Child placement legislation that passed out of the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee this morning is in the best interest of vulnerable children and will help to secure a wide network of faith-based and secular providers in the state, Michigan Catholic Conference stated today regarding House Bills 4188-4190. According to Tom Hickson, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy: “This legislation helps to preserve diversity in child placement and ensures children are of first and foremost concern. Solidifying the state’s long-standing relationship with faith-based child placement agencies will result in more providers, which means more placement of foster children into ‘forever families.’ Read more…
Protecting faith-based child placement agencies in Michigan will benefit children, help to ensure diversity in adoption and foster care and solidify the long-standing relationship between these agencies and the state, Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) testified this morning before the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee in support of House Bills 4188, 4189 and 4190. “Supporting diversity in child placement protects the presence of faith-based entities, which in turns guarantees more placements and moves more children out of the foster care system,” said Tom Hickson, MCC Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy. Read more…
Legislative efforts to defend human life and dignity, religious liberty and policies that assist the poor and vulnerable are at the forefront of Michigan Catholic Conference’s advocacy principles for the 2015–2016 legislative session. Titled A Blueprint for the Common Good, the Conference’s advocacy framework for the 98th Michigan Legislature also calls for greater educational choice, defending the traditional definition of the family, restorative justice policies, and comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level of government. “The work of promoting the dignity of the human person involves policies that address the beginning and the end of life, with equal attention to the years in between,” said Paul A. Long, Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO. “We’ve published A Blueprint for the Common Good to call attention to our advocacy on behalf of all human life, including the sick and the destitute, the abandoned and the unborn. Read more…
As the Michigan Legislature has begun its 2015-2016 legislative session, Michigan Catholic Conference staff is continually analyzing the bills that have been introduced at the State Capitol through a lens of Catholic teaching. Nine issues areas have been chosen by the MCC Board of Directors as guiding principles for staff, including religious liberty, human life and dignity, education, children and families, health care, economic justice and regulatory policies, restorative justice, immigration, and select federal issues. The Word from Lansing column for February details the importance of Catholic solidarity and action as policies are debated that will impact all of Michigan’s residents. Read more…
The week of February 7 is commemorated as National Marriage Week and, through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, several resources have been made available to celebrate the gift and blessing of marriage. In addition to the websites For Your Marriage and Por Tu Matrimonio, designed to help strengthen the marriage bond, the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth has developed bulletin inserts, preaching resources, a seven-day virtual retreat and explanations of the social benefits of marriage. According to a letter from Bishop Richard Malone, chairman of the committee “…one of the pastoral priorities of our Conference is to promote and strengthen marriage both as a natural institution…” Click here to learn more…
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…
MCC and St. Vincent Catholic Charities Testify In Support of Adoption Bills; U.S. Bishops Urge Support for Health Care Conscience Rights Act. Read more…
A Blueprint for the Common Good: MCC Announces Advocacy Principles for 2015–2016; Governor Introduces State Budget Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2015–2016; Elder Abuse Bills Pass Senate Judiciary Committee; Death Penalty Resolution Introduced in Michigan Senate. Read more…
During March for Life, U.S. House Passes Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Prohibition; Michigan State of State Address Calls for Greater Service to Michigan’s Poor; Michigan House Recognizes Catholic Schools Week With Resolution; Religious Freedom Restoration Act Introduced in Senate. Read more…
