Robb Smith, Executive Director
Interfaith Impact of New York State
646 State Street
Albany, NY 12203
518-463-5652
©
Copyright 2008 InterfaithIMPACT of New York State
Last updated
February 2008
Preamble
Interfaith IMPACT of New York State, organized by mainstream Protestant churches, Jewish Reform synagogues and organizations and Unitarian Universalist congregations of New York State, addresses emerging public policies and their legislative implications from the shared faith traditions of its constituencies. The mandate for this derives from the historic teachings of our faith in God and humankind, which calls upon all people to participate in the ongoing work of perfecting the world.
We believe that in a free society there must be an institutional separation of church and state. At the same time, we believe that our society is benefited by an informed religious conscience as part of the civil consensus undergirding the legislative process. The formation of a religious conscience on social and political issues needs to be guided by a theological perspective grounded in the attestation of our scriptures, our histories and our practices.
The Creator of all life accords human beings a special dignity and responsibility by virtue of their creation in "the image of God." The full expression of our humanness is enhanced when there is equality, justice and freedom of self-determination.
Our faiths call us to be partners in the entire created order. Accordingly, the scarce resources of the earth must be used responsibly and distributed fairly so as to enhance the possibilities of human survival and fulfillment for our own as well as succeeding generations.
The realism of our faiths and the evidence of history suggest that the human race has failed to live up to its God-given destiny. Through learned behavior, human beings have come to be predators of nature and oppressors of one another. The goals of freedom, justice and peace can be achieved by joining together in the interest of the weak and the exploited. We believe that the force of law is often necessary to restrain the arbitrariness of concentrated economic and political power.
We are committed to reconciliation and liberation. In addition to person-to-person caring and organized philanthropies, our faiths must find expression in political action which works to build humanizing structures and liberating systems. We recognize that every achievement of justice through the legislative process represents a compromise between competing interests and pressure groups in society. Even among our own constituencies there is not unanimity on every public policy position. The power of our combined faith commitment sustains our continued efforts to influence the political process in the direction of a more truly human future.
In a society there are rights that pertain to individuals and rights that pertain to society as a whole. These need to be maintained in creative tension. Further, it is the responsibility of one generation to exercise its rights with due respect for future generations.
A: Human Rights and Religious Freedom
Human rights must not be abridged because of national origin, creed, race,
color, age, handicapping conditions, gender, sexual or affectional orientation
or marital status. Constitutional guarantees protecting freedom of conscience
and the free exercise of religious belief must be maintained.
B. Personal Privacy
All persons are entitled to have their privacy respected and to live productive
lives unencumbered by legal, economic or social discrimination. Legislation
is essential to protect citizens from corporate or governmental infringement
of this privacy in the collection, transmittal and dissemination of computer
data and records, including the individual's right to have access to any
such files or records.
Family planning, including the responsibilities of parenthood, is a component of the fundamental right and responsibility of persons to order their own lives. The right of every woman to choose whether or not to terminate an unwanted pregnancy must be upheld as a civil and moral right, with respect to religious conscience. Counseling must be available to women and men for whom pregnancy is a problem, so that all options may be explored. Medical and counseling services should be available without regard to financial limitations. All decisions should be made within the context of the individual's faith and sound medical practice. Any attempt to define by statute those instances when abortion may be morally justifiable is an abrogation of individual conscience. The rights of access to clinics and other facilities where counseling or medical procedures for terminating pregnancies should be guaranteed by government.
D. Marriage, Family, and Domestic Violence
Marriage is a covenantal relationship between equal members. State laws
concerning marriage should support and encourage the development of strong
marital and family ties. Societal and economic pressures which erode the
family structure require special attention. The law should provide protection
from abuse and justice for all members of the family even in the event
of divorce. We further believe government should not preclude ceremonies
of union between persons of the same sex which may be performed within
those traditions permitting such rites. We support domestic partner legislation
which provides benefits for those living in a committed relationship.
E. English and Other Languages
Language bonds a culture and enables all persons in a society to be
in relationship one with the other. Through historical development, English
is the predominant language of American society. All residents in the
state need to be able to study in school, transact business and carry
out other civic duties in English. Languages other than English also provide
cultural bonding for many groups in this state. The State must provide
multi-linguistic services for those who require the services of its human
service systems - e.g., educational, health care, criminal justice, as
well as legal contracts.
F. The End of Life
Each person has the right to place restrictions and/or limitations on
medical interventions and procedures near the end of his or her life.
This right requires legislative provision of authority for others to act
when individuals have lost the capacity to do so on their own behalf.
