Florida Catholic | Blogging In :: Catholic Days At The Capitol

DAY ONE | 03.11.08

Tally–bound Catholics accept call to educated action

MARY ST. PIERRE | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

TALLAHASSEE | In the past when I’ve traveled to our state capitol, the city has intrigued me with its rolling hills, political electricity and college hoopla. With an unpredicted drizzle of rain and FSU on spring break, the hills were about the only thing that seemingly held true to form for Tallahassee today, the opening day of Catholic Days at the Capitol, sponsored by Florida Catholic Conference.

While the regular hustle of “Tally” gave a slight air of “sleepy little town” that all changed when I walked into the Leon County Civic Center where more than 200 Catholics representing all seven dioceses in Florida were waiting to learn more about key legislative issues.

Beverly Matsoukas talks with Bob Brady from St. Mary Parish, Fort Walton Beach in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Both have been involved in respect life issues for a long time and consider knowledge and action regarding legislative issues to be key components for all Catholics to know, understand and act upon.

MARY ST. PIERRE | FC
Beverly Matsoukas talks with Bob Brady from St. Mary Parish, Fort Walton Beach in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Both have been involved in respect life issues for a long time and consider knowledge and action regarding legislative issues to be key components for all Catholics to know, understand and act upon.

Red Hat Lady

I was immediately drawn to the large red hat on top of Beverly Matsoukas’ head as I came down the escalator. You couldn’t miss it. I wondered truly if she had made a mistake and missed the turn for the monthly gathering of the Red Hat Society in Tallahassee but she quickly set me straight.

Matsoukas is a member of St. Lucie Parish in the Diocese of Palm Beach. She had fallen away from her Catholic faith for several years after life events took one bad turn after another and Matoukas became an atheist. After years of ignoring a sense that God was still alive and well, Matsoukas began to find the faith she had buried.

She attended a charismatic conference after years of trying hard to prove there was no God and describes being slam-dunked in the Spirit. At that moment the Lord pushed her pro-life button.

Now, she wants to know everything about the ins and outs of legislation affecting the unborn so she is able to educate others, and in the name of God, make a positive and protective difference.

An early assesement

The 45 minutes before the official welcome by D. Michael McCarron, executive director of Florida Catholic Conference (FCC) and opening prayer by Auxiliary Bishop John G. Noonan of the Archdiocese of Miami, allowed me time to assess the tone of the group gathered for the ninth-annual Catholic Days at the Capitol. While it would have been great to see more young adults present in the crowd, there was an enthusiasm and determination that honestly could be compared to a scene you see broadcast from a developing nation where children are passionate about learning.

Bills, bills and more bills

Of the 50 plus bills on the legislative docket this session, there were four major issues that the Florida Catholic Conference team of associate directors focused on before Wednesday, day two of the event, when participants attending Catholic Days at the Capitol will have the opportunity to sit down with legislators and talk to them about the importance of their support.

Sheila Hopkins, FCC associate director for social concerns/respect life, spoke about SB 2400 and HB 257, the first bill being closely followed by the Florida Catholic Conference.

These bills clarify third trimester requirements for an ultrasound to be administered and reviewed with a patient. A written certification must be documented when such treatment is declined.

Hopkins, drove home her point by putting an ultrasound picture of her unborn grandson on the screen. She quoted from Pope John Paul IIs encyclical Donum Vitae, “The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception; and therefore from that same moment his rights as a person must be recognized, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life.”

Hopkins also discussed SB 2030 and HB 1137 that addresses the issue of adolescent offenders who are convicted of a criminal act at age 15 or younger. With staggering statistics, Hopkins revealed there are 2,225 adolescents now serving life sentences in U.S. prisons with 256 in Florida. The bills, if passed, provide adolescent offenders a chance for parole with contingencies.

Legislative issue SB 1440 and HB 653 was explained by Larry Keough, FCC associate director for education.The bill revises the purposes of the Corporate Income Tax Scholarship Program, which would provide scholarship monies for students affected by recent cutbacks in government funds.

Keough rallied participants to understand Catholic Social Teaching and the need for all Catholics to take a “Carpe Diem” approach to being actively present in bringing about just change by being an educated presence in here and now.

Catholic health care is a topic of major concern for Rae Stabile and Sisters of St. Joseph Sister Carol Stovall from the Diocese of St. Petersburg. They were grateful for Michael Sheedy’s discussion on bills SB 2822 and HB 1325.

At the center of the bills, Florida Catholic Conference is hoping for changes in the wording that will show the Catholic Church stands in support of protecting rape victims by providing assistance.

The information provided by FCC was well condensed and respect life coordinators presented excellent follow-up information.

Left to right, Mariann Kiar, Archbishop John C. Favalora, Rep. Martin Kiar and Monroe Kiar enjoyed time together during a reception at the Florida Catholic Conference office Tuesday, the first day of Catholic Days at the Capitol. Mariann is principal of St. David School in Miami. Her son, Martin, is state representative for District 97.
MARY ST. PIERRE | FC

A fresh face

Mallory Cianfrone, a freshman at Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, is attending Catholic Days at the Capitol with her grandmother, Linda Murphy. She felt the session put her on the legislative learning track, which was her goal.

As the youngest attendee at the conference, Mallory summed up the day as insightful in the areas of justice and the rights of all people.

I think she gets it.

Beginning and ending in prayer

As it began, the day ended in prayer. Father Robert Schneider, pastor of Espiritu Santo Parish in Safety Harbor, reminded everyone of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, with special attention to the gift of fortitude. He asked the Holy Spirit to be with everyone present so their words to legislators would reflect the true meaning behind Catholic Social Teaching in its concerns for the respect of life and concern for the poorest members of society.

It was a very good Amen to day one.

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