MCC applauded the House and Senate for passing legislation this week that requires the safe storage of guns in homes and expands background checks on the purchase of all guns, and expressed hope that the conversation around gun safety and awareness of the violence in society will lead to a greater appreciation for the value of all human life and the dignity that every person possesses from his or her conception as a child of God.
A majority of Michigan lawmakers are quickly moving a bill to force employers to pay for elective abortions as part of their employee benefit plans, a clear violation of the constitutionally protected rights of conscience for individuals, employers, and faith-based institutions and yet another example of continued abortion extremism in the Legislature.
MCC issued a statement against legislative efforts to end legal protections for unborn children and removing statutory language to protect women from harm, including penalties for administering an abortion that results in the death of the woman.
The Michigan House of Representatives voted to amend the state’s civil rights act that will likely create a right to target religious organizations for their teachings, beliefs and practices related to traditional marriage and biological gender differences, Michigan Catholic Conference stated after the vote.
Michigan Catholic Conference expressed disappointment today with the Senate voting to pass legislation that adds new categories to the state’s civil rights law without an amendment that protects religious organizations from discrimination, which MCC believes will lead to targeting of faith-based social service, educational and charitable organizations, and force small non-profit religious organizations into lengthy litigation in state courts.
Enacting common sense gun safety measures, increasing access to affordable homes, and allowing undocumented immigrants and refugees to obtain driver’s licenses are among the measures Michigan Catholic Conference will pursue this legislative session. As outlined in Blueprint for the Common Good, the Conference’s policy document for the 2023—24 Michigan legislative session that was released today.
MCC urged lawmakers to include protections for religious organizations in pending legislation to expand the state's civil rights act, noting that 22 other states that have expanded their civil rights laws have also included religious protections for people and institutions that believe in marriage between one man and one woman and the biological difference between men and women.
In a statement, MCC regonized the overwhelming bipartisan votes by both the state House and Senate this week to increase the state earned income tax credit to 30 percent and make it effective immediately for the 2022 tax year, a significant step forward for delivering immediate tax relief to working, lower-income Michigan families.
Michigan Catholic Conference issued a statement offering support for legislation that protects children from gun violence as well as an increase to a state tax policy that aids low-income workers in Michigan — both of which were mentioned by the Governor in her State of the State address this week — in recognition that these policies promote the dignity of human life and work.
Upon hearing of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the age of 95, Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long offered the following reflections: “Together with the Catholic bishops and dioceses in Michigan, we offer our prayers for the soul of Benedict XVI and entrust the pope emeritus to the intercession of the Blessed Mother.”
