WATCH
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An occasional newsletter for Assistant Committees on Publication in New York State
“It shall be the duty of the Committee on Publication to correct in a Christian manner
impositions on the public in regard to Christian Science,
injustices done Mrs. Eddy or members of this Church
by the daily press, by periodicals or circulated literature of any sort.”
(Article XXXIII, Section 2, of the Church Manual)
May 2011
Legislation
This January began the beginning of the New York two-year legislative session. The legislative work is focused on two areas this year:
- Health care reform 2. Nursing
The Committee office has tracked legislative bills and has had meetings with Legislators on specific legislative priority areas.
The following meetings were held:
- Counsel of Senator Carl Kruger’s Office to discuss spiritual care and cost/benefit analysis for mandated health insurance benefit bills.
- Assemblyman Gottfried and Liz Hamlin, Legislative Associate to discuss spiritual care and Health Care Reform and Health Plus Bill.
- Legislative Director of Senator DeFrancisco’s Office to discuss affirmative defense and Enacts Erin's law.
- Legislative Director of Assemblyman Cahill’s Office to discuss an accommodation for Christian Science nursing facilities to the requirement of the commissioner of health to develop and implement a system for uniform patient safety. Kevin Massey, Executive Director of High Ridge House, also attended this meeting.
The CS Committee Federal office continues to work with Congress to amend the law to include a Christian Science spiritual care choice for the public. I am happy to talk with you about this further if helpful. A complete status report of the law and current provisions in law that provide for spiritual care coverage is located online at http://christianscience.com/media-inquiries/2010/06/christian-science-and-federal-health-care-reform/ or can be accessed through www.christianscience.com.
Media
RCC Meetings
The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators. We attended the following meetings:
- Rosanna Scotto, co-host of "Good Day New York" on Fox 5 News
- Alana Elias Kornfeld, Senior editor, The Huffington Post
- Arnold Labaton, Executive producer for the PBS program Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
- John P. Blessington and Elizabeth Kineke, producers for the CBS religion and culture series
Blog
Below are recent posts for the Committee blog:
- January 25, 2011
Divine right for a spiritual health care choice
- March 22, 2011
KNOWING THE TRUTH (Christian Science jargon for spiritual healing)
- March 28, 2011
Knowing the Truth – Power of positive thinking?
- March 29, 2011
Know the “Truth” – A spiritual law of freedom
- April 4, 2011
Healing with scientific certainty
- April 6, 2011
The Truth – Seven Smooth Stones
- April 8, 2011
Prophetic Truth – “Deity which outlines but is not outlined” (1)
- April 11, 2011
- Know the Truth – “The substance of things hoped for” (1)
- April 15, 2011
Recent Fruitage from media and legislative efforts:
1) NYS Health Bill to provide Universal Health Care for NY residence – Through meetings with the sponsor, Richard Gottfried, Chair of the Health Care Committee in Assembly, he advised us that he is “favorably inclined to include our recommended religious conscious accommodation to provide a spiritual health care choice.”
2) Christian Science practitioners as mandatory reporters of child and elder abuse – a Bill filed to re-establish Christian Science practitioners with their clergy rights of sacred communication.
3) An immunization Bill filed to accommodate a strongly held religious belief – separate from psychological objection and a subjective justification process.
4) Favorable progress to affirmative defense provisions in prosecution of child abuse based on faith in spiritual practice.
5) Significant progress in media relations and corrective outreach towards developing a web dialogue and a pro active Christian Science facts platform presence.
6) Recent media contacts: Rosanna Scotto; Alanna Kornfeld, Senior Editor, Huffington Post; Celeste Katy, NY Daily News; Elizabeth Dwoskin, Health Reporter, Village Voice; Barbara Glickstein, RN, MPH, MS - Co-Director, Center for Health, Media, and Policy, Hunter College.
Church Talks
The Committee office will be giving an upcoming church talk at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Kingston on Thursday, May 12. We are looking forward to additional church talks this year! We are very grateful for church members in assistance and support of these talks.
Thank you for your support
The pro rata payments currently provide 40% of the Committee expense and contributions provide 60% essential to the continuance of this Manual corrective mission. The Committee Office is grateful for the monthly pro-rata payments, and for member donations and church contributions.
The New York Committee Office is appreciative to all Assistant Committees, church members, and to those who have been active in these initiatives, especially for all your prayers in this work together.
~
“Love is the fulfilling of the law:
it is grace, mercy, and justice.”
(Miscellaneous Writings p.11: 3-4)
With Love,
Paul Hannesson
Committee on Publication for New York State