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.

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I. Persons and Community

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.

 

C. Sexuality and Reproductive Choice
Expressions of human sexuality which are non-exploitative of others are a basic right of persons. Sexual relationships between competent and consenting adults should not be subject to legal restrictions. While religious institutions hold an ideal of responsible sex most often within the context of marriage, it is recognized that such moral conduct cannot be enforced by law. Educational programs should provide for an understanding of sexuality, encourage responsible sexual behavior, and disseminate accurate reproductive information compatible with religious convictions.

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.

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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.

B. Community Protection and Correctional Practices
Achieving the goal of a safe and just community requires constant attention to removing the root causes of violence, such as poverty, racism, and abuse of power. The justice system must work toward the restoration of wholeness whenever the community of persons has been violated whether the violence is initiated in the home, the school, the workplace, the street or the boardroom. This will only occur when laws are just and there is concern for both victim and offender, those who serve the justice system in whatever roles, and the community at large.

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.

D. Fair Employment, Economic Dislocation and Consumer Protection
Fair employment practices require non-discriminatory hiring, promotion and separation-from-service practices. There also needs to be firm adherence to the principle of equal pay for equal work and to maintaining safety in the workplace. The enhancement of employment opportunities through retraining, child care programs parental leave and other incentives, is imperative in a rapidly changing society.

E. Bio-medical and Technological Development
In a pluralistic society, legislative and judicial decision-making need to recognize individual rights of conscience as well as the shared values of society. Whenever feasible, decisions should be made by those most directly affected by the outcome following careful exploration of alternatives and possible consequences.

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.

B. Health Care
Preventive and remedial health care services, available to all, are essential to the well-being of society. The availability and affordability of health care services (including pre-natal care) requires accessibility to health insurance and should be provided by all employers. Access to health care should be equally available for all. Preventive services should be an integral part of the health delivery system and included in insurance programs. Regulation of the availability and cost of health services on a nondiscriminatory basis is a legitimate public interest. Steps should be taken to provide comprehensive care.

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.

E. Public Education
Quality integrated primary and secondary education should allow equal opportunity for each child to develop to his or her fullest potential including provision for those with special needs. A strong public school system (in which academic freedom, diversity and multi-cultural educational opportunities are protected) is fundamental to the democratic form of government and the development of good citizenship.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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