2009

Michigan Catholic Conference President and Chief Executive Officer Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M. offered the following comments regarding the appointment of Reverend Monsignor Bernard A. Hebda as Bishop-elect of the Diocese of Gaylord.

Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long made the following statement Sept. 29 after the Legislature approved the conference report for the Department of Human Services budget, which maintains funding for the Family Independence Program and the children’s clothing allowance program.

While legislative leaders seek to diminish further Michigan’s social safety net in an effort to balance the state’s $2.8 billion deficit, the Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors today approved a statement calling for solidarity with the state’s poorest citizens and urges legislators to enact a budget that protects essential needs.

Michigan Catholic Conference has approved a statement that does not support the call for a constitutional convention in 2010. Michigan voters at the November 2010 general election ballot will decide whether or not the state will conduct a constitutional convention in 2011. Article 12, Section 3 of the 1963 Michigan Constitution calls for a vote of the people every 16 years to determine if delegates appointed from each House and Senate district should rewrite the state’s guiding document.

On Wednesday, August 5, several statewide human service advocacy groups, including the Michigan Catholic Conference, conducted a press conference at the State Capitol urging the Legislature not to balance the state’s budget deficit on the backs of the poor. The message was included in a letter signed by 27 organizations calling for an end to the “shared pain” approach to balancing the $1.8 billion deficit.

“Considering the abortion business’s own research indicates that public funding more than doubles the number of abortions, it is challenging to recognize Congresswoman Kilpatrick’s vote as anything but a nod to the abortion industry,” said the Conference.

That both Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate have already offered their support for these measures, combined with the fact that nothing in this package of bills reverses the outcome of Proposal 2, should allow for Michigan to take its first step toward transparency in human embryo research.

MCC Vice President for Public Policy Paul A. Long made the following comments on yesterday’s legislative activity that saw over $300 million cut from the current fiscal year budget to balance the state’s $1.3 billion deficit.

MCC Welcomes Msgr. Bernard A. Hebda as Bishop-elect of Gaylord Diocese

Legislature Praised for Maintaining Funding for Family Independence Program, Children’s Clothing Allowance

MCC Board of Directors Calls on State Officials to “Protect Essential Needs’ for the Poor

MCC Board Statement on Constitutional Convention

Statement on Constitutional Convention

Statement on State of Michigan Budget

Human Service Advocacy Groups to Legislature “The Price of Shared Pain is Too Costly”

MCC Criticizes Congresswoman Kilpatrick’s Vote to Support Public Funding of Abortion in D.C.

MCC Offers Support for Embryo Research Transparency Legislation

Passage of Budget Cutting Executive Order “A Clear Indication of Michigan’s Dire Economic Condition’