How should Catholics think about immigration and the migrants who land here? This edition of Focus shares how the Church’s perspective on immigration is guided by the fundamental Catholic social doctrines of upholding human dignity and caring for the poor and vulnerable. This publication features the stories of immigrants who have traveled to Michigan, explains why and how the Church serves migrants, and answers frequently-asked questions about Church teachings on immigration.
Lawmakers are considering policies to help all schools better prepare for emergencies and protect students. Find out more about these bills, which MCC supports, as well as about the newly released edition of MCC's Focus publication that addresses a top-of-mind issue for many Americans.
Fifty nonpublic school leaders across Michigan met with their state representatives and senators to directly advocate for nonpublic education as part of the annual Policy Day hosted by MANS and MCC. Also this week, the leadership transition in the Archdiocese of Detroit was made official with the installation of Archbishop Weisenburger.
The House passed a state budget for next year much earlier than usual. Read more about what it means in the context of the ongoing budget-setting process, as well as updates on bills of interest to MCC.
Retiring Archbishop Allen Vigneron, who has chaired the MCC Board for the past 16 years, was formally recognized by the board in his last meeting as chair. Plus, the Governor gives her latest State of the State and updates on legislation that MCC supports.
These nine advocacy principles originate from Catholic social teaching and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within each principle are specific policy priorities MCC brings to dialogue that occurs at the state Capitol.
Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.
All people must have access to basic human needs to ensure they can live in a dignified manner, with a particular concern for the poor, the vulnerable, and anyone who goes without those basic needs.
Faith-based organizations provide services to the needy and contribute to the common welfare of society through institutions like schools and hospitals. Faith is what animates these providers to serve and is the foundational dimension of their identity.
The human dignity of both the crime victim and the offender should be acknowledged within the criminal justice system when considering punishment and the capacity for rehabilitation.
The human dignity of the immigrant, the refugee and the asylee—regardless of personal circumstances, background, or even legal status—must not be forgotten when considering how to manage immigration practices.
Environmental stewardship has a moral dimension, particularly in the recognition of the impact that environmental deterioration has on people, families, and the poor.
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we wish to highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.
