2011

As the Michigan Legislature continues its review of a package of bills that reforms education policy in the state, Michigan voters have responded to a recent statewide survey overwhelmingly in favor of having the ability to choose where their child receives an education.

The purpose of these education reform bills is to move Michigan toward a more robust public school system and to streamline existing policies that benefit nonpublic students and families. Parents are the primary educators of their children and as such should have as many educational options available for their children.

Parents are the primary educators of their children, and greater school choice options that are opened to parents and students will only lead to a more robust school system in the State of Michigan, Michigan Catholic Conference testified today before the Senate Education Committee in support of legislation that will expand the number of charter schools in Michigan, expand schools of choice, and make necessary revisions to dual enrollment and shared time policies.

Banning partial-birth abortion in our state is the most common sense policy a civilized society could enact. There is no place in our state for those who seek to terminate the life of an unborn child partially delivered from his or her mother. Today Michigan should stand proud in following the lead of dozens of other states and the federal government by prohibiting this most heinous and gruesome practice.

Today's passage of welfare reform legislation that will cut off from state assistance a minimum of 13,000 families and some 25,000 children was fast-tracked through the legislative process while neglecting to address how the measures will impact destitute children, Michigan Catholic Conference stated today following the House's concurrence of House Bills 4409 and 4410. The legislation now heads to the Governor for his signature.

Stating that it is unfair and mistaken to blame undocumented persons for problems more accurately attributed to a failed federal policy, the seven diocesan Catholic Bishops in Michigan have composed a statement on the public policy issue of immigration that is now being sent to Catholics across the state, to members of the Michigan Legislature and to the Michigan congressional delegation.

In order to allow for the Legislature to discuss how the state will prevent thousands of children from falling deeper into poverty, Michigan Catholic Conference today urged in a memo to the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee for House Bills 4409 and 4410, legislation that reforms the state’s welfare assistance program, to be sent to a conference committee.

“From the beginning of this legislative session Michigan Catholic Conference has consistently stated that a clear indicator of the moral strength of a society is the assistance it provides its most needy citizens. Unfortunately, the bills that passed the State Senate today will only create wider cracks through which more people will fall.”

New Poll Indicates Overwhelming Statewide Support for School Choice

Statement in Support of Senate Passage of Education Reform Legislation

Catholic Conference Urges Support for Education Reform Bills

Catholic Conference Applauds Passage of Partial-Birth Abortion Ban

Catholic Conference Speaks to Passage of Welfare Reform Legislation

In Statement, Michigan Bishops Urge Support for Immigrants

Catholic Conference Urges Greater Deliberation on Welfare Reform Legislation

Michigan Roman Catholic Bishops’ Statement on Immigration

Declaraciones de los Obispos Católicos de Michigan Sobre la Inmigración

On the Passage of Welfare Reform Legislation