MCC Updates
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Citing Likely Impact on Canon Law, MCC Urges Opposition to “Anti-Foreign Law” Bill May 10, 2012: 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. Continue reading Citing Likely Impact on Canon Law, MCC Urges Opposition to “Anti-Foreign Law” Bill …
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On the Formation of the Michigan Legislative Prayer CaucusMay 2, 2012: Michigan Catholic Conference released the following statement regarding today's announcement of the formation of a Michigan Legislative Prayer Caucus. Continue reading On the Formation of the Michigan Legislative Prayer Caucus…
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Lansing Update, April 27, 2012
April 27, 2012: Legislature Passes State Department Spending for 2012–13 Fiscal Year Continue reading Lansing Update, April 27, 2012…
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U.S. Bishops Issue Call to Action in New Religious Liberty Statement
April 12, 2012: “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” released April 12, urges the laity to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights, and itemizes numerous instances at home and abroad where religious liberty has come under attack. According to the statement: “What is at stake is whether America will continue to have a free, creative, and robust civil society—or whether the state alone will determine who gets to contribute to the common good, and how they get to do it.” Continue reading U.S. Bishops Issue Call to Action in New Religious Liberty Statement…
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Lansing Update, March 30, 2012
March 30, 2012: Legislation Would Allow for Concealed Weapons in Churches; Strengthened Parental Consent Laws Move to House; 2012–13 Departmental Budgets Begin to Move Through the Legislative Process Continue reading Lansing Update, March 30, 2012…
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Thousands Protest HHS Mandate in Detroit, NationwideMarch 27, 2012: Detroit—Upwards of 1,000 people enthusiastically cheered when Fr. Stephen Pullis took the microphone in downtown Detroit with a simple but forceful message. “We cannot give up, we cannot back down, and we cannot be silent,” he said to a roar. Among those speaking at the rally was Most. Rev. Michael Byrnes, auxiliary bishop of the Detroit archdiocese, pictured above. Continue reading Thousands Protest HHS Mandate in Detroit, Nationwide…
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U.S. Bishops Launch Nationwide Call to Prayer for Religious LibertyMarch 21, 2012: The Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), gathering for its March 2012 meeting, called for a nationwide prayer effort to support the ongoing struggle to protect religious freedom and conscience rights from various threats, including the coercive HHS contraception/sterilization mandate. Continue reading U.S. Bishops Launch Nationwide Call to Prayer for Religious Liberty…
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Lansing Update, March 16, 2012
March 16, 2012: Legislation Banning Abortion Coercion Heads to Senate; Senate Subcommittee Addresses Lack of Abortion Clinic Inspections; Failure to Report Stem Cell Research Could Mean Decreased Funds for U of M. Continue reading Lansing Update, March 16, 2012…
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United for Religious Freedom: A Statement of the Administrative Committee Of the United States Conference of Catholic BishopsMarch 15, 2012: Following its meeting, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Administrative Committee released this statement in defense of religious freedom and conscience rights that are under attack from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The statement also lays out next steps and dispels common myths about the HHS mandate. Continue reading United for Religious Freedom: A Statement of the Administrative Committee Of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops…
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On the U.S. Senate Respect for Rights of Conscience Act Vote
March 1, 2012: 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. Continue reading On the U.S. Senate Respect for Rights of Conscience Act Vote…
Recent MCC Updates
- February 15, 2012: MCC Applauds Michigan House for Opposing HHS Mandate, Standing for Religious Liberty
- February 15, 2012: MCC Welcomes Michigan House Resolution Opposing HHS Mandate
- February 13, 2012: Rebecca Mastee Joins MCC as Policy Advocate
- February 13, 2012: Following Obama HHS Announcement, U.S. Bishops Renew Call for Legislative Action
- February 10, 2012: Bishops Studying Initial White House Movement on Religious Liberty
- February 9, 2012: Free Press Op/Ed: HHS Insurance Mandate Must be Defeated
- February 7, 2012: Six Things Everyone Should Know About the HHS Mandate
- February 6, 2012: White House Misrepresents Its Own Contraceptive Mandate
- February 3, 2012: FOCUS: Promoting Religious Liberty Through Advocacy
- January 27, 2012: Lansing Update, January 27, 2012
Archived MCC Updates
For additional MCC Updates, please visit our “MCC Updates Archives” page.
Religious Liberty
Michigan Catholic Leaders Respond to Attack on Religious Liberty and Conscience Rights
Bishops Stand Unequivocally Against Unjust HHS Mandate
On February 10, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate permanently entered the federal record “without change.” This means, despite President Obama’s appearance of “accommodation” that same day, religious employers, including the Michigan Catholic Conference, may soon be forced by the federal government to pay for health benefit plans that include abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and artificial contraception.
In response to HHS’s intrusion into religious liberty and conscience rights, those in the Catholic community and all people of goodwill are asked to do the following:
- VIEW the video message below from Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, archbishop of Detroit and Chairman of the MCC Board of Directors
- READ, WATCH and LISTEN to what the Michigan diocesan bishops and national Catholic leaders are saying about the HHS mandate
More Background
On January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed a rule forcing virtually all private health care plans to cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. These are listed among “preventive services for women” that all health plans will have to cover without co-pays or other cost-sharing—regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or even the woman herself objects to such coverage.
The exemption provided for “religious employers” was so narrow that it failed to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations—including Catholic hospitals, universities, and charities—that help millions every year. Ironically, not even Jesus and his disciples would have qualified for the exemption, because it excludes those who mainly serve people of another faith.
On February 10, the Obama Administration made this rule final “without change”; delayed enforcement for a year against religious nonprofits that were still not exempted (our charities, hospitals, and colleges); and promised to develop more regulations to “accommodate” them by the end of that additional year. But that promised “accommodation” still forces them to pay for “services” that violate their religious convictions.
- The original rule that violated our religious liberty so severely has not been changed, but finalized.
- HHS has promised some kind of “accommodation,” but only after the election.
- The promised “accommodation”—even at its best—would still force our institutions to violate their beliefs.
- There is no exemption for objecting insurers, secular employers, for-profit religious employers, or individuals.
Additional Resources
- “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty”: A Statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty
- MCC Press Release in Support of House Resolution 185
- MCC Detroit Free Press Op/Ed
- USCCB Summary of HHS Mandate
- USCCB: White House Misrepresents Its Own Mandate
- USCCB: Six Things Everyone Should Know About the Mandate
Statement on Immigration
Justice for Immigrants
About MCC
Founded in 1963, the Michigan Catholic Conference serves as the official voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan on matters of public policy. In addition, the Michigan Catholic Conference develops, coordinates, and manages programs that provide retirement benefits, health, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage for lay employees and clergy, as well as property and casualty coverage for the Church throughout Michigan. Read more about MCC…
