ALBANY — Hundreds of Knights of Columbus and other Catholics from Long Island and around New York State will converge on the state capital here May 12 for their annual prayer rally to address issues of concern to Catholics.

“We’re hoping for a good turnout from Long Island,” said Charles Guarnieri, Nassau County chairman for the prayer rally. “I’ve got three buses from Nassau, which we’re hoping to fill.”

“We’ve got two buses from Suffolk — one from Ronkonkoma and one from Route 110,” said Walter Kedjierski, longtime Knights of Columbus leader and grand knight of the Sayville council. “I hope people will come. It’s a good day, and it gives us a chance to let the politicians know that these are important issues and that we care.”

In addition to such issues as a proposed “same-sex marriage” bill, protection of human life, educational tax credits, and support services for the working poor, the rally will focus on opposition to the proposed Markey bill, which would suspend for one year the statute of limitations for civil suits against some individuals accused of sexual abuse of minors. The bill does not ease restrictions in current law against filing a suit over abuse alleged to occur in public schools. (See related story)

“We’re against that. That’s religious discrimination,” said Joe Peluso, state director of the prayer rally for the Knights of Columbus. “We are supporting the Lopez bill,” sponsored by Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn).

The Lopez bill would raise the statute of limitations for civil suits for sexual abuse to the alleged victim’s 25th birthday, including suits charging sexual abuse by public employees.

In addition, Peluso said, “we’ll be making a strong push against bills to force New York to allow so-called same-sex marriage.” The rally has addressed that issue in the past, but Governor David Paterson’s recent push for that bill, Peluso said, “has increased the urgency.”

“We’re also still concerned about RHAPP (Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act),” proposed by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Peluso said. Under that proposal, New York State would establish a right to abortion beyond the rights outlined in the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

“We’re speaking up on issues that are of concern to Catholics, to Christians, to all people of good will,” Peluso said.

To join the Suffolk delegation contact Richard Grefig at 516-798-2676. Nassau councils sponsoring buses are Our Lady of the Island Council, Massapequa Park, Joseph Bonarrigo, grand knight, 516-249-3431; and Floral Park Council, Stephen Tommony, past grand knight, 516-775-1074. A third bus is sponsored by two councils: St. Thomas the Apostle Council in West Hempstead, Kevin Moran, grand knight, 516-428-6339; and St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Council in Lynbrook, Charles Rosaschi, grand knight, 516-887-1282.