Michigan Catholic Conference made the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court held in the Hobby Lobby case that closely-held corporations cannot be required, under federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act protections, to provide contraceptive coverage in employee health benefit plans: “The impact of the HHS mandate and the administration’s ‘accommodation’ policy, however, still looms large for many Catholic and other religious organizations that do not meet the government test of a ‘religious employer.’ We express hope that non-profit cases related to the HHS mandate, such as that of the Michigan Catholic Conference and Little Sisters of the Poor, secure a favorable outcome from the federal courts in a manner that upholds and protects the first amendment right to religious liberty.”
On behalf of the diocesan Catholic bishops in the state, Michigan Catholic Conference late yesterday filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to defend a 2004 voter-approved amendment to the Michigan constitution that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The Michigan Marriage Amendment, which nearly 2.7 million voters supported in 2004, was strongly endorsed by the Michigan bishops. The Michigan Catholic Conference brief was filed in support of the state’s effort to appeal a lower court’s ruling that found the Michigan Marriage Amendment unconstitutional.
Michigan Catholic Conference today is applauding the state Office of Attorney General for continuing to defend the Michigan Marriage Amendment that was found unconstitutional on Friday by U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman. After the ruling, a statement was released by the Catholic bishops in the state addressing the importance of one man and one woman in marriage and pledging to support efforts to appeal the judge’s decision. “The Catholic community has made clear its strong support for the 2004 voter approved marriage amendment, and that any legal decision to overturn the amendment should be appealed and overturned,” said Paul A. Long, Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO.
The seven arch/diocesan Catholic bishops in the State of Michigan released a statement today after U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman issued a ruling that overturns the 2004 voter-approved Michigan Marriage Amendment. The bishops write collectively under the name of the Michigan Catholic Conference, the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state. “Today’s decision from federal district court Judge Bernard Friedman to redefine the institution of marriage by declaring Michigan’s Marriage Amendment unconstitutional strikes at the very essence of family, community and human nature,” the bishops write. “Marriage is and can only ever be a unique relationship solely between one man and one woman, regardless of the decision of a judge or future electoral vote. Nature, the very essence of humanity as understood through historical experience and reason, is the arbiter of marriage, and we uphold this truth for the sake of the common good.“
Michigan Catholic Conference released the following statement this afternoon in an effort to bring the voice of the Catholic community to ongoing conversations related to civility and tolerance within the public sphere in the State of Michigan: “The role of the Michigan Catholic Conference is to advocate on behalf of public policies that promote the common good for the State of Michigan. The Catholic Conference does so by working with elected officials on both sides of the political aisle as well as the Executive branch of state government. Michigan Catholic Conference does not seek to interfere with intra party discussions related to administration or partisan activity. In recent weeks, regrettable comments relating to personal classification, documented status and religion have become the source of public conversation. It is important to convey during this period that every human person is made in the image and likeness of God.”
On January 16 Governor Rick Snyder presented to a special session of the Michigan Legislature his fourth State of the State Address. In addition to comments about the economy, jobs, budgets, education, roads and other matters pertinent to the state, the Governor discussed the issue of immigration. Michigan Catholic Conference, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Church universal have consistently spoken to the need for all policies to promote the dignity of all human persons, whether or not they are in a documented status. In July 2011, the bishops in the State of Michigan composed a statement on immigration, which may be read here. Following the Governor’s State of the State proposal to create an Office for New Americans, Michigan Catholic Conference welcomed the governor’s comments and spoke further to the need for comprehensive immigration reform in Congress. Click here to read Michigan Catholic Conference’s State of the State news release.
Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul A. Long released the following statement regarding the death of former Lieutenant Governor Connie Binsfeld: “It is with great sadness to have learned of the passing of former Lieutenant Governor Connie Binsfeld. Mrs. Binsfeld was a close friend of the Michigan Catholic Conference, which is fortunate and honored to have worked with a