Michigan Catholic Conference today filed documents in U.S. District Court as a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the mandate established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that requires many faith-based employers to provide in their health benefit plans abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and artificial contraception, all of which the Catholic Church finds morally objectionable.
Michigan Catholic Conference President and C.E.O. Paul A. Long is speaking in opposition today to House Bill 4769, legislation intended to prohibit the application of foreign law in Michigan. Michigan Catholic Conference is strongly opposed to this bill because of its likely impact on the application of Catholic canon law in the state.
The votes of Michigan’s U.S. senators, Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, against the Blunt Amendment represent an unacceptable position—one that seeks to inflict significant monetary damages on religious employers who will abide by their consciences rather than the dictates of the state. Today’s vote may not be the end of legislative efforts to protect conscience rights, and this critical issue will almost certainly be addressed by the courts. As such, the Catholic Church, numerous other faith denominations and persons of goodwill will continue to oppose the HHS mandate in all three branches of government. While these efforts are underway, opposition from the Catholic faithful, along with consistent and clear teaching from the bishops in the State of Michigan, will continue in order to protect religious liberty rights in our great nation.
“Michigan Catholic Conference applauds the Michigan House of Representatives for supporting this Resolution and commends House leadership for acting to support conscience rights and the First Amendment Right to Religious Freedom.”
A recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that forces religious employers to violate their consciences by including morally objectionable services in their health benefit plans represents a broad attack on the constitutional right to religious freedom and the conscience rights of all Americans, Michigan Catholic Conference testified today before the House Government Operations Committee.
“Rebecca has developed a highly impressive track record advocating on behalf of the public policy issues that are of key concern to this organization, and we are quite pleased that she will be joining our team to help promote them in the Michigan Legislature,” said Tom Hickson, MCC Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy.
Michigan Catholic Conference Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy Tom Hickson made the following comments this evening after Governor Snyder urged the Michigan Legislature during the State of the State Address to pass dual enrollment legislation.
As the Michigan Legislature continues its review of a package of bills that reforms education policy in the state, Michigan voters have responded to a recent statewide survey overwhelmingly in favor of having the ability to choose where their child receives an education.
