Religious freedom has been a cornerstone value throughout America’s history. Pope Francis recognized in his 2015 visit to the United States that “freedom remains one of America’s most prized possessions” and must be preserved and defended “from everything that would threaten or compromise it.” Over the last several years, dioceses around the United States have highlighted the importance of defending religious freedom through a two-week period of special events called the Fortnight for Freedom. This year, the Fortnight begins with Mass in Baltimore on June 21—the vigil of the feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—and ends with a closing Mass in DC on July 4. These events will be televised nationwide on EWTN and the CatholicTV Network. The theme of this year’s event is “Witnesses to Freedom,” which highlights men and women of faith who have lived out their faith in the public realm, including the Little Sisters of the Poor. Read more…

Individuals across the state rely on transportation daily to find opportunities and services, as well as to stay connected with others. Unfortunately, a lack of transit access can have a detrimental impact on one’s ability to access these goods, including employment, health care services, healthy food, and education, which are essential to the dignity of the human person. Low-income residents, the elderly, and the disabled can especially struggle without a variety of quality transportation options available to them. As a result, community discussions about the needs of residents benefit from input about public transportation infrastructure and route decisions, including input from those on the margins of society. Michigan Catholic Conference’s latest informational publication, FOCUS, explores the importance of vibrant transit systems, with emphasis on its impact for marginalized populations, the environment, and community growth. Read more…

Pope Francis has issued a new apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). The purpose of this document is to communicate the pope’s conclusions from recent synods on marriage and the family to the Catholic Church as a whole. First, in October 2014, Catholic bishops from around the world came together for a synod on “the pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.” Then, in October 2015, the bishops met to discuss “the vocation and mission of the family the Church and in the contemporary world.” Amoris Laetitia incorporates the discussions and recommendations of these two events, with a particular emphasis on love and what it means in the day-to-day reality of marriage and family life. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) welcomed the new document and encouraged all Catholics to take the time to read the exhortation. Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, NY, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, called the document “an inspirational aid” to those accompanying couples, both in their marriage preparation and throughout their married life. Read more…

In April, U.S. Supreme Court will consider United States v. Texas, which challenges how the federal government has implemented Homeland Security immigration guidelines. In effect, these guidelines postpone deportation proceedings for four to five million undocumented people who are not a threat to national security or public safety and who have longstanding close family ties to people within the United States. On Tuesday, March 8, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joined with twenty-four other faith-based organizations to file an amicus curiae brief in the case and to advocate for the preservation of these guidelines. The brief argues, among other aspects, that the guidelines provide “important benefits to those most vulnerable in our society and to those who serve them” and ensure “that the public will continue to benefit from the substantial contributions of recent immigrants.” Read more…

Throughout the nation’s history, refugees have escaped persecution or violence in their home countries and have sought safe haven in America. The number of refugees and displaced persons worldwide has reached 59.5 million in recent years, which is the highest level ever recorded. According to the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees, well over 4 million of those displaced are fleeing civil war and rising threats of terrorism in Syria. Michigan Catholic Conference’s March FOCUS provides an overview of the U.S. refugee resettlement process and the approval waiting period that typically lasts 18 to 24 months. In addition, this FOCUS examines Catholic Social Teaching regarding refugees and migrants, speaking about the need to improve living conditions in home countries, to see the human face of the refugees and the displaced, and to welcome and assist individuals chosen for resettlement. Several Catholic agencies and organizations are working in each of these areas, including two local Catholic Charities agencies in Michigan. Read more…

The Michigan Senate and House have each approved resolutions to recognize January 31–February 6 as Catholic Schools Week in the State of Michigan. Senate Resolution 135, sponsored by Senator Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair), and House Resolution 210, sponsored by Representative Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw), outline the importance of values-based education, which can be found in the 228 Catholic elementary and high schools around the state. Currently, these schools serve 53,364 students, helping them to excel academically, spiritually, and socially. Catholic Schools Week is also supported nationally by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). Throughout the week, events in schools and dioceses around the country will highlight the benefits Catholic education provides for students, churches, communities, and the nation as a whole. This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Read more…

In December, Michigan Catholic Conference ran an opinion/editorial column in The Detroit News that discusses migrants and how their presence pertains to religious liberty issues in this country. According to the article “…hundreds of thousands of individuals and families are forced to flee their homes in Iraq, Syria and other parts of the Middle East to escape persistent violence and terror. Pope Francis acknowledged the magnitude of this refugee crisis when he spoke before Congress in September, recognizing that it presents governments with difficult challenges and decisions. At the same time, he encouraged lawmakers to ‘view (the refugees) as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation.’ Read more…

In his 2014 Christmas message, Pope Francis called on all to recognize the beauty of the season, as “Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, is born for us.” As the 2015 year draws to a close and the celebration of Christmas highlights the promises of faith and the joy of Jesus coming into the world, Michigan Catholic Conference, on behalf of the Michigan bishops and the Board of Directors, would like to wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Staff is thankful for all the calls, prayers, questions, and advocacy action from Catholics and people of faith across the state throughout 2015. Especially during this Year of Mercy in the Catholic Church, let each person use this time to see how he or she can share the mercy of God with people in need in the community, such as those who are poor, refugees, sick, and grieving, and promote peace in the midst of violence in the world. Read more…

Michigan Catholic Conference staff would like to wish all a very happy Thanksgiving and safe travels. The celebration of Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reflect upon and give thanks for the many blessings that are present in each day. It is also an opportunity to remember those on the margins of society, such as those who may be hungry, homeless, grieving, or alone. During this holiday season, Catholic Churches, agencies, and individuals are drawing attention to the dignity of these individuals, offering ways to share compassion as well as to advocate for solutions that address root causes of issues like hunger and homelessness. Initiatives like Poverty USA and Catholic Charities USA provide information on how to help those in need, reflections are available for families to evaluate their blessings, and a prayer is available from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for the nation and for families. Read more…

The U.S. bishops have recognized that the causes of crime can be complex and that “one-size-fits-all” solutions are often inadequate, especially for juvenile offenders. Unfortunately, current policies often treat juveniles as adults in sentencing for certain crimes, even though research has shown that there are significant differences in development, maturity, and decision-making between juveniles and adults. Recently more emphasis has been placed on approaches that aim to reduce incarceration rates and bring about rehabilitation through evidence-based programming. In the latest FOCUS publication, which is distributed to all the Catholic parishes and schools in the state, Michigan Catholic Conference evaluates the state of juvenile justice in Michigan and presents the role Catholic teaching on restorative justice can play in policy discussions. FOCUS includes an examination of approaches to criminal justice, a summary of current juvenile justice legislation in Michigan, and additional resources for further learning. Read more…