History
The Michigan Catholic Conference was established by His Eminence John Cardinal Deardon, then Archbishop of Detroit, who in the early 1960s envisioned a unified Catholic voice that would bring its economic and social justice message to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state and federal government. At the time society was going through a fantastic transformation and needed an informed position on matters such as civil rights for minorities, proper treatment and training of migrant workers and human sexuality issues.
After thorough planning and extensive research and consultation with Michigan's diocesan bishops, including Bishop Babcock of Grand Rapids, Bishop Albers of Lansing, Bishop Woznicki of Saginaw and Bishop Noa of Marquette, Cardinal Deardon's insight led to the creation in 1963 of the Michigan Catholic Conference—the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan.
Mr. Francis J. Coomes, who came to the Conference as executive director of Catholic Charities of Michigan, was entrusted with the responsibility of developing the mission of the Conference in accordance with the vision of the founding bishops. Serving the Conference as executive director until his resignation in 1971, Mr. Coomes was succeeded by Mr. Thomas M. Bergeson, Monsignor Herman H. Zerfas and currently Sister Monica Kostielney, R.S.M.
Governed by a 14-member board of directors that includes the diocesan bishops of the province of Detroit, five lay members, one priest, one religious sister and the archbishop of Detroit as chairman of the board—the Michigan Catholic Conference immediately began compiling an impressive list of accomplishments after its incorporation. Known early for its proactive course of action, the Conference issued a statement promoting civil rights prior to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Throughout the decade and those that followed, the Conference was instrumental in such initiatives as providing auxiliary services to non-public school students, creating migrant training and welfare centers in Michigan, launching a successful ballot proposal to exempt food and drugs from sales tax and, most notable, the Conference's efforts in the early 70s in support of a public campaign against “abortion on demand.”
Leading into the 1980s the Conference worked diligently toward ending Medicaid funding of abortion, produced a statement on the Church's position against the death penalty, called for Catholic voters to seek candidates' positions on important issues during election season, discussed the AIDS epidemic, and advocated for teen health and school based clinics.
The Conference's activity continued into the 1990's by working to enact parental consent laws regarding abortion, developed a moral statement that addressed the state's social service budget, called for educational reform in the state and confronted critical human life issues such as euthanasia and human cloning. The Church's advocacy against euthanasia culminated with the Conference's efforts in 1998 to defeat a ballot proposal that sought to legalize assisted suicide.
As we move forward in the 21st Century the Michigan Catholic Conference will continue working for the common good by advocating for human life, economic and social justice, religious freedom, education and the traditional family structure—all in the spirit of the Beatitudes and in accord with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
