For the tenth consecutive year, the California Catholic Conference (CCC) is hosting California Catholics interested in exercising their "faithful citizenship" at Catholic Lobby Day in Sacramento.

Catholic Lobby Day will be a gathering of people of faith raising their voices in "sincere dialogue... and with anxious interest... seeking the common good," said Social Service Sister Gail Young, in the Office of Justice and Peace.

All who are interested in meeting with elected officials to speak on behalf of the poor, vulnerable or voiceless are welcome to join representatives from various diocesan ministries and lay organizations on April 22.

Some of the issues Lobby Day representatives plan to address with elected officials about include:

---AB 2844 (Food Stamps): Public social services: CalWORKs and the Food Stamp Program: redetermination and recertification would repeal the quarterly reporting period replacing it with the semi-annual reporting period.

---SB 1555 (Older Prisoners): Older prisoners would require the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement an elder work policy, an elder helper program, age-appropriate programs and activities and related services for prisoners 55 years of age or older.

---AB 2262 (Child Protection: Safe Surrender): The bill would expand current law from 72 hours to 7 days old for infant's age that parents/guardians could surrender at a designated location; amended to delete funds for an awareness campaign. (Same as last year's AB 81, which the Governor vetoed)

---State Budget, with focus on the poor and vulnerable, CalWORKs, Naturalization Funding and Education.

Cost is $5; bus transportation will also be available for an additional fee (approximately $25). Registration is required. For more information or registration, contact Sister Young, (213) 637-7690, or SrGYoung@la-archdiocese.org.

For more information, please call Sr. Gail Young, S.S.S. at (213) 637-7690 or visit www.archdiocese.la/ojp