Opioid overdose, marijuana legalization, home-delivered alcohol and church day cares top the list of issues being monitored by Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) in the Alabama Legislature, according to reports given at its annual meeting Feb. 6 in Montgomery.
Joe Godfrey, ALCAP executive director, said Gov. Kay Ivey appointed an Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council in August 2017.
“This is a good move but there wasn’t a member of the faith community in leadership,” he said. “Pastors and other Christian leaders are on the front line of defense against this epidemic so we believed they should be part of the governor’s commission.”
After making this suggestion to the governor’s office, Godfrey said he was asked to serve on the council’s Community Engagement Subcommittee.
ALCAP is compiling a list of resources for churches in helping those with addictions. This material will be posted on the organization’s website.
Godfrey said he’s seen some opposition for ALCAP’s stance on marijuana legalization.
“We’ve posted a few articles on our Facebook page highlighting the detrimental effects of marijuana and some critics have accused us of taking money from ‘big pharmaceuticals,’” he said. “We’ve not received any money like this. It’s actually ‘big marijuana’ who is pushing legalization since there’s money to be made for them.”
In opposition
Godfrey said ALCAP has opposed Senate Bill 243 that would allow alcohol to be shipped directly to homeowners.
“The breweries oppose this too, for other reasons,” he said. “Many communities see alcohol as a revenue enhancer but they fail to count the cost of attendant problems.”
Godfrey said ALCAP opposes Sunday alcohol sales referendums in Bridgeport, Clio, Louisville and other communities, but it is up to pastors and churches in the areas to oppose these local bills.
He said he doesn’t foresee gambling “going anywhere” in the current legislative session.
“There’s been no lottery bill, nor anything about daily fantasy sports,” he said. “The legislature is trying to wrap up by March 26, so they’ve been busy with appropriations and other pressing matters.”
During the meeting, Godfrey asked legal counsel Eric Johnston to speak to House Bill 76, the so-called day care bill. Johnston explained that social media has engendered much misunderstanding about the bill.
‘Religious liberty issue’
“We see this as a religious liberty issue,” Johnston said. “We’ve had protections in place for some 38 years so no child should be endangered in church-sponsored day care facilities. Background checks for workers and annual health and fire inspections are already in place. What we see is additional encroachment if DHR imposes additional regulations on our churches. Some churches have accepted federal money so they’ve also accepted additional federal regulation.”
In other business, treasurer Paul Moore of Pelham presented the financial report and the proposed 2018 budget of $426,300. Nominating chair John Killian of Fayette presented six nominees for board membership: Mike Cox of Forestdale, Scott Davis of Fayette, Kent Pelton of Lanett, Davin Watkins of Pelham, Matt Morrison of Southside and Don Wallace of Tuscaloosa. Joe Bob Mizzell of Montgomery was named an associate member.
Godfrey presented the 2018 Dan Ireland “Salt and Light” Award to former Alabama Rep. Richard Laird, who serves as vice chairman of the ALCAP board. Laird retired from the state Legislature in 2014.
“Our work is missions work,” Godfrey said. “I know our churches are missions-minded and this is good. But please let them know that influencing our society is Christian missions and ALCAP is one way to do this. We’re dependent on pastors and churches to support what we do.”
For more information about ALCAP, visit alcap.com.
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