G. Hate Crimes
We especially deplore crimes committed against persons because of race,
creed, color, sexual or affectional orientation and support legislation
to sanction those who do so.
H. Sexual Orientation
We affirm full human and civil rights for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and
transgendered people.
Human community is whole when all members may participate at their fullest human potential. The development of community is essential to the nurture of each person. Particular emphasis must be given to the inclusion of all who have been excluded from full participation.
A. Legislative and Electoral Process
Government is derived from and accountable to the people within New York
State as well as the nation. In accord with the principle of one person
- one vote, registration and voting procedures need to be fairly and impartially
administered throughout the state. The law must guarantee full access
to the legislative process, both those who would run for office and for
the voter. Election law should provide basic procedures, guarantees and
safeguards to encourage and protect the right and responsibility of every
eligible citizen to vote. Laws regulating campaign finances and conflicts
of interest are needed to provide fair competition for public office and
to assure proper conduct of elected and appointed officials. Campaign
finance reform to level the playing field among candidates should emphasize
public financing with campaign spending limits.
Reliance on imprisonment as the primary method of punishment/reconciliation is not consistent with the needs of the victim, the offender and the community at large. A system of sanctions needs to include the development of new models for conflict resolution, for treatment of drug or sex offenders, for victim/offender restoration programs, and for other alternatives to prolonged incarceration of persons. Draconian drug laws, in particular, need re-examination and modification toward making the punishment fit the crime and stressing drug rehabilitation, not incarceration. This would reduce the inordinate cost of imprisonment, high levels of recidivism, and the disproportionate numbers of minority and economically disadvantaged persons who reside in jails and prisons in New York State. Provision should continue for those found not responsible by means of mental disease or defect.
Because there are disparities in prosecution, conviction and sentencing related to race, gender or economic status, there must be adequate provision of competent legal representation for all defendants, publicly supported if necessary, and a more equitable application of sanctions to those who are found guilty.
The imposition of capital punishment erodes the value of human life in society and risks the execution of innocent persons. Its purported but unproven value as a deterrent is inordinately costly to the judicial process, and has reflected a cultural bias based on race and socio-economic status. It has no place in a system seeking to build a safe and more just community.
C. Environmental Protection and Preservation
Maintaining, protecting and restoring the integrity of the environment
(the earth and its biosphere) is essential to the development of community.
There is need for the private and public sectors to cooperate in the continuing
development of environmental standards to protect air quality, safeguard
water supplies and reduce disposal of non-biodegradable waste products.
The long-term storage of toxic and nuclear waste, industrial burning and
other methods of disposal require strict governmental regulation and enforcement,
including just economic recompense for those affected by the location
of storage centers. Incentives for recycling, energy preservation and
the development of alternative renewable energy sources, which are not
abusive to the environment should be increased. The current cost of producing
goods and services should include the cost of preventing undesirable environmental
consequences for future generations.
The dislocation of employment caused by factory closings and by the diversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural uses has economic and quality of life consequences for communities as well as individuals. There is an ongoing need to monitor, alleviate and reduce such consequences. Every effort should be made to enhance the quality of life for those persons and communities who are adversely affected by such dislocations in both urban and rural environments.
Consumers need protection from fraudulent advertising, unsafe materials or products, unfair contracts and other unscrupulous practices.
There is need to provide continuing and multi-faceted educational opportunities for citizens to keep abreast of the rapidly increasing reservoir of biomedical technical knowledge so they can make informed ethical decisions. At the same time, there is an urgent need for cross disciplinary dialogue concerning biomedical and technological developments for the sharing of information and expertise between and among religious, ethical, legal, medical and other academic disciplines. The advancement of knowledge and technology has multiplied the options and decisions available to humankind. Each new option contains within it both opportunity and danger. Although no human decision is perfect, decisions must be made which effect lives today and lives of future generations.
The basis of community is interdependence. In this complex society, community based services are essential to the well-being of persons. Such services should be rendered with respect for the rights and dignity of persons, including those with limited financial means. This is not simply a moral mandate; the New York State Constitution (Article 17) states: "The aid, care and support of the needy are public concerns and shall be provided by the state and by such of its subdivisions."
A. Food and Shelter
Providing the basic human needs of food and shelter for all members of
society is essential for the well-being of society. Programs to provide
food and promote adequate nutritional standards must be expanded to eliminate
hunger and malnutrition across the state. In light of the serious housing
shortages for persons of low and moderate income, governmental initiatives
are needed to encourage new construction and rehabilitation of existing
buildings to make decent and affordable housing available to all. Strong
cooperation between public and private sectors is essential in meeting
these needs.
