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Congratulations FAST and HOPE!

Posted: 04.11.08

I believe I would have greater success in engaging the elected leadership of the county who took a pass on the evening if more of our parishes and other churches would join this effective and engaged community organization.”

Last night (April 7th) I had the opportunity for the third time to attend a large meeting of an organization called FAST or “Faith in Action Standing Together.” A similar meeting was held at the same time in Hillsborough County for a like organization called HOPE. Had I been able, I would have liked to have gone there as well.

Both of these organizations are actively involved in improving the quality of life in the two counties for the poor, the vulnerable elderly, children, and the at-risk segment of the population through interaction with government and political leadership. They annually choose achievable goals and set about the task of seeking the support and assistance of the appropriate educational and political leadership.

2,300 attended the Pinellas meeting of FAST last night and it has been reported that about 1,000 attended the Hillsborough meeting of HOPE. The participants are members of multiple church communities in the two counties and include Christians, Jews and Muslims. I am proud of the parishes of both counties which participate and I once again encourage and ask other parishes to continue joining and becoming involved.

Political leaders of courage and integrity attend. They are asked specific questions about what they might be willing to do to achieve the goals of the organization. They know before they arrive what the questions will be and they come prepared to respond. They do not always promise something they feel that they cannot deliver (I, for one, appreciate that). Their responses are greeted with approval if they commit to an action and respected if they choose not to commit. More often than not, a “no” vote is later explained in a way that indicates the respondent’s heart is in the affirmative and they will do what they can.

FAST has achieved significant gains in programs for the elderly seeking transportation to health care providers, covered bus shelters for the elderly, stricter enforcement of discipline in the public schools, full day care and early childhood programs for the children of poor and working mothers, and this year they asked for an end of “racial profiling” by a local police jurisdiction and for tighter police enforcement in closing down crack houses and removing drug dealers from the streets (to be accomplished by citizen identification through FAST of problem areas in the county). Somewhat more elusive but still showing some progress and improvement is low cost, affordable housing in the county. Again, I was impressed with the progress shown in a difficult and challenging economic climate.

I was proud of the FAST leadership for the manner in which the issues have both been selected and presented to our elected leadership. I was proud of those in political office and on the school board who attended and responded. I was proud of our parishes and the churches of the county who turned out more than 2,300 people for a rather intense 90 minutes of presentation, response, and some discussion. FAST for the past several years has been the recipient of a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Church communities which belong pay a certain dues. But this is a “meat and potatoes” organization with no bureaucratic “fat” whatsoever and if you choose to donate to this good cause, you can take it to the bank that it will be used as you intended.

I was disappointed at who was not present for the meeting. There was no representation from the City of St. Petersburg save for a newly elected member of city council now learning the ropes after three months of service. Only Sheriff Coats was present and the police chiefs of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, having indicated that they would come, cancelled citing a distaste and dislike of the format. Good grief, present were 2,300 law-abiding citizens ardently desirous of assisting the police in doing their jobs. I hope these men will talk to Sheriff Coats and follow his example. He told me at the end of the evening that he learned a lot and appreciated being present.

Catholic presence in FAST was significant, but neither domineering nor dominating. That is the way it should be. I believe I would have greater success in engaging the elected leadership of the county who took a pass on the evening if more of our parishes and other churches would join this effective and engaged community organization.

Congratulations FAST and HOPE. You have my support.

Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch Bishop of St. Petersburg

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Congratulations FAST and HOPE!

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