Summary of April 28 Meeting, Public Policy Committee

The meeting started about 7:20 PM in the Knights’ room.  Attendees:  Gary Corsmeier, Rich Demarco, John Gouldie, Jim Haag, John Kupec, Bill Schultz, Joe Rothengast and Terry Whalen.

Jim H. introduced PSD John Gouldie and then summarized PP initiatives:  our PP blog, CVNC, and “Choose Life” License Plate. John G. requested that we send him the PP meeting summary and future Council NLs. Jim then turned to our immediate concern — Bill Schultz’s upcoming Friday, April 30 hearing at 9 AM in the Wake County Court House.

1)  Hearing: Bill is a street warrior who advocates for the child’s life at abortion facilities.  He faces a court hearing based on a false allegation by persons saying that he “threatened” someone several months ago at an abortion facility.  Our available PP team will attend that hearing to support him and testify (if called) as to his proper conduct in street counseling sessions, per our own individual experience and witness.  We will meet at 7:45 AM on Friday, April 30 at St. Luke’s to car pool down with each other to the Wake County Court House. We need to be there by no later than 8:30 AM.  Jim H. will e-mail Council members information about hearing and transportation.

2)  Blog: The blog is up and running complete with mission statement and rules.  Participation is initially limited to Council members, but we plan to expand it to other councils in the future. Thus far, there has been minimal participation; thus we concluded that a member tutorial is need.  Joe R and Mike B will do a brief 15 minute presentation at the social preceding our May 5^th Council meeting.  Meanwhile, PP Committee members should get on and make comment on subjects now on the blog.  All you have to do is to get a wordpress.com. ID – free on the site: http://koc12455.wordpress.com. 

3)  The first blog topic, “Subsidiarity,” explains this Catholic teaching on over centralization of government activities.   Developed by Mike B., this blog invites Brothers to comment and share views, make statements, ask questions or make proposals.  

4) Parish and Community education:  Jim H. is proposing a public policy forum at St. Luke’s this September. This approach would be modeled on the forum last fall and probably would include presentations and discussion of several public policy issues that impinge upon Catholic teaching and Christian values: e.g., freedom of conscience of health professionals, abortion, marriage as a sacrament between a man and a woman, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research. This proposal will invite comment by membership.

5)  “Choose Life” license plate: Bill Dougherty reports  (via e-mail) that this issue may come up in the GA, but that it may be dead ended, based on prior experience with Democratic leaders in House and Senate   We discussed the potential for purchasing and using a license plate frame and/or a “Choose Life” magnet sticker for cars.  We would sell these or otherwise make them available to parishioners and others.  This will be discussed in the blog or at our May meeting.  Bill Dougherty also said he awaits comment from Msgr. Clay about legislative efforts anticipated in the short session to push this bill. 

6)  CVNC:  April’s Tar Heel Knight again did not present the Bishops’ letter to SD Jones thanking NC Knights for their pro life stance and support and requesting that all Brothers fully support of CVNC. Will this letter appear in the May THK?  We did not have time and information to assess CVNC promotion at Communion Breakfast and conversations with DD Bill Wolf re: possible district meetings of GKs to discuss CVNC and other public policy initiatives.

Meeting concluded about 8:45 PM.

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