YEAR IN REVIEW

Church stands firm on 2007 social issues

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PROVIDENCE — Immigration reform, the protection of human life at all stages, human trafficking and the proposed sale of diocesan properties were among the top stories both locally and nationally in 2007.

Readers also welcomed a much-anticipated new Diocesan Catholic newspaper on May 31 when the Rhode Island Catholic replaced the former Providence Visitor.

According to Stella Carrera, coordinator of Immigration and Refugee Services, the past year was a difficult one for the immigrant community.

“There were a lot of disappointments,” Carrera said. “We hoped that Immigration Reform legislation would be passed, but nothing happened. Immigration Reform is dead for now,” she said.

Carrera said that perhaps the biggest failure was the the defeat of the Dream Act, which would have provided undocumented young men and women who grew up in the United States with access to higher education. She explained that since these people have no legal status, which is not required to attend high school, they cannot enroll in colleges and universities and therefore are relegated to low-paying jobs.

Carrera noted that the increase in fees for citizenship and legal status that were implemented by the federal government in July was another setback for immigrants. She cited a $275 increase in the cost of applying for citizenship, which now costs a hefty $675.

“These increases were astronomical,” she lamented. “They are very difficult for our population.”

Carrera predicted that immigration reform will be a topic of much debate in the upcoming presidential campaign. She cited the recent letter sent by Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney to presidential candidates in which he asked them “to show leadership on the issue of the immigration” and to work to find a “humane and comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system.”

“We always have hope and the support of our bishops,” Carrera said. “Our church will continue to push for immigrant reform.”

She added that in Rhode Island the diocesan Office of Immigration and Refugee Services is a “good resource for helping people to become citizens.” In the past year, the office has assisted immigrants from Poland, Laos, Cape Verde, Liberia, Nigeria and several South and Central American countries and Caribbean nations.

Human trafficking is an issue that continues to draw much attention throughout the world. Locally, legislation aimed to stop the enforced sale of humans for sexual acts and put an end to brothels that masquerade as spas and massage parlors, was approved by the General Assembly on June 22. The bill was introduced by Rep. Joanne M. Giannini, D-7, Providence. Similar legislation, filed by Sen. Rhoda E. Perry, D-3, Providence, was approved weeks before by the Senate. The legislation, backed by Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch, was later signed by Governor Donald Carcieri on June 27 and is now law.

Rep. Giannini said she will resubmit legislation in the next session to close a loophole that allows prostitution in Rhode Island when the solicitation occurs indoors. That bill died in committee this year.

“We passed the human trafficking bill this year, but we have a long way to go,” she said. “We need to close the loophole so that the police will have the tools to do their job.”

According to Michael Healey, spokesman for Atty. Gen. Lynch, no police department has brought a case for the attorney general’s office to prosecute since the law was enacted.

“We’re glad to have the law on the books,” he said, echoing Giannini’s sentiments that the law is a good tool for police departments and prosecutors to have when bringing a case to court.

Giannini said that she will also introduce legislation aimed at ending human trafficking for forced labor in sweatshops and other sites where immigrants brought to this country under false pretenses are forced to work in squalid conditions for little or no pay.

Carol Owens, diocesan Respect Life Coordinator, said that locally one of the disappointments for pro-life advocates was the failure of the Women’s Right to Know Bill to get out of committee in the General Assembly. Owens noted that the committee hearing for the proposed legislation attracted strong support from members of the Faith and Action Legislative Network. The legislation would have provided women seeking an abortion a 24 hour-long waiting period prior to getting an abortion and would have mandated that women receive the name of the physician scheduled to perform the abortion, and information about the physical and emotional consequences that they might encounter after having the procedure.

“It’s information that you would receive prior to any other surgical procedure,” Owens commented.

She added that another disappointment was the failure of the Sanctity of Marriage bill to be forwarded out of committee in the House of Representatives. Owens added that Fathers Bernard Healey and John Codega spoke in favor of the bill’s passage, and were joined by Stephen Cote, diocesan Coordinator of the Office for Marriage Preparation and Enrichment, as well as leaders from other faith communities across the state.

Owens said that both the Human Life Guild Day and the Human Life Day for Youth were successful events, as was the 2007 Life Chain which took place on October 7 and attracted 479 participants from all 12 deaneries in the diocese.

“That was an increase of 203 ‘people of life’ from the previous year,” said Owens enthusiastically.

Among the many activities that the Respect Life Office plan for this year, there will be four workshops for those interested in becoming Gabriel Project volunteers to mentor women in crisis pregnancies. Pastors were recently sent a letter informing them about the program and asking if their parish would like to participate, which also provides assistance such as job coaching, babysitting and teaching parenting skills once the baby is born.

Owens noted that the annual Mass for Life will be celebrated January 19 at 9 a.m. at St. Paul Church, Cranston. Pro-life advocates will meet at the Broad Street Women’s Clinic in Cranston at 8 a.m., and will be joined by Bishop Tobin for the recitation of the rosary.

Based on recommendations made by the diocesan Internal Property Utilization Committee following a year-long study of several properties, Bishop Tobin announced on September 20 that seven diocesan properties would be offered for sale.

Revenue from the sale of the real estate will be used to establish an endowment for the maintenance of other diocesan properties and to reduce the lines of credit held by the diocese. Listing firms were instructed that future use of the properties would not conflict with Catholic Church teachings.

Included in the seven parcels were the Cluny Sisters Provincial House and Convent in Newport, Our Lady Of Peace Spiritual Center in Narragansett, and undeveloped acreage in the vicinity of Dunn’s Corner in Westerly. Four additional smaller properties were also offered for sale.

In early December, the diocese announced the sale of the Cluny Sisters property for $4,337,500 to Table Rock LLC for use as a private residence.

On May 31, the Rhode Island Catholic was launched in a ceremony held at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, presided over by Bishop Tobin. The newspaper’s new general manager and editor, Marcia Grann O’Brien, was introduced at the event, which was attended by diocesan officials and several pastors. Bishop Tobin was the driving force behind the changes in the newspaper, as well as for the introduction of new diocesan Web sites.