Lansing Update: September 14, 2018
Posted September 14, 2018
Objective Parole Bill Signed Into Law
The Michigan Department of Corrections is required to develop parole guidelines and criteria, which assist the Michigan Parole Board in making decisions about the release of offenders. These include factors such as the individual's criminal record, the completion of mental health programming in prison, and institutional conduct, among other aspects. Under current policy, however, the Parole Board may deny release to offenders for "substantial and compelling reasons," without providing evidence.
Michigan Catholic Conference recently supported legislation that would define "substantial and compelling reasons" to reduce subjectivity in the parole process and that would require denial of parole and reasons for that denial to be given in writing. House Bill 5377, sponsored by Representative Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township), received bipartisan support in the House and Senate and was signed into law this week by Governor Snyder. With the governor's signature, House Bill 5377 now becomes Public Act 339 of 2018.
Action Needed! Oppose the Use of Tax Dollars for Aborted Fetal Organs
Last month, news reports revealed that the Food and Drug Administration signed a new contract to acquire "fresh" aborted fetal organs for research creating so-called "humanized mice" with human immune systems. Yesterday, the U.S. Bishops' Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities joined 44 other pro-life groups in signing a letter to Secretary Alex Azar, head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, expressing shock and dismay that the FDA is "using federal tax dollars and fomenting demand for human body parts taken from babies who are aborted."
Please send a message to Secretary Azar and urge him to end all federal government association with those who participate in trafficking or procurement of aborted baby organs and to stop using taxpayer dollars for this gruesome practice. Thank you for your action.