Legislation Threatens Church Bishop Asks Cathedral Club to Rally Laypeople, by Ed Wilkinson, The Tablet, February 8, 2009

Legislation Threatens Church
Bishop Asks Cathedral Club to Rally Laypeople

By Ed Wilkinson
The Tablet
February 8, 2009

http://www.thetablet.org/02072009/stories.html

Speaking to members of The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio said that laypeople must take a more active role in politics and community affairs. He urged them to be advocates for "the unborn child, all who have been marginalized or abused, our school children and their parents, the alien in our midst, those impacted by the darkness of war, and the soldier serving in distant lands."

Among those on The Cathedral Club’s impressive dais were, from left, Kings County Supreme Court Justices Matthew D’Emic and John Ingram, and New York attorney, Edward Cox, the husband of Patricia Nixon Cox.
Photo by Ed Wilkinson

But he warned, "We face monumental attacks that distract from the positive vision and the work we seek to accomplish."

He spoke at the annual dinner of The Cathedral Club Jan. 29 in the main ballroom of The New York Hilton, Manhattan. Honored at the dinner was Joseph Pistilli, president, CEO and chairman of the board of First Central Savings Bank.

"As many of you know, the State Assembly has proposed legislation that would have a devastating impact on our Church and exploit a painful chapter in our history," said Bishop DiMarzio, "namely, the statute of limitation rollback for cases of sexual abuse of minors."

The legislation recently introduced by Assemblywoman Marge Markey of Queens would lift the statute of limitations in such cases, opening the doors to lawsuits that could severely damage diocesan finances.

"The State of New York would target the Church with the passage of legislation which would retrospectively repeal the statute of limitation and expose the Church to litigation as far back as 50 years ago that would be impossible to defend against."

The legislation would apply to the Church and other non-profit organizations even though the bulk of sex abuse cases are in the public sector.

MAN OF THE HOUR: From left, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Cathedral Club President George Prezioso present the Club’s Man of the Year Award to Joseph Pistilli. In background is radio personality Jim Kerr, who was the emcee for the event.
Photo by Ed Wilkinson

"Consider this, in our state, over the last 50 years, there have been 300 priests accused of abuse," explained Bishop DiMarzio. "In the last five years, over 500 (public school) teachers have been accused of similar misconduct."

The bishop told the 600 people in attendance that "the Church needs advocates like you to raise your voices and say 'Pass legislation that really protects children. Pass legislation that recognizes the pain of all victims. Stop targeting the Church."

Bishop DiMarzio pointed out that the Church has learned much from the sexual abuse crisis. "In the last five years… we have put into place safeguards that protect children from abuse or exploitation by any church employee or volunteer," he said. "Each adult must undergo a criminal background check and participate in our Virtus program, our children learn the techniques of predators through our Child Lures Program. The Diocese is voluntarily audited to ensure the processes and procedures really protect children and can stand as a model for all."

DAIS GUESTS: Also seated on The Cathedral Club dais were, from left, Congressman Peter King, Father Kieran Harrington, Vicar for Communications; Bill McKenna, former chairman of the board of Ridgewood Savings Bank, and diocesan attorney Joseph Farrell.
Photo by Ed Wilkinson

He further pointed out that all allegations are immediately referred to the appropriate district attorney's office as well as an internal investigative panel headed by retired NYPD sex crime detectives.

Bishop DiMarzio also pointed out that every person who alleges abuse by a members of the clergy, or a diocesan employee or volunteer, are offered therapy and assistance.

The cost of these diocesan efforts is $2 million a year.

"Despite our best efforts, the State of New York would target the Church," said the bishop.

Because of this crisis, the diocese cannot give its full attention to other causes such as fighting for financial relief for parents who choose to send their children to Catholic schools.

"As a consequence, our schools begin to close," said Bishop DiMarzio.

"If the situation were not so dire, it would be laughable. The people we elect to represent us propose legislation that would require us to close our churches, fail to recognize the contribution we make to the education of Catholic and non-Catholic children in our city and they will not lift a finger even as our schools close."

Among those addressing The Cathedral Club dinner were Nathaniel Wienecke, former assistant secretary for U.S. Dept. of Commerce, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Photo by Ed Wilkinson

Furthermore, the bishop charged that "they want to force Catholic institutions to perform abortions and procedures they find immoral. It is not enough that your tax dollars fund procedures we deem immoral, but now advocates of the Freedom of Choice Act in Washington and the Reproductive and Privacy Protection Act in New York want to force us to be complicit in what is perhaps the greatest evil of our day."

Bishop DiMarzio warned that the work of the Church does not fit neatly into the political agenda of the Democratic or Republican party. He chastised Democrats for turning their back on the Gospel of Life. He also pointed out that some Republicans rejected a Gospel-value approach to immigration reform.

The Cathedral Club also heard from Nat Wienecke, assistant Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush, who spoke about the challenges of being Catholic in the public forum.

Photo by Ed Wilkinson

"Sometimes it's not pretty. Sometimes it's hard to keep your moral compass," he said.

He pointed to the recent bailout of the automobile industry as one of the major projects of his career.

"We didn't want to bail out Detroit. That was the last thing we wanted to do," he explained. "But hundreds of thousands of jobs were in jeopardy and millions more jobs would be affected. We were faced with having to do something we didn't want to do or let all those people lose their jobs. Our solution was not perfect but it was the right thing at the right time."

He concluded by saying his faith was intact after eight years in public service and he asked that more Catholics get involved. He pointed out that one of the reasons for forming The Cathedral Club more than 100 years ago was to encourage Catholic people to get involved with society