NM Conference of Catholic Bishops (NMCCB)

Pictured L to R:
Most Reverend James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup
Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe
Most Reverend Peter Baldacchino, Bishop of Las Cruces 
 

NMCCB Legislative Agenda for 2021 (click here)

Allen Sánchez, Executive Director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, presents the concerns of the three Catholic Bishops of New Mexico at our New Mexico legislature in Santa Fe. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good of humankind by addressing issues of moral concern and social justice as seen through the eyes of the Catholic faith. The Conference informs and educates its members and the public about those issues and encourages all to advocate for those issues and the betterment of humanity. This year is the 60-day session, beginning January 19 and ending March 20. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing restrictions, much of the session is virtual. Life, being the greatest gift from God, is top priority, as is concern for the poor. The New Mexico Bishops are aware that there are hundreds of bills of proposed legislation. The Bishops bring their voice on issues for the common good, thereby making public their opinion on some legislation. The following is the Legislative Agenda for the 2021 New Mexico Legislature: 

SUPPORT HJR1, the Constitutional Amendment to use 1% of the Land Grant Permanent Fund for Early Childhood programs. Science has shown that the investment in programs for families and children from prenatal to 5 years old have extremely good benefits for the wellbeing of the children and life-long positive health outcomes. New Mexico’s youngest children continue to rank 49th-50th in overall children’s wellbeing. The status quo is not acceptable. 

OPPOSE SB10, the Repeal of the Abortion Ban Statute. This legislation proposes to take off the state books a law, now suppressed by the US Supreme Court’s ruling of Roe vs. Wade, which outlawed abortion in the state of New Mexico. The removal of this Statute has two other effects about which we should be very concerned which are not suppressed by Roe vs. Wade. First, the Statute today guarantees freedom of conscience for medical providers to not be forced to participate in abortions (religious right). Second, the Statute has exceptions to the law and, when there is an abortion under an exception, all procedures are required to be performed by a physician. We hope these remain in the law. 

OPPOSE HB47, the Life Options Act. This legislation can place vulnerable persons in the position of losing their life due to human error or coercion. The determination for the diagnosis of days of life remaining has a high rate of inaccuracy. In the same way that we oppose the death penalty, human error is not acceptable, thereby rendering the Act of Assisted Suicide unethical. 

The NM legislature is again considering legalizing assisted suicide. 
Legalizing assisted suicide:
-           Gives insurance companies deadly power in an already broken-profit driven health care system,
-           Opens patients up to abuse, puts those struggling with depression at risk of death in a dark moment,
-           Harms suicide prevention efforts,
-           And sews distrust between the doctor and patient where trust is so important.

Help your legislator understand the unintended consequences of legalizing assisted suicide. Please join Archbishop Wester and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops to communicate your opposition to your legislators today!
To communicate your opposition click here: https://www.votervoice.net/PRAF/campaigns/80089/respond

OPPOSE the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana. The state of New Mexico is entrenched in poverty and addictions. There is great concern about persons driving under the influence and concern about adults parenting while under the influence. 

SUPPORT SB66, the Small Loan Act to Cap the Annual Percentage Rate. This legislation proposes to lower the interest rate of small loans from 175% to 36%. This will have a positive impact for struggling New Mexicans trying to pay debt and will protect the public from predatory lending.