News Release: Catholic Conference Urges Continued Support for Religious Freedom in Child Placement Services

(LANSING)—Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long made the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed legislation that provides conscience protection for faith-based child placement agencies:

“As a matter of religious freedom, faith-based agencies can and should be able to provide child placement services within the precepts of their faith tradition without obstruction from state government,” says Long. “This legislation simply asks the State of Michigan to respect the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom and allow the Catholic Church and other faith-based child placement agencies to operate within the tenets of their religious tradition. Michigan Catholic Conference applauds the House of Representatives for passing these important bills and calls on the Senate and the Administration to finish the job.”

House Bills 5908 and 5909, sponsored by State Representatives John Stahl (R-North Branch) and Scott Hummel (R-DeWitt), respectively, both passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and now await consideration from the State Senate.

Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.

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