2013

It has been estimated that approximately 150 women in Michigan under the age of 18 are sold into sex trafficking each month, and Michigan Catholic Conference is applauding four members of the Michigan Senate for raising awareness to this “scourge of evil.” “Michigan Catholic Conference is supportive of and thankful for the efforts of this bipartisan legislative day to raise awareness about the horrors of human trafficking, which Blessed John Paul II referred to as a ‘scourge of evil,’” said Michigan Catholic Conference Policy Advocate Rebecca Mastee. “It is imperative to raise the collective level of consciousness in Michigan about this issue as human trafficking is an appalling crime against the fundamental rights and dignity of the human person.”

Following an order to dismiss late Friday afternoon, a federal judge has simply delayed, rather than ruling on the merits of, a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' objectionable services mandate. The lawsuit was filed May 21, 2012 in order to prevent the federal government from requiring MCC to include abortion-inducing drugs, artificial contraception and sterilization in its employee health benefit plan. The following is a statement from Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long.

Michigan Catholic Conference today is applauding the Senate Health Policy Committee for passing legislation that protects religious liberty rights of those who purchase health care, work in health care or operate health care institutions. The legislation now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long made the following statement today following the election of Pope Francis as the 266th successor of St. Peter: "With a profound sense of happiness and joy, Michigan Catholic Conference welcomes the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as His Holiness Pope Francis. We pause to celebrate and give thanks for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit that worked throughout the papal conclave. We offer our prayers that Pope Francis will guide the Church with love toward universal peace and salvation, and that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire all elected officials to promote the common good for all people."

Policies that protect the ability for faith based organizations to serve the general public in that organization’s faith tradition should be recognized by state law Michigan Catholic Conference stated today in announcing its advocacy priorities for the 2013-14 legislative session. Michigan Catholic Conference’s advocacy agenda was approved in December by its Board of Directors and is being released this week through FOCUS, a periodic publication distributed to all Catholic parishes, schools, institutions and other locations and individuals across the state. The Conference’s advocacy agenda falls into eight categories and is developed from a concern and interest for policies that impact the common good and moral fiber of the State of Michigan.

Catholic Conference Applauds Senate Members for Human Trafficking Awareness

Lawsuit Over HHS Mandate 'Simply Delayed,' Catholic Conference CEO Says of Order to Dismiss

SB 136 Strikes Balance Between Religious Liberty Rights, Health Care Needs

Welcome His Holiness Pope Francis

MCC Announces 2013-2014 Advocacy Priorities