As parishes, schools and dioceses across the country celebrate Catholic Schools Week January 25 – 31, both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives have passed Resolutions recognizing that Catholic schools are invaluable and produce students who are “strongly dedicated to faith, values, families and communities.” Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), with this year’s theme being “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” According to NCEA, “Catholic schools offer academic excellence and faith-filled education for students nationwide. National test scores, high school graduation rates, college attendance and other data show that Catholic schools frequently outperform schools in both the public and private sectors.” Click here to read House Resolution 7, and here to read Senate Resolution 5. Read more…

Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 22, during the annual March for Life rally, H.R. 7 continues the federal prohibition against taxpayer subsidies for abortion and abortion coverage. The bill also requires health care plans offered under the Affordable Care Act to disclose the extent of its coverage for abortion and the amount of any surcharge for that coverage to consumers. Praising the passage of the bill, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Chairman of the USCCB Pro-Life Office, said “Just as most Americans do not want their tax dollars used for abortion, they do not want their own health coverage misused to pay for abortions.” Read more…

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is inviting Catholics across the country to help promote a “Culture of Life” through an online prayer campaign that also includes a smart phone mobile app, text message and email. The “9 Days for Life Campaign” is an effort to pray with the bishops to end abortion as January 22 marks the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children’s lives have been lost to abortion, as many suffer their loss oftentimes in silence. Beginning January 17th, the campaign will run through Sunday, January 25th. For more information about this important campaign, and to download pulpit announcements, prayer resources, bulletin and newsletter announcements and helpful images click here…

“I want a Church which is poor and for the poor,” said Pope Francis in his first encyclical letter Evangelii Gaudium. During Poverty Awareness Month, join the U.S. Bishops, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and the Catholic Community in the United States in taking up Pope Francis' challenge to live in solidarity with the poor! PovertyUSA is the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops. An initiative of CCHD, PovertyUSA seeks to educate and promote understanding about poverty and its root causes. Read more…

National Migration Week 2015 will take place January 4 – 10 with the theme, "We are One Family Under God," which brings to mind the importance of family in our daily lives. This reminder is particularly important when dealing with the migration phenomenon, as family members are too often separated from one another. Please find on the linked page an assortment of resources that can help with your celebration of National Migration Week 2015, including in the areas of human trafficking, migration and refugees. Also included are prayer cards for families and for migrant children. Read more…

On Thursday, December 4th, the Michigan House of Representatives passed several bills that protect the First Amendment right to religious liberty. These measures will help to ensure religious practice is not discriminated against in the public square. The legislation includes the creation of a Michigan Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the second is a package of bills that recognize the conscience rights of faith-based child placement agencies and their long-standing partnership with the State of Michigan to help vulnerable children. [Link no longer available —Ed.]

The Michigan House of Representatives is expected to address legislation soon that would create a Michigan Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Michigan Catholic Conference strongly supports this legislation as it would uphold and strengthen the right of citizens to exercise their religious beliefs in the public square - without retribution or discrimination from the state or others. The bill, House Bill 5958, is modeled after the federal RFRA bill, yet that policy does not apply to the states. While some 20 states have passed a state version of the federal law, Michigan has fallen behind in protecting First Amendment religious liberty rights. To support the Michigan RFRA, [Link no longer available —Ed.]

With the celebration of Thanksgiving, Americans across the country give thanks for the blessings in their lives. They also remember the sacrifices of the original settlers who came to America, many of whom fled England as a result of religious persecution. The religious freedom these early settlers found here is a rich part of the country's history, a cherished right for people of all faiths and beliefs that is too often threatened in today’s society. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops document, Our First Most Cherished Liberty, serves as a reminder for all Catholics of their right to exercise their faith in the public realm and the need to protect that right from governmental interference. Read more…

The commercials are over, the campaigning is done and the yard signs are soon to come down. Election Day has come and gone. What an exhilarating opportunity Michiganders and all persons across the country are given every two years to participate in the Democratic process! In the Catholic tradition, “Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” In the weeks leading up to the election, Michigan Catholic Conference urged Catholics to form their conscience based on the principles of Catholic social teaching, and to evaluate candidates through the lens of faith. This update summarizes the results of the November 4 General Election and what the political composition will look like in Michigan next year. Read more…

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops annually declares the first Sunday in October as Respect Life Sunday. Correspondingly, a Respect Life Program is developed and highlighted in liturgies and marked by special events in parishes and dioceses across the country. The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities publishes a program packet each year to call attention to numerous human life issues. These materials may be found especially helpful for priests, parish groups, schools and other organizations. The 2014–15 Program highlights adoption, advance medical directives, poverty and abortion and other important life issues. Read more…