"VIEWPOINT"

     I received the Summer edition of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference newsletter "VIEWPOINT" this morning, and since they explain how they take positions on proposed legislation, and since most Pennsylvania Catholics know little about the PCC (I hope I'm wrong on that), I thought I would share a little info in today's post.

     The PCC is the public affairs agency of the ten Diocesan Bishops of Pennsylvania (eight Latin Rite Dioceses and two Byzantine Rite Dioceses).  It reviews, tracks and takes positions on hundreds of the thousands of bills introduced to the State Assembly.   Bills that relate to the interests of the Church are discussed and debated by the laity, religious men and women, and the clergy who make up the PCC's departments, the Pennsylvania Catholic Health Association and the PCC Administrative Board.

     Each proposal is evaluated by asking:

1. Does the program or policy affect the common good?
2. Does the proposal uphold the life and inherent dignity of the human person from conception to natural death?
3. Does the legislation concern morality, human life and dignity, health, welfare, the family, education, civil rights, religious liberty, social justice?
4. Does the program or policy offer preferential treatment for the poor and vulnerable?
5. Will it affect the Church as an institution?
6. Will it affect other Catholic institutions such as schools, hospitals or long-term care facilities, charities or other ministries?
7. Will it affect individual Catholics in the practice of their faith in the workplace, school or in the community?
8. Is there a potential conflict with religious liberty or the freedom of conscience?

    The PCC weighs the gravity of moral questions and the impact or benefit to the church's members to determine the stand it takes.  They also weigh the prospects of passage of a bill.  They make efforts to affect and shape public opinion.    More info can be found at the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference web site.  I took much of this material directly from their newsletter, and would recommend that you check out further information through them.  They work hard for the needs of the members of the Church and beyond.

     Here are a few stats taken from the Official Catholic Directory as of 1/1/2006 (sorry I'm not current).  23% of the U.S. population is Catholic.  In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the percentage of the Catholic population is 29.4%, the sixth highest among the States.  We are not an insignificant group ... nor should we be deprived of our rights as citizens because we are people of faith.  The PCC is in our corner.