Local students debate abortion
Thirteen-year-old St. Dunstan eighth grader Chloe de Guzman brought her views on abortion to State Sen. Leland Yee, speaking convincingly, not at all intimidated by political power, as archdiocesan elementary school students joined in Catholic Lobby Day, for the first time in recent memory.
“He was pro-abortion and it didn’t make sense to me,” said Chloe, about the Democratic state senator who represents District 8, most of San Francisco and San Mateo.
“She wasn’t a happy camper,” noted classmate Kaela Chavez, 14, of Millbrae. “She was crossing her arms and staring him down.”
Chloe and Kaela, along with Aaron Aquino, Lydia Ho, Tracy Ronquillo, Alexis Yee and Dylan Shannon traveled to Sacramento April 27 with St. Dunstan eighth grade teacher Trey Cosgriff, joining three students from All Souls School in South San Francisco, and a delegation from Archbishop Riordan High School. The All Souls students were seventh-graders Nicole Strupeni, Marrisa Azcenua and Adan Pena.
About 30 San Franciscans were part of 600 from around California who buttonholed state lawmakers and their staff on April 27. Colville, who also serves on the Archdiocesan Board of Education, began the initiative to involve junior high students in Lobby Day this year, noting junior high is when Catholic social teaching is first presented in detail. He hopes more schools will participate next year.
California is facing an estimated $24 billion shortfall between the end of this fiscal year and next. The California Catholic Conference argues that funding to family planning organizations, including Planned Parenthood, should be cut rather than programs to the elderly, the blind and the disabled. California spent almost $24 million for more than 80,000 Medi-Cal funded abortions in calendar year 2007, the most recent statistic available, and every year in its budget request Planned Parenthood argues abortions save the state money, the conference noted.
The California Catholic Conference’s other top legislative priorities this year are:
Change the law so that juvenile offenders, some as young as 14 who have been given a sentence of life without chance of parole mostly for homicide convictions, will be given the opportunity for parole if they demonstrate remorse and rehabilitation (SB399).
Simplify the food stamp program so poor people only have to apply every six months rather than every four (AB1642).
Block proposed cuts to the state supplement to federal Supplemental Security Income and instead discontinue funding for Planned Parenthood and abortion. Sixty nine percent of beneficiaries are disabled, 29 percent are elderly and 2 percent blind.
Pass the California Dream Act of 2010 (SB1460), so that undocumented students are eligible for state financial aid for college. Undocumented students are now eligible for in-state tuition if they have completed three years of high school, have a California high school diploma or GED, and have signed an affidavit saying they have applied or will apply for legal immigration status as soon as they are able.
“Everyone has a right to an education,” said Aaron Aquino, 14, St. Dunstan eighth grader from Daly City, of the California Dream Act, noting most undocumented students are here because they came with their families – who were looking for opportunity. “It doesn’t give them an unfair advantage; it just lets them compete for financial aid.”
The Catholic student lobbyists met with aides of Assembly members Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), Jerry Hall (D-San Mateo), and Jared Huffman (D-Marin County). St. Dunstan’s students gave Senator Yee credit for meeting with them, but said they did not understand how Senator Yee could be so good in supporting all of the other Catholic Conference legislative priorities and not oppose abortion. “We didn’t think he would be pro-abortion,” Kaela said. “Hypocritical,” said Aaron, who noted that Yee is the main sponsor of the Dream Act.
“These kids weren’t blinking an eye. They were very, very articulate,” said St. Dunstan Principal Bruce Colville.
In a letter to the All Souls principal posted on the school’s website, Nicole Strupeni writes: “Through this experience I learned how our Catholic faith views many issues differently than many of our legislators. I also learned both sides to every problem and used my faith to choose what is the best ‘morally just’ thing for our community.”
Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto, who presided at Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and delivered the homily in Spanish and English, noted that the crowd gathered to represent those who are lost in the margins — children in the womb, the frail elderly, immigrants who can’t get into colleges and universities, young people floundering in prison — in short, “our brothers and sisters.”
“The life of California depends on recognizing the dignity of life for all Californians,” Bishop Soto said. “This dignity is not defined by state government. This God-given dignity defines the purpose of state government. Our social covenant should enable the life and liberty of the human person, not eliminate or exclude those who don’t fit in.”
The Catholic Herald of Sacramento contributed to this story.
By Valerie Schmalz
From May 7, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
