. Now, I’ve seen a couple of movies on human trafficking and I always thought these unthinkable acts happened in some faraway place like Kosovo or China, but I never thought it was happening here in Maryland! I found it alarming that human trafficking is one of Maryland’s fastest growing crimes, and I wasn’t alone. MD legislators have been working on bills that crack down on this illegal practice. Two bills in particular are HB 1304, which require owners of truck stops and bus stations to post a sign that provides the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline information. I personally think this is a no-brainer! If I were to witness this crime occurring I would have no idea who to call, the police? The State Department? It isn’t information that most people know so I find this bill to be truly helpful and so did our state delegates

So yesterday was my first time watching the Senate floor debate and it was chaotic to say the least. The bills being debated included budget changes, moped safety, school bus safety cameras, and an increased alcohol tax. Walking in to the Senate chamber is an experience in itself; there is a beautiful stained glass ceiling and grand arches throughout. Once the gavel struck, the debate began. First up was HB 70 relating to the annual budget. The senators were discussing the 70 amendments attached to it—makes me wonder if the bill will even be similar to its first draft once amended? I thought it was interesting to see the interactions between senators; they would move around throughout the entire debate, joking and chatting with friends-perhaps even strategizing! It was so lively in fact that at one point the President of the Maryland Senate Mike Miller had to raise his voice to get the attention of a senator. Sitting in on the Senate floor debate is something I would recommend to all Maryland residents. Not only is it an excuse to come down to our vibrant, charming capital, but you get the opportunity to see your senators in action, discussing bills that directly

The general experience of working in Maryland’s capital this semester was not quite what I had expected. In fact, it has actually been better than what I had expected. I had never been to Annapolis before, so I was definitely amazed by this historic, fascinating town by the bay. The Maryland General Assembly was also not what I had originally expected – in so many different ways. For example, I was surprised to find out that literally anyone can sign up to testify at Senate and House Committee hearings. Furthermore, you do not have to come representing some organization or business; you can speak at these hearings on behalf of yourself. I would argue that this “town hall” type of environment in the capital is absolutely essential to the state’s democratic proceedings. It ensures that any and all Maryland residents can make their voices heard to their state legislators. It allows for democracy to truly thrive here in Maryland. It is unfortunate, however, that we cannot have these same, relaxed speaking rules at the federal level of government in Washington, D.C.

Faced with mounting evidence of numerous injuries and even deaths, the State of Maryland may finally be moving toward ending18 years of inaction in regulating Maryland’s abortion clinics. Currently, Maryland exempts abortion clinics from the health and safety regulations that govern ambulatory care facilities (out-patient surgical clinics). Rather than being regulated based on surgical risk, abortion clinics are regulated only as doctor offices which perform routine care, not invasive surgery. Despite factual and moving testimony by dozens of witnesses before the Senate Finance and House Health and Government Operations Committees, to date neither committee has taken action on legislation to ensure greater oversight of abortion clinics. The hearings were held on Senate Bill 505 and House Bill 23, which would require that abortion clinics be regulated just like ambulatory surgical facilities. The committees have, however, secured an assurance from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) that they plan to draft regulations by July 2011. All stakeholders, including the Maryland Catholic Conference, will be invited to provide input during the drafting process. “While

Stephanie White lost her healthy 21 year old daughter in 2006. Denise died of an overdose of anesthesia given during an abortion. The abortion clinic did not have a qualified anesthetist. The abortion clinic staff was not trained in basic life support. Currently, Maryland exempts abortion clinics from the health and safety regulations that govern ambulatory care facilities or out-patient surgical clinics. So instead of being regulated based on surgical risk, abortion clinics are regulated as simple doctor offices which perform routine care, not invasive surgery. SB 505 - the Freestanding Ambulatory Care Facilities Bill Senate Finance Committee Hearing Wednesday, March 2 Hearing on Scheduled Bills Begins at 1:00 pm SB 505, the Freestanding Ambulatory Care Facilities bill, would close this loophole and require that abortion clinics be regulated just like ambulatory surgical facilities. This bill would ensure that abortion clinics actually have safety protocols in place so that they are prepared to handle situations when something goes wrong. Stephanie White and others will testify tomorrow at the Senate Finance Committee hearing. Denise is just one

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore, and Bishop Francis Malooly of Wilmington issued the following statement today to Maryland’s more than 1.2 million Catholics. We commend the thousands of Maryland Catholics who have raised their voices in recent weeks in support of our society’s foundational institution – the union of one man and one woman in marriage. In addition to their thousands of emails, phone calls, and visits to legislators, over 500 Catholics came out last week to visit legislators for the Maryland Catholic Conference’s Lobby Night. Your efforts must not abate. The time for continued and urgent action is now. The recent decision of a slim majority of Maryland senators to pass legislation that would drastically alter our state’s longstanding definition of marriage is regrettable. We believe such a change would lead to the erosion of the family, our society’s most valued and important social unit. The measure would dismantle our state’s legal recognition of the true procreative nature of marriage, and contains inadequate conscience protections for religious institutions and individuals. As a result, the measure would

Regrettably, the Maryland State Senate voted today to drastically alter the definition of marriage. Governments across time and continents have elevated marriage between one man and one woman to promote and protect this unique institution that alone can create children. We are deeply disappointed in the members of the Senate who have made the irresponsible decision to dismantle our state’s definition of marriage, and we continue to call upon lawmakers in the House of Delegates to oppose the bill passed by the Senate. We reject the argument that government needs to redefine marriage so that same-sex couples can receive benefits. It is clear that there are other avenues for granting certain rights and benefits to couples who are not married. Maryland has already granted many rights to domestic partnerships, such as medical decision-making, hospital visitation rights, and exemptions from real estate transfer and inheritance taxes. There are many ways to protect basic human rights; redefining marriage is not one of them. Further, if there were a genuine need to provide such benefits, there is no sound explanation why these rights and protections should not also apply to the many

As expected, SB 116 was voted out of committee today. SB 116 would redefine marriage in our state and drastically alter a social institution that derives from our human nature as men and women. The argument that we need to redefine marriage so that same-sex couples can receive benefits unravels when we consider the fact that many human relationships are based on the love and commitment of two people for one another, and that many good and generous people are raising children in nurturing environments that are different than the traditional nuclear family. It is clear that there are other avenues for granting certain rights and benefits to couples who are not married. Maryland has already granted many rights to domestic partnerships, such as medical decision-making, hospital visitation rights, and exemptions from real estate transfer and inheritance taxes. There are many ways to protect basic human rights; sacrificing marriage is not one of them. While the committee added limited religious exemption amendments to SB 116, our opposition to this bill does not rest on a simple concern for the interests of religious institutions only. The bill continues to provide no protections