It has been estimated that approximately 150 women in Michigan under the age of 18 are sold into sex trafficking each month, and Michigan Catholic Conference is applauding four members of the Michigan Senate for raising awareness to this “scourge of evil.” “Michigan Catholic Conference is supportive of and thankful for the efforts of this bipartisan legislative day to raise awareness about the horrors of human trafficking, which Blessed John Paul II referred to as a ‘scourge of evil,’” said Michigan Catholic Conference Policy Advocate Rebecca Mastee. “It is imperative to raise the collective level of consciousness in Michigan about this issue as human trafficking is an appalling crime against the fundamental rights and dignity of the human person.”
Following an order to dismiss late Friday afternoon, a federal judge has simply delayed, rather than ruling on the merits of, a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' objectionable services mandate. The lawsuit was filed May 21, 2012 in order to prevent the federal government from requiring MCC to include abortion-inducing drugs, artificial contraception and sterilization in its employee health benefit plan. The following is a statement from Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long.
Michigan Catholic Conference today is applauding the Senate Health Policy Committee for passing legislation that protects religious liberty rights of those who purchase health care, work in health care or operate health care institutions. The legislation now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long made the following statement today following the election of Pope Francis as the 266th successor of St. Peter: "With a profound sense of happiness and joy, Michigan Catholic Conference welcomes the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as His Holiness Pope Francis. We pause to celebrate and give thanks for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit that worked throughout the papal conclave. We offer our prayers that Pope Francis will guide the Church with love toward universal peace and salvation, and that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire all elected officials to promote the common good for all people."
Policies that protect the ability for faith based organizations to serve the general public in that organization’s faith tradition should be recognized by state law Michigan Catholic Conference stated today in announcing its advocacy priorities for the 2013-14 legislative session. Michigan Catholic Conference’s advocacy agenda was approved in December by its Board of Directors and is being released this week through FOCUS, a periodic publication distributed to all Catholic parishes, schools, institutions and other locations and individuals across the state. The Conference’s advocacy agenda falls into eight categories and is developed from a concern and interest for policies that impact the common good and moral fiber of the State of Michigan.
Today is a memorable day for abortion policy in the State of Michigan," Michigan Catholic Conference stated today as Governor Snyder signed into law abortion clinic licensing policies while legislation to restructure Blue Cross Blue Shield was vetoed due to abortion provisions. The Conference is applauding the Governor's position that House Bill 5711 will work to better protect the health and safety of women in Michigan.
"Allowing for an indeterminable number of permit holders to carry concealed in a place of worship was not good public policy to begin with," MCC stated after Governor Snyder vetoed Senate Bill 59. The legislation would have allowed for a greater number of concealed weapon permit holders to carry concealed in current gun-free zones, including churches.
Today, Michigan Catholic Conference recognized the State Senate for approving legislation that places the dignity of women above the interests of the abortion industry. House Bill 5711, which passed the House of Representatives in June with bipartisan support, would license and allow for state health officials to inspect all of the 32 abortion clinics in Michigan, 28 of which are currently not licensed and most have rarely, if ever been inspected. The legislation must be concurred by the House before going to Governor Snyder for his signature.
Today the Michigan Senate passed 26-12 Senate Bill 975, which creates a statewide act that protects the religious liberty and conscience rights of health care providers and payers. Under the legislation, a health care worker who has a policy in place with their employer could assert conscience rights pertaining to an objectionable service, but not in an emergency situation or based on the patient's status. The bill would also protect faith-based employers from being forced to provide or pay for a benefit that violates that organization's religious principles.
This morning the House Families, Children and Seniors committee passed House Bills 5763 and 5764, and Michigan Catholic Conference is now urging the full House of Representatives to pass the bills. The legislation would provide conscience protections to faith based adoption and foster care child placement agencies that have come under attack nationwide due to their religious teachings.