The proliferation of for-profit health maintenance organizations, with an apparent diminution of patient care, is a special problem that needs to be addressed.
C. Public Assistance Support
Persons in many circumstances experience periods when personal resources
are inadequate to meet the basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and
medical care. Governmental income support is both appropriate and necessary
for such persons and should be indexed to the cost of living. Governmental
dependence on charitable systems is unacceptable. Private charity should
not be responsible for meeting needs that ought to be met by government.
For those able to be employed, creative new initiatives are needed which
will recognize and reward those seeking to break free of poverty rather
than restricting access to needed levels of support.
D. Children and Family Support
A healthy family setting is best for rearing children. Traditional and
non-traditional families need supportive services to assist in providing
a high quality of family life. Access to case workers and counseling services
must be broadly available as safeguards for children. Issues pertaining
to child custody and surrogate parenting must protect the rights of children
to a wholesome environment and not be governed by laws relating to property
rights.
While public education benefits from some measure of local supervision and sensitivity to local needs, its financing needs to assure that all school systems are capable of providing quality education.
Schools created by and accountable to private interests should
be the subject of careful study before any experimentation or implementation.
State financial support for students and public and private institutions
of higher education should given in such a way so as to protect academic
freedom, provide a diversity of program and enrich cultural and educational
opportunities.
F. Persons Requiring Special Concern
Neither age or incapacity should ever deprive persons of respect and
dignity, especially when they are in the care of the state. Public access,
employment opportunities and alternatives to institutional living need
to be encouraged and made available to persons with physical, mental or
emotional limitations whenever this is feasible.
Increased longevity and the cumulative impact of inflation results in many older persons facing poverty in their later years. Special relief needs to be provided from the rising costs of utilities, rent or property taxes, and medical care.
Residents of state institutions and facilities must be provided the spiritual, educational, health and rehabilitation services which offer the opportunity to live as fully as possible and, in some instances, to re-enter society as a contributing member.
Those confined to such institutions have a special need for religious expression and guidance according to the faith tradition of their choice. This should be available through chaplains certified by their faith tradition and employed by the state. The state should not determine certification of chaplains.
Certain activities and practices contribute to the disintegration of community. When persons or organizations (including the media) fail to exercise self-restraint, it becomes necessary to develop community standards which are sensitive both to personal expression guaranteed by the First Amendment and the rights of a free press, as well as to the abuse and exploitation that is destructive to others.
A. Alcohol, Substance Abuse, Chemical
Dependency
The abuse of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and other habituating and addictive
substances, poses substantial risks to the health and safety of persons
and communities. Policies and laws are appropriate to minimize those risks,
to educate persons about known risks and to treat persons who have developed
dependencies.
B. Gambling
Gambling is destructive to personal initiative and can become compulsive
by offering illusory hopes of sudden fortune. State supported gambling
is especially repugnant because it promotes and encourages an ethic of
relying upon chance rather than personal achievement. The justification
of gambling through the use of the revenue it produces is contrary to
all other public policy formation. Gambling on Indian reservations needs
special attention, and alternative means of economic development of Native
peoples should be explored and implemented with respect to including alternatives
to casinos.
C. Pornography and Sexual Violence
Pornography, abusive sex and sexually violent images exploit and depersonalize
human sexuality. Especially in the formative years of adolescence, such
distorted images of sexuality can produce exploitative and violent forms
of behavior which are very resistant to change. Human sexuality should not
be subject to censorship or control, but rather those acts or presentations
of sexuality which portray violence or abuse of others as appropriate or
commonplace need limitations placed upon them.
D. Handguns and Assault Weapons
The increasing proliferation of handguns is creating a great risk for
all of society. The sale and carrying of handguns should be strictly regulated.
Gun locks and other safety features should be required of all new gun
manufacturing. The sale, importation or civilian possession of cheap guns
like "Saturday night specials," and semi-automatic assault weapons should
be prohibited, with severe penalties for those who buy or sell such weapons.
V. National and International Issues
A growing number of issues within the state are related to national and international legislative and executive action. The Interfaith IMPACT network cooperates with various faith and interfaith agencies to apply the foregoing principles to appropriate national and international concerns, such as the protection of human rights, biospheric survival, reducing the proliferation of arms, nuclear and chemical waste. These public policy principles are always a work in progress. They represent the best thinking of our respective faith groups to date, but are subject to commentary and revision when appropriate. We invite all in our constituencies to participate in this ongoing process.
Revised and adopted by the
Interfaith Impact of New York State Board of Directors
September 23, 1999