Lansing Update: MCC's Election Resources Website for Catholics Now Available
Posted September 11, 2026
MCC Publishes Comprehensive Election Resources Website for Catholics
Michigan Catholic Conference’s website to help Catholics prepare for the upcoming November election is now available at micatholic.org/electionresources.
Election Resources Website for Catholics Now Available
The website contains essentially everything Catholics need to help them prepare to vote as faithful citizens, as outlined in MCC’s Form Your Conscience, Vote With Faith publication distributed earlier this year and available online.
Here are just a few of the highlights of what can be found at the website:
- Conscience formation resources, including a summary of the U.S. bishops’ teachings on intrinsic evils and what it means for voting choices.
- Links related to voting logistics, including online voter registration, how to find your polling place, view a sample of your ballot ahead of time, and more.
- A guide to finding information on candidates. If some of the candidates on your ballot do not have websites—or the website doesn’t provide sufficient information—there are other ways to learn about their positions on the issues.
- Tips for how to model faithful citizenship in family settings with children. Just as parents are the first educators of their children and are responsible for handing on the faith, civic responsibility starts with the adults in the family.
Visit micatholic.org/electionresources for these materials and more and consider bookmarking the page to revisit throughout the election season this fall.
If you are a parish employee or volunteer, consider inquiring about adding the MCC election resources website to your parish’s website and promoted in other parish communications alongside other election materials.
Faithful Citizenship Presentations Coming to Parishes Across Michigan
You are invited to attend an MCC-led faithful citizenship discussion event that may be taking place at a parish near you this fall.
During election years, MCC staff often give talks to local parishes across Michigan on faithful citizenship. These interactive sessions share practical tips about forming a Catholic conscience, evaluating candidates and the issues, and how to prayerfully prepare for elections and vote as Catholics.
The in-person presentations provide opportunities to ask questions and engage in respectful discussion about the various issues Catholics must consider in making their decisions at the ballot.
See below a list of the dates, times, and locations of the talks that have been confirmed at this point. More information about the particular events—including the exact location of where the talk takes place at each parish—may be available by contacting the host parish.
- Tuesday, September 15 at 7 pm
- The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica in Royal Oak
- Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 pm
- Sacred Heart Parish in Mount Pleasant
- Wednesday, September 23 at 5:30 pm
- St. Joseph Parish in St. Joseph
- Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 pm
- St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor
- Tuesday, October 13 at 7 pm
- St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Brighton
- Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30 pm
- St. James the Greater in Houghton Lake
MCC will promote these events on its social media channels and may announce more dates and opportunities as they are confirmed in the coming weeks.
If you would be interested in having a faithful citizenship talk at your parish this fall, please contact MCC at publicpolicy@micatholic.org.
Bill Supporting Families and Recognizing Preborn Children Advances to House Floor
Legislation allowing pregnant women to claim an income tax exemption for their preborn children advanced from a House committee last month with MCC support.
House Bill 4202, sponsored by Rep. Gina Johnsen (R-Portland), allows women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant on the final day of the tax year to claim an additional exemption on their state income taxes. The woman must be under the care of a health care professional, and her pregnancy must be verified by a physician, midwife, nurse practitioner, or doula.
During the 2025 tax year, the personal exemption allowed taxpayers to exclude $5,800 from their taxable income per exemption claimed, according to an analysis of the legislation. Tax exemptions can be claimed by taxpayers as well as for each of their dependent children.
MCC supports the legislation because the policy recognizes the humanity of preborn children and their place within a family. The policy would support mothers and families by decreasing their tax burdens as they prepare for the birth of their child. The legislation is now before the House for further consideration.
Catholics: Tell Pharmacies to Stop Selling Abortion Pills
Catholics nationwide are encouraged to act and urge major pharmacies to stop selling dangerous abortion pills to women.
Abortion pills are widely available at neighborhood and online pharmacies and most abortions are now carried out by women obtaining these drugs, sometimes without ever visiting an abortion clinic.
Not only do these drugs end the lives of preborn children, they pose risks to women who are permitted to take them alone at home, causing an abortion without medical supervision or follow up care. Severe complications, including hemorrhage, infection, and even maternal death have been reported following these chemical abortions.
“Widespread use of mifepristone for abortion almost inevitably leads to women delivering their dead baby alone, in their own bathrooms,” according to the message Catholics can send to pharmacies. “It is an experience that can cause intense and lasting trauma, especially as many women are completely unprepared for what they see.”
The U.S. bishops are encouraging Catholics to respond to this Action Alert and send a pre-written message to major pharmacies, such CVS and Walgreens, urging them to stop the sale of the drug mifepristone for abortion.
The campaign to contact pharmacies is a part of a broader effort led by the U.S. bishops to encourage awareness of and advocacy against the widespread use of abortion pills. This campaign urging Catholics to pray and act will run through October, which is the annual observance of Respect Life month.
More information about the campaign and abortion pills—including fact sheets, information for priests and deacons, and more—is available from the U.S. bishops.
Remembering the 25th Anniversary of September 11
On this 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, let us remember those who lost their lives, including those first responders who bravely responded. The following prayer was borrowed from Hallow:
God of Peace and Mercy, on this anniversary for September 11, we lift up the souls who perished on that day. Welcome them with loving arms into Your kingdom.
Comfort their families and friends. Help us to mourn alongside them with a constant compassion that can only be rooted in You.
May we look to the first responders that day to inspire us to live bravely and courageously, and to selflessly protect others in need. May we look to those who opened up their homes to the stranded and displaced that day to stir us to be more hospitable.
Having seen the face of evil and darkness, may we be steadfast and faithful in pursuing You, our perpetual Light. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.