Catholic Dioceses In North Carolina Launch Initiative To Increase Public Policy Advocacy

Main Category: Abortion
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Article Date: 08 Jul 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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The bishops of North Carolina's two Roman Catholic dioceses on Wednesday announced an initiative to streamline the dioceses' policy advocacy efforts directed at the state legislature and to keep parishioners informed about issues that are important to the church, the AP/Charlotte Observer reports. The initiative will focus on issues such as stem cell research, abortion, end-of-life care and other matters, Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh said (Robertson, AP/Charlotte Observer, 7/2).

Through a Web site called Catholic Voice NC, Catholics can receive alerts on legislation that deals with issues important to them. In addition, the site also enables Catholics to send e-mails to lawmakers. Burbidge also said the dioceses will send a questionnaire to gubernatorial candidates and to the state's congressional delegation that will seek their views on several issues. Candidates' responses will be posted on the Web site in October.

The initiative will cost about $45,000 per year, which the dioceses will split, according to Jugis (Shimron, Raleigh News & Observer, 7/3).

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