PROVIDENCE — Catholics are urged to make their voices known on Smith Hill and Washington, D.C.
Gov. Donald Carcieri is Catholic and married his wife Suzanne at Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich.
State Rep. Joanne Giannini attends Mass at Blessed Sacrament and St. Augustine churches in Providence.
Carol Owens, coordinator of the diocesan Respect Life Office, urged Catholics throughout Rhode Island to influence the legislative process this year on issues such as Women’s Right to Know, prostitution, human trafficking, embryonic stem-cell research and same-sex marriage.
"For far too long many people have sat in pews and have not voiced their opinions. This is the legislative network that falls under the umbrella of faith and action," said Owens.
"People need to voice their rights as Catholic citizens. If not, nothing gets done. This is about respecting life from the womb to the tomb. Prostitution is morally wrong," added Owens, a parishioner of Our Lady of Loreto Church in East Providence.
Owens advised Catholics to contact the General Assembly leadership and their local representative to express their concerns on legislation about to be debated, such as those bills that would make indoor prostitution illegal and apply harsher penalties to people convicted of human trafficking.
The Respect Life coordinator advised Catholics to send messages to Congress urging members to oppose legislation on the Federal level that promotes immoral and destructive embryonic stem-cell research.
Comments should also be sent to the National Institute of Health concerning guidelines that would implement President Barack Obama's directive to provide government financing of embryonic stem-cell research — research that has failed to deliver on its great hope and promises.
"People have not been educated on the success of adult stem-cell research. What effort is there to avoid abortion if we use aborted embryos for research," said Owens.
"This (embryonic research) opens a path toward other horrific acts. And where does life begin if not at the moment of conception?" asked Owens.
Meanwhile, Owens has urged Catholics to urge state representatives to support marriage between a man and a woman.
Catholics should notify their representatives to oppose House Bill 5744, which would redefine marriage in the Ocean State.
Call Owens at 421-7833, ext. 118, to obtain contact information for state representatives and senators.
