AUGUSTA – The spiritual leader of Maine’s 230,000 Catholics urged lawmakers Tuesday to support options for the poor, the vulnerable and the underserved as they struggle to divide up limited resources during the legislative session.

Bishop Richard Malone, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, hosted the church’s 12th legislative luncheon at St. Paul’s Center, located a block from the State House.

Installed 10 months ago as bishop, Malone met formally with legislators for the first time.

“The church, like you,” he said, “cares for the common good of humanity. This is why the church becomes involved in debates and takes positions regarding public policy.”

Without citing specific bills, Malone told the 125 in attendance that the church would work to protect programs for the poor, to assure quality health care for all residents, and to overcome a culture of violence and abuse.

The bishop also said that the diocese would continue to support pro-life initiatives and to oppose gay marriage proposals.

“The way Catholics understand it,” Malone said, “the mission of individual church members, and of the church community as a whole, includes not only the worship of God and the development of a personal spirituality, but also the transformation of the secular order, of the society, making the world into what Pope John Paul II calls a ‘civilization of love,’ a ‘culture of life.'”

In his brief remarks, the bishop also acknowledged the impact the recent clergy sexual abuse scandal has had on the Church and its public image.

“The Church’s credibility as a moral teacher has been diminished by the recent sexual abuse scandal from which we are, thank God, slowly emerging,” he said Tuesday. “It was a horrific thing, and I am solidly committed to reach out to victims, to protect children through our church and by supporting legislation, to have every possible precaution in place to prevent such abuse in the future. … Our credibility has been marred, but it does not mean that our moral doctrine has been compromised.”

Members of the diocese’s public policy committee decide what legislation to support or oppose in a given year in consultation with the bishop and the diocese’s public affairs director, Mark Mutty, who lobbies the Legislature.

Daniel Snow, a Portland lawyer and committee member, outlined Tuesday how the group’s decision-making process works.

“We measure public policy in the light of Gospel values,” he said. “We analyze the social and moral dimensions of issues in the light of the Church’s social doctrine. We participate with other concerned individuals in the debate over public policy, and we speak out with concern – and when necessary, with courage – for the dignity of the human person.

“The diocesan public policy committee is not about Democrat or Republican,” he continued, “conservative or liberal, progressive or reactionary, red or blue. It is not about political power or about winning. It is, rather, about trying to speak the truth as the Church teaches us. In a word, it is about witnessing.”

Gov. John Baldacci, a Catholic, attended the luncheon. He urged unity among political parties and among religious groups as the state faces another year of lean economic prospects and tight budgets.

“Events such as this remind us that we are all here [in Augusta] for the same reason,” he said.