As parishes, schools and dioceses across the country celebrate Catholic Schools Week January 25 – 31, both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives have passed Resolutions recognizing that Catholic schools are invaluable and produce students who are “strongly dedicated to faith, values, families and communities.” Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), with this year’s theme being “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” According to NCEA, “Catholic schools offer academic excellence and faith-filled education for students nationwide. National test scores, high school graduation rates, college attendance and other data show that Catholic schools frequently outperform schools in both the public and private sectors.” Click here to read House Resolution 7, and here to read Senate Resolution 5. Read more…
Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 22, during the annual March for Life rally, H.R. 7 continues the federal prohibition against taxpayer subsidies for abortion and abortion coverage. The bill also requires health care plans offered under the Affordable Care Act to disclose the extent of its coverage for abortion and the amount of any surcharge for that coverage to consumers. Praising the passage of the bill, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Chairman of the USCCB Pro-Life Office, said “Just as most Americans do not want their tax dollars used for abortion, they do not want their own health coverage misused to pay for abortions.” Read more…
Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long provided the following comments this evening regarding Governor Rick Snyder’s State of the State speech: “A clear indicator of the moral strength of a society is the manner by which it cares for its most needy citizens,” said Long. “Every person is deserving of human dignity, and state efforts to promote this right through poverty reduction should be pursued. Merging the Departments of Community Health and Human Services presents an opportunity for policymakers to enhance the assistance citizens need to distance themselves from poverty.“ Read more…
Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long responded to today’s decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to hear cases this year from the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit addressing state policies that define marriage as between one man and one woman, including the 2004 voter-approved Michigan Marriage Amendment: “This is a significant moment for the nation’s highest court to move toward settling one of the most important societal questions in recent history,” said Long. Read more…
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is inviting Catholics across the country to help promote a “Culture of Life” through an online prayer campaign that also includes a smart phone mobile app, text message and email. The “9 Days for Life Campaign” is an effort to pray with the bishops to end abortion as January 22 marks the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children’s lives have been lost to abortion, as many suffer their loss oftentimes in silence. Beginning January 17th, the campaign will run through Sunday, January 25th. For more information about this important campaign, and to download pulpit announcements, prayer resources, bulletin and newsletter announcements and helpful images click here…
