Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
February 28, 2001
Colorado's bishops meet to discuss legislative issues
Bishops advocate state policies that promote human dignity and support families
By Roxanne King
Legislative bills that would protect pregnant women from assault, would enable parents to have their unborn children's remains for burial and would provide tax credits to those who donate to educational scholarships are among those being supported by the Colorado bishops, a spokesman said.
Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., and Bishop-elect José Gomez of the Archdiocese of Denver, Bishop Arthur Tafoya of the Diocese of Pueblo and Bishop Richard Hanifen of the Diocese of Colorado Springs discussed those issues during a recent Colorado Catholic Conference Board of Governors meeting. The conference is the political arm of the Church in Colorado. It advocates and promotes Church teachings at the state level. The meeting was held Feb. 15 at the law office of Rothgerber, Johnson and Lyons LLP in Colorado Springs.
During the meeting, the bishops heard a report from James Tatten, executive director and registered lobbyist for the conference, on the 2000 elections. Tatten also updated the bishops on legislative strategies for the current legislative session.
"The whole nature of the legislative process has changed this session because the Democrats were able to gain a majority in the state senate," Tatten told the Register. "It's a one vote majority. So, they have to a certain extent a check and a balance."
For the first time in 40 years Democrats outnumber Republicans in the State Senate 18-17. The situation means it will be more challenging for both parties to get bills passed, Tatten said.
Bills the bishops support include House Bill 1204, sponsored by Rep. Lynn Hefley, R-Colorado Springs.
"It would increase the penalty for physical assault committed against pregnant women," Tatten said. "That is alive, it has moved to the floor of the House. If it passes it will go to the Senate. I think there's a lot of support for it."
Another bill the bishops support that also appears to have large support is HB 1308, sponsored by Rep. Mark Cloer, R-Colorado Springs. The bill would require hospitals to give parents who have experienced a miscarriage the opportunity to have the child's remains for burial.
"That passed out of a House committee and is waiting approval by the full House," Tatten said. "The testimony for it was pretty compelling and emotional."
An educational tax credit bill, HB 1219, would allow a state income tax credit for individuals who make contributions to qualifying educational scholarship organizations. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Swenson, R-Longmont, that bill is waiting committee action, Tatten said.
"There are a number of issues dealing with affordable housing, seven to 10 that we are following," Tatten said. "The intent is to provide mechanisms to promote the increase in the number of affordable housing units available throughout the state, such as House Bill 1317, which would establish a state trust fund with proceeds from the state's revenue surplus. It would provide a pool of money to help build affordable housing."
Although Senate Bill 87, which would have made abortions illegal in Colorado after 23 weeks of pregnancy was killed recently, Tatten said he believes legislators "are willing to look at the issue and study it."
"As a result, we will have a better chance of passing it next year," he said.
Martin Nussbaum, an attorney with the Diocese of Colorado Springs, talked to the bishops about emerging issues in church-state relations, including the Bush administration's faith-based initiatives program, which would make it easier for faith-based organizations to get federal funding for their social service programs. Archbishop Chaput was among the religious leaders who met with President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C., Jan. 31 to discuss the issue.
"Generally, it's still very conceptual, a bill has already died that would further this," Tatten said.
John Suthers, executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, talked to the bishops about the special needs of inmates and prison ministry. The bishops also heard a brief presentation from Dave VanOverwalle, the new archdiocesan prison volunteer coordinator and from Lenetta Johnson, the new coordinator, for the tri-diocesan sponsored Mision Sin Fronteras in Hermosillo, Mexico. "I think the most important thing for people to know about the conference is that the bishops have a full time presence down at the State Capital and that they are committed to advocating for state policies and laws that promote human dignity and meet the needs of children and familie — and that's something that Catholics throughout the state can be, and should be, proud of," Tatten said. Others attending the conference included Msgr. Raymond Jones, vicar general for the archdiocese; Father Don Dunn of the Diocese of Colorado Springs; Father Ed Nunez of the Diocese of Pueblo; Paula Carole, liaison for the Diocese of Colorado Springs; Larry Howe-Kerr, liaison for the Diocese of Pueblo; and Father Robert J. Vitillo of the Colorado Campaign for Human Development. For information about the Colorado Catholic Conference, call Jim Tatten at 303-715-3206.
