Albany — Close to 200 Long Islanders joined hundreds of Catholics from around the state last week for the New York State Knights of Columbus Prayer Rally, to pray and to petition the government on issues of importance to Catholics.
In the early morning of May 13, four buses left from different parts of the Island to meet in Albany for an 11:30 a.m. prayer rally on the steps of the state capitol building.
The last bus, sponsored by Knights of Columbus council in Floral Park, departed from the council’s hall just south of Jericho Turnpike shortly after 8 a.m.
Explained John Sandhaas, past grand knight of Knights of Columbus council in Freeport, “We have to do something about that RHAAP (Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act),” a proposal by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to establish a right to abortion in the state beyond the right as established in the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling.
Officials of the New York State Catholic Conference have called the bill “radical”: it removes modest controls on abortion that now exist and could compel physicians, hospitals, and all employee health insurance plans to perform, refer or pay for abortions.
The Knights designated RHAAP, along with such issues as support for educational tax credits and increased support services for the working poor, opposition to government subsidy of human cloning and embryonic stem cell research and proposals for same-sex marriage, as key issues.
“You always want to do something for life,” explained Kathleen Ruscito of St. Anthony’s Church in Oceanside. An emergency room nurse, she is most concerned about the prevalence of abortion and the threat of embryonic stem cell research and assisted suicide.
“Pope John Paul II called it ‘the culture of death,’” she commented. “I also see the results of abortion, a loss in the dignity of women,” Ruscito recalled caring for a severely disabled boy. “I saw the love that his parents put into caring for him. You have to see that life is good.”
“It’s good to see that people care,” added Mike Muirhead, a parishioner of St. Ignatius Martyr Church, Long Beach.
“I think we should support something like this that the Knights are doing,” said Fred Dorgler, who came with his wife, Mary Anne.
Although their purpose is serious, Richards Laws, a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, West Hempstead, and a few other participants noted the lighter side. “A number of us have been doing this for several years, and there is a sense of fraternity. We have a lot of fun.”
While most of the group’s mission was prayerful witness, a smaller contingent of designated “advocates” met with members of the New York State Assembly and the State Senate on these issues.
Hundreds of Knights gathered on the capitol steps. “We must have more than 800 people from as far north as the Canadian border, as far west as Buffalo, and from eastern Long Island,” commented Joe Peluso of Brooklyn, state administrator for the rally.
Fourth Degree Knights in their capes and plumed hats processed to the front and the group sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. After the words “with liberty and justice for all,” they added, “born and unborn.”
They prayed the rosary, and heard speakers including Bishop Thomas Daily, retired bishop of Brooklyn; Rick Barnes, director of the New York State Catholic Conference; and four state legislators, including Long Island Assemblymen Joe Saladino (R, Massapequa) and Andrew Raia (R, Northport). Peluso explained that the New York State bishops were attending a conference in Rome and read letters of support, including one from Bishop William Murphy.
“This was a wonderful gathering,” said Jacqueline Lullis of SS. Cyril and Methodius Church, Deer Park. “People come from long distances because they care.”
Walter Kedjierski, longtime Knights of Columbus leader and grand knight of the Sayville council, was one of the advocates who met with legislators. “The meetings were very positive and by the rally we are establishing a presence that says, ‘We are Catholic. We are here. And we vote.’”
“For a long time, I didn’t get involved in something like this until I became a Knight,” explained Richard Laws from St. Thomas the Apostle Church.
“Then, I thought, ‘If we don’t do it, who will?’ There are 100,000 members of the Knights of Columbus in New York State and 30,000 in our diocese. We can make a difference.”
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