March 20, 2008

Legislators Meet With Bishop Steib

Special to the West Tennessee Catholic

"I wanted you here so we can work together creating good legislation." Bishop Steib was telling several legislators who gathered with him last Friday at St. Benedict High School why he had called them together. "As you create bills we can help because our folks are out there in the trenches," the Bishop said.

Representatives Delores Gresham, Steve McManus and Curry Todd, as well as City Council members Bill Boyd and Jim Strickland came to the meeting and heard and saw presentations on the Church's role in health care ministry, Associated Catholic Charities and Catholic Schools. Alma Abuelouf, Secretary of Pastoral Services, Eileen Hivner, Executive Director of Catholic Charities and Dr. Mary McDonald, Secretary of Education and Superintendent of Schools spoke or made power point presentations for their respective departments helping the legislators deepen their understanding of how much the Diocese of Memphis contributes to the community through it's health care, charities and educational efforts.

A brief question and answer session followed the presentations. Representative Dolores Gresham said after the power point presentation on education, "You certainly present a good case for vouchers. Parents are the first educators of their children. So, they should have choices about where they wish to send their children to school."

Representative McManus congratulated the Bishop on choosing St. Benedict as a place to have the meeting. "It was a good idea to do it here," McManus said, "the youngsters get a chance to see legislators and we get a chance to see them." Principal George Valadie welcomed the group to Saint Benedict's which also arranged a luncheon.

Recently elected City Councilman Bill Boyd asked for help. He noted that a program in the downtown Kiwanis Club often has difficulty getting enough inner city kids to go to a summer camp which Kiwanis sponsors. Eileen Hivner offered that she and the staff at Catholic Charities would be happy to assist Kiwanis in fulfilling their summer need.

Shortly before the close of the meeting, Representative McManus noted, "It was a great reminder of the resources that are available to our constituents."

Bishop Steib closed by reminding the legislators, "It's for the good of all that we can give to society good Catholics, Christians and citizens who will work hard, pay taxes and make a difference. I'm happy you were here."