EVA ANDRADE

The session has started; stay informed, get involved

The 2009 state legislative session opened with its normal fanfare on Jan. 21. Following tradition, hundreds of residents visited their senators and representatives at the state capitol to wish them Godspeed. The food was a bonus.

Lingering over the heavy pupu (one representative was serving ice cream) and entertainment was the fact that soon the smiles will revert to more somber expressions as the legislature begins to deal with issues like the staggering economy and high unemployment. More than 2,000 bills have already been introduced.

Every year, the Hawaii Catholic Conference joins Hawaii Family Forum in reviewing each bill. Typically, a session begins with a list about eight pages long. This year that roster includes many controversial issues like physician-assisted suicide, legalized gambling, civil unions, same-sex marriage, emergency contraceptives, and ending funding for abstinence education. There are also many priority issues like housing and homelessness, protection of children, domestic violence, protection of the elderly, and pain management and palliative care.

A good number of these bills will never be heard, but we will keep you posted on the ones that are.

No matter which side of the political fence you sit on, everyone agrees that the most important issue right now is the economy. Gas prices are going back up, banks are failing, consumer debt is rising, and people are just plain scared. Our legislators know that better than anyone.

Civil unions

But unfortunately, we are fated once again to spend many hours fighting the establishment of civil unions in Hawaii. History shows that this issue divides our community and shakes us at the very core of what we believe as Christians. Many think civil unions will pass easily in the House because 32 of the 51 members signed off on the bill (HB 444). Things are less sure in the Senate, and it is there that we will focus our efforts.

We will be watching two bills closely. HB 444 essentially defines a civil union as a marriage under another name. The bill states: “Partners to a civil union lawfully entered into pursuant to this chapter shall have all the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities under law … as are granted to spouses in a marriage validly entered into pursuant to chapter 572.” In other words, a civil union is identical to a marriage. Only the name has changed. We are opposed to HB 444.

We are also opposed to HB 878. It repeals the definition of marriage as being limited to a relationship between “a man and a woman,” and instead calls it a relationship between “two persons.”

Gambling

Because the outlook on the economy is grim, many lawmakers want to legalize gambling to bring revenue in the state. Several bills have been introduced. But the social cost of gambling is huge. Even those who frequent Las Vegas are wary of bringing gambling here. Hawaii is one of only two states (Utah is the other) that has no legalized gambling. We will fight to keep it that way.

Abstinence education

Already making its way to its first hearing is HB 329 which would deny federal funds to Catholic Charities Hawaii successful “Try Wait” abstinence education program. If passed, the bill would require the state to reject all Title V federal funding for mandated abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. “Try Wait” is one of them.

Physician-assisted suicide

There are also bills introduced that would legalize physician-assisted suicide. HB 806 allows a terminally ill, competent adult to obtain a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs. Leading the fight against this travesty is Hawaii’s Partnership for Appropriate and Compassionate Care, a coalition established in 1998 by the Hawaii Medical Association and Hawaii Family Forum. Many organizations have joined the coalition, including those representing people with disabilities, the medical community and pro-life advocates. The coalition is poised and ready to stand for life.

Emergency contraceptive

Bill HB 423 would require hospitals to provide information about emergency contraception to women who are sexually assaulted and to provide emergency contraception when requested. This law would force the two Hawaii Medical Centers, which operate on land belonging to the St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, to administer the “morning after” pill contrary to their ethical and medical directives.

We will keep you posted on all these issues, and many more, via our community action network. (Visit www.hawaiifamily forum.org for more information.) If you join the network, and we hope you will, we will ask for your kokua in calling and e-mailing your legislators when necessary.

When the session ends on May 9, the fanfare of opening day will be long forgotten. However, the laws passed and rescinded will be long remembered by our children and children’s children. The Bible states that a house divided against itself cannot stand. We ask for your prayers and support throughout this legislative session. Together we can make a difference for our keiki.