The National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors has elected as its next president Paul A. Long, President and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference. “I am grateful for Paul’s selection to this important national position as the Church continues her diligent work to promote the common good and to uplift the dignity of all human persons,” said Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit and Chairman of the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors. Read more…

The House Families, Children and Seniors Committee approved a measure today that would allow Family Independence Program (FIP) participants to retain their state benefit after marriage for a grace period of eighteen months. Michigan Catholic Conference has advocated for adoption of this common sense, bipartisan policy and urges the full House of Representatives to vote on Senate Bill 752 before summer recess. Read more…

The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada announced this week that Michigan Catholic Conference is among its first-place Gabriel Award winners for the short television feature “Hands of Service and Healing.” The one minute television advertisement features the work of Catholic Charities personnel to assist vulnerable persons, especially through the provision of fresh water and necessary services in the city of Flint. Read more…

Michigan Catholic Conference released the following comments after the Office of Attorney General announced yesterday it would appeal a Court of Claims ruling that prevents reimbursements to nonpublic schools for certain health and safety expenses. Read more…

Members of the Michigan House of Representatives recently introduced eighteen bills to protect children and others from abuse. Over the next several weeks, these and other bipartisan measures will go before the House Law and Justice Committee for further consideration from lawmakers. To combat the appalling presence of sexual abuse in society, Michigan Catholic Conference will support legislation in the committee that protects children and creates safe environments. Read more…

The Central Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (CMPRSA) presented Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) with four awards during the 2018 PACE Awards on Thursday evening, April 12. This year’s celebration, held at The Cadillac Room in Lansing’s REO Town, recognized mid-Michigan’s best public relations and communications tactics and campaigns produced during 2017. Michigan Catholic Conference received CMPRSA’s highest honor for excellence in public relations, the Pinnacle Award, in three categories: annual reports, newsletters, and video programs. Staff also received an Excellence Award in the websites category. Read more…

On March 14, 2018 the Michigan Senate approved a package of bills intended to, in part, address child sexual abuse in society. Several of the bills are supported by Michigan Catholic Conference, including legislation that would prospectively expand the criminal statute of limitations, expand the pool of mandatory reporters, enhance penalties against repeat abusers, and lengthen the sentences for those who deal in the heinous practice of child pornography. The Senate also passed legislation, Senate Bill 872, that would retroactively reopen the civil statute of limitations for public and private institutions in Michigan, a highly controversial measure opposed by nearly every sector of society in the state. Read more…

The Michigan Senate is currently considering a package of bills that addresses sexual abuse in society. Michigan Catholic Conference urges lawmakers to pass key components of the package to ensure strong protections are in place for children, including those that prospectively expand the criminal statute of limitations, expand the pool of mandatory reporters, enhance penalties against repeat abusers, and lengthen the sentences for those who deal in the heinous practice of child pornography. At the same time, MCC continues to urge opposition to legislation that would retroactively reopen the civil statute of limitations. Read more…

Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) announced today that a favorable settlement has been reached with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding its lawsuit against the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate. The lawsuit, originally filed in May 2012, responded to regulations from the Affordable Care Act that required all employers to include coverage for contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortion-inducing drugs in their health benefit plans, including those with religious objections. MCC’s President and CEO, Paul Long, called the settlement a “victory for religious liberty.” Read more…