Lansing Update: October 12, 2012

In This Week’s Lansing Update:

1. MCC Joins Governor Snyder to Oppose Proposal 5
2. Oct. 14 Mass and Pilgrimage for Life and Liberty
3. Religious Freedom Rallies Scheduled for October 20

MCC Joins Governor Snyder to Oppose Proposal 5

On Tuesday, October 9, Michigan Catholic Conference joined with Governor Rick Snyder and the Defend Michigan coalition [Link no longer available —Ed.] at a news conference to encourage opposition to Proposal 5, the 2/3 super-minority tax proposal. Legislators from both political parties attended the event in Lansing, as did a variety of non-profit organizations, business advocacy groups, and members of local government units. MCC President and C.E.O. Paul Long argued against the super-minority proposal saying:

“Giving such a small number of elected officials, just 13 members, the opportunity to decide tax policy in this state is contrary to the principles of representative democracy. With 148 legislators sent to Lansing to represent their constituents, we believe giving so much power to so few is poor public policy.”

Mr. Long’s speech can be read in its entirety at www.micatholic.org. To learn more about Proposal 5 and the rest of the statewide proposals that will appear on the ballot in just under a month, read our October FOCUS.

Oct. 14 Mass and Pilgrimage for Life and Liberty

The Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will be sponsoring a mass and pilgrimage for Life and Liberty on October 14. These events will highlight the importance of protecting the dignity of human life and the right to religious liberty within our society. Archbishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore will be presiding over the events at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The mass will begin at noon (Eastern Time) and will be televised live on EWTN. The prayers for the first day of the novena will be recited shortly after mass ends. Follow along with the rosary novena for life and liberty [Link no longer available —Ed.] this October.

Religious Freedom Rallies Scheduled for October 20

On October 20, another series of peaceful rallies around the country will take place to protest the federal Health and Human Services mandate, which requires all employer health care plans to provide contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion inducing drugs, even if providing them violates an employer’s religious beliefs. Archbishop Allen Vigneron, chairman of the MCC Board of Directors and Archbishop of Detroit, will speak at the rally in Dearborn. Rallies will also take place in 10 other locations across Michigan. For more information about the HHS mandate and the MCC’s response, visit our website.

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