Catholic Church starts lobby arm

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 11:15 a.m.

Bishop Phillip Strailing of Reno and Monsignor Patrick Leary, administrator of the diocese of Las Vegas, said the Nevada Catholic Conference was formed to present the church's positions to legislators and government agencies.

Robert Payant, recently retired president of the National Judicial College in Reno, has been named executive director of the conference.

Numerous priests and other clergy have spoken during legislative hearings on abortion and other issues, but they have not been regular legislative advocates.

Strailing said other states have used conferences to present the church's positions for years. The conference will be nonpartisan and will not endorse candidates for office.

"Many issues facing our legislators and government agencies deal with profound moral questions including the sanctity of human life, poverty, health care, educational policies and family life," Strailing said. "As good citizens, people of faith have an obligation to be part of the public discourse regarding those issues, and we expect the Catholic Conference will have a positive effect on the decisions that are made by public authorities."