Bethpage-Tribune_1975-09-18

              BETHPGE
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atTHPAGt NY
BETHPAGE F O C LI3I
. * • " **
OLDBETHB*GE
also serving ISLAND TREES
PLAINVIEW PLAINEDGE SEAFORD
'ARIY
VOL. 9 NO. 43 Thursday, September 18, 1975 10 cents per copy
N e w E r a F o r Women A Woman, An American
Senator Burstein Speaks A Saint
On Wednesday evening,
September 10, the League
of Women Voters of the
Town of Oyster Bay held
their opening meeting at
the Plainview-Old Beth-page
Public Library. State
Senator Karen Burstein
addressed League
members and interested
non-members on the
Equal Rights Amendment,
which will appear on the
ballot in New York State
this November. Ms.
Burstein spoke with
honest, strong feeling on a
subject that is very dear to
her.
Interest in adding an
Equal Rights Amendment
to the New York State
Constitution was sparked
in 1972 when New York
ratified the federal version
(which still awaits com­plete
ratification). The
proposed ERA has already
been approved by two
successive separately
elected Legislatures,
through the hard work of
Ms. Burstein and some of
her colleagues. The
proposition appearing on
the ballot will, if approved,
add a Section 13 to Article
One of the State Con­stitution.
It reads as
follows: "Sec. 13 Equality
of rights under the law
shall not be denied or
abridged by the state of
New York or any sub­division
thereof on account
of sex." The language is
simple and straight­forward,
expressing
clearly that in New York
State sex would not be a
factor in determining legal
rights.
Senator Burstein's
connection with this issue
includes teaching a course
entitled "Sex-Based
Discrimination" at Hof-stra
University Law
School. She feels that the
ERA holds out the promise
of a better society for all of
us. Although in the 1860's
the 14th Amendment
decreed that no person
shall be deprived of due
process or equal protec­tion
under the law, it was
not until 1970 that the
Supreme Court declared a
sex-discriminatory statute
unconstitutional. There
has never been a
unilateral statement made
by the state or federal
government that there is
something inherently false
League of
Women Voters
The League of Women
Voters is a non-partisan
organization dedicated to
promoting political respon­sibility
through informed
citizen participation in
government. The League does
not support or oppose political
candidates; instead, they
engage in the serious study of
political issues. After studying
the issues, the League takes
stands on legislative
proposals. Membership is
open to any citizen of voting
age.
League activities include
lobbying at state and national
levels. They work in
cooperation with other grass­roots
organizations, speaking
out on such issues as
Environmental Quality and
International Relations. The
League is often called upon to
testify at legislative and
administrative hearings,
which significes the reliability
of their investigative studies.
Information on various voter
issues is available from the
League through pamphlets
and fact-sheets they have
published for the benefit of an
informed citizenry. The
League is based on the con­tention
that an involved, in­formed
populace is the cor­nerstone
of true democracy.
-Shari Miller
in creating two different
sets of values and
responsibilites under the
law based on sex. Ms.
Burstein feels that it is
indeed time that society
point itself away from the
degraded view of women
that has become the norm.
The ERA can help change
attitudes in social,
business and political
circles as well as legal
procedures.
Senator Burstein em­phasized
the promise that
passage of the ERA holds
for women and men. It will
force society to evaluate
individuals on the basis of
their unique potential
rather than on the basis of
sex. She estimated that
only 75 state statutes will
be greatly affected by the
ERA, while a total of 200
will have some slight
changes, many merely
"cosmetic." The major
importance of the passage
of the ERA is the
eradication of the legal
sanction of sex-based
discrimination. Single
isolated legal battles being
fought around the state
will not suffice; they
benefit individuals while
leaving others free to
practice discrimination
unchallenged. Ms. Bur­stein
said that the ERA
can be "a beacon pointing
the way to mutual human
respect."
The people of New York
State can be guaranteed
equal treatment under the
law by their own
state local governments
without waiting for action
to be taken on the federal
level. Although only four
more states' approval is
needed for the federal
Equal Rights Amendment
to become part of the
Constitution, no one can
foretell when ratification
will come. Even when it
does come, two more
years must elapse before
the Amendment takes
effect. If passed, the New
York State Amendment
could be in force by
January 1, 1976. The
League of Women Voters,
through the eloquence of
Senator Burstein, urges
local voters to make the
equality of all PEOPLE a
reality by voting yes in
November. The quality
sought is inherent in
democracy; the ERA can
make this concept an
actuality.
by Shari Miller
Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley
Seton was declared a "saint in
heaven" by His Holiness Pope
Paul VI last Sunday, September
14,1975.
Her canonization was wit­nessed
throughout the world by
millions of Catholics and non-
Catholics. People of all faiths
were overjoyed and gave honor to
this first American-born saint...
Her life was inspiring and in
this world today, we need to
reflect now and then on the real
values of life and the example she
gave.
Elizabeth Ann was born of
upper-class Episcopalian parents
in New York City. Her mother
died and she was raised by her
father's brother as a well-edu­cated,
refined young woman. At
age 19 she married William
Seton, age 25, son of a wealthy
and socially-prominent family.
They had five children. William
contracted tuberculosis and died
in Italy in 1803.
Elizabeth saw very hard times.
She had lost her husband, her
fortune and even friends.
She had been befriended by an
Italian family named Filicchi.
The deep faith of this family and
their kindness in her hours of
need led her to examine the
Catholic faith. She then decided
to convert to Catholicism.
Her deep faith and love for
humanity led her to live a most
productive existence.
She was invited by Archbishop
John Carroll to establish a girls'
school in Baltimore, Md. She
received the title "Mother" and
her community of sisters adopted
a black habit and bonnet and
became the Sisters of Charity of
St. Joseph.
Through the generosity of
Samuel Cooper, a seminarian,
she was able to purchase a farm
in Emmitsburg and open a
school.
During her lifetime she saw the
beginning and subsequent growth
of parochial schools in the United
Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley
States. Her spiritual sisters and
daughters served humanity here
and in the missions throughout
the world. Every human is
served by the Sisters of Charity -
Education, the sick, the needy,
the unfortunate - in the missions
they serve the lepers - they serve
the unborn, newborn and the
elderly. They love and serve
many who are abandoned and
unloved. These magnificent
women of Charity are indeed a
beacon we should look to.
Indeed we should be proud of
our "Mother Elizabeth Seton,"
who in 47 years was a dutiful and
loving daughter, a dear wife,
concerned mother, good friend,
spiritual leader and
humanitarian of the firslorder.
In this time when women are
being recognized for their
achievements, here is a woman
among women. Rejoice in this
Celebration of the first
American-born saint. This dear
woman who valued life and loved
the world has given us a
message. It has come none too
soon.
Florence M. Cull em
Burke Announces Jobs Available
Expansion of the Federal
Comprehensive Employment and
Training Act (CETA) will assure
jobs for up to 100 Town of Oyster
Bay residents, Supervisor John
W. Burke announced thisweek.
"An expected increase of $6.8
million in federal funds for thts^
program in Nassau County will"
not only permit current CETA
employees to stay on through the
end of this year and until June,
1976, but will provide for the
placement of an additional 100
unemployed Town residents in
positions with various
municipalities throughout the
County," Burke explained.
Under the program, anyone
unemployed for 30 days or more
can apply for placement.
Dependent of experience and the
position to be filled, they will be
paid $6,000, $7,500 or $9,000 per
year.
"The program provides a dual
"benefit," Burke said. ''Not only is
it offering the unemployed a job
opportunity, but it is giving
various local governing, bodies
additional help at no additional
cost. Our .Town currently has 20
people assigned to us in various
departments.
Burke said that while the
employees placed through the
CETA program were assigned to
departments, the new openings
will be for specific programs.
"The new employees will be
provided to municipalities for
special projects only," Burke
explained. "Therefore, in order
to receive additional personnel
(Continued on Page 8)