On the Death of Pope Francis
News Release / Posted April 21, 2025

MCC President and CEO Paul Long offered prayers for the Holy Father Pope Francis upon the news of his death Easter Monday, and offered reflections on his 12-year pontificate.
News Release / Posted April 21, 2025
MCC President and CEO Paul Long offered prayers for the Holy Father Pope Francis upon the news of his death Easter Monday, and offered reflections on his 12-year pontificate.
MCC CEO Expresses Deep Gratitude for Archbishop Vigneron Upon His Retirement
News Release / Posted February 11, 2025
MCC extended a welcome to Most Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger after he was named by Pope Francis as the new archbishop of Detroit and expressed gratitude to retiring Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron for his years of faithful and fruitful service in Michigan.
‘A Blueprint for the Common Good’ Reflects MCC’s Mission to Promote the Dignity of Human Life
News Release / Posted February 4, 2025
Michigan Catholic Conference announced the release of its public policy advocacy principles for the 2025–2026 legislative session, which guide MCC’s work at the state Capitol and are informed by Catholic social teaching.
News Release / Posted January 28, 2025
As immigrant families across the state experience anxiety and fear over mass deportations, the Catholic bishops in Michigan issued a pastoral note offering continued prayerful support for migrant individuals and families and to promote unyielding respect for the human dignity of all migrant people.
Allowing undocumented individuals to apply for licenses promotes safer roads, dignified living for all
News Release / Posted December 3, 2024
Pending bills in both the House and Senate would make Michigan driver’s licenses and state identification cards available to applicants who do not have proof of U.S. citizenship but can prove their identity and Michigan residency. Without a driver’s license, more than 100,000 Michiganders who lack federal documentation cannot legally drive to buy groceries, drop their kids off at school, or get to work.
Lansing Update publishes on Fridays when the Michigan Legislature is in session and chronicles legislative activity of interest to Michigan Catholic Conference.
Lansing Update / Posted April 25, 2025
There were a number of updates on MCC’s legislative initiatives this week, but the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday was on the hearts and minds of many.
Lansing Update / Posted April 17, 2025
More school safety legislation that will improve protections in all schools advanced this week with support from MCC. Plus, an invitation to enter into the Sacred Mysteries ahead of Easter during the Triduum.
Lansing Update / Posted March 28, 2025
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.
Lansing Update / Posted March 21, 2025
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.
Lansing Update / Posted March 14, 2025
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.
The Word from Lansing is a regular column written by Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) staff for Catholic news outlets. Through these columns, MCC outlines current advocacy issues of importance to the Conference and discusses the Catholic position and role in the political process. This publication complements the more regular updates provided by Michigan Catholic Conference’s Catholic Advocacy Network.
The Word from Lansing / Posted April 16, 2025
At the heart of immigration are individual people with names, families, and stories. This column invites readers to recognize the person of Jesus Christ in others through the experiences of migrants who have traveled to unfamiliar surroundings to support and protect themselves and their families.
The Word from Lansing / Posted February 24, 2025
Ensuring every student receives a quality education is critical to promoting the common good. As the state budget process gets underway, MCC will be advocating for a student-centered approach to education funding.
The Word from Lansing / Posted December 6, 2024
As the end of the current legislative session approaches, there remains another opportunity for lawmakers to increase school safety funding for nonpublic schools, and that's where faithful Catholic citizens can help.
The Word from Lansing / Posted October 6, 2024
Among the Church’s social teachings, there is none more important than protecting human life and dignity, which is highlighted every year in October during Respect Life month. This column focuses on two specific life issues due to their continued presence and discussion in the public square among legislators, candidates, media, and the general public.
The Word from Lansing / Posted September 3, 2024
Catholic voters are invited to begin their approach to the election by forming their consciences according to the teachings of the Church, which along with praying for insight and acting on this process of formation is at the crux of MCC’s newest edition of Focus, which is now available in print and online.
Focus is MCC’s quarterly publication that examines a social or public policy issue through the lens of Catholic social teaching. Focus has a mailing list of 4,200 and typically distributes 50,000–75,000 copies to Catholic institutions across the state.
Focus / Posted March 27, 2025
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.
Focus / Posted March 27, 2025
Focus / Posted August 30, 2024
Catholics can be a light to this state and the nation by allowing the truths of the faith to inform their voting decisions. This edition of Focus is intended to help Catholics in Michigan embrace the vocation of a faithful citizen in the 2024 election and beyond by putting on “the mind of Christ” before voting.
Focus / Posted August 30, 2024
In response to national efforts to legalize and expand assisted suicide, a look at how Catholic end-of-life care promotes dignity and compassion.
Focus / Posted May 1, 2024
The Catholic Church calls for honoring and protecting the dignity of human life at all stages until natural death, which makes assisted suicide a direct contrast to the respect for life. It not only threatens the lives of the sick and dying, but also the lives of other vulnerable people. As efforts to legalize or expand assisted suicide continue to surface both in Michigan and elsewhere, this edition of Focus addresses why assisted suicide should be opposed and shows what true compassion for the suffering and dying looks like.
The Advocacy Reports are published at the conclusion of each two-year legislative session and summarize MCC’s public policy and communication advocacy work across the nine advocacy principles that guide MCC’s involvement in legislative issues.
Posted February 13, 2025
Posted February 15, 2022
Posted February 10, 2021
Over the course of the 2019–2020 state legislative session, Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) worked diligently with lawmakers and legislative staff of both political parties to advance the common good. In a February report, MCC details its advocacy work from the past two years and highlights critical legislative achievements for Michiganders, especially those that recognize the dignity of the human person and address the needs of the vulnerable.
Posted March 6, 2019
Posted February 2, 2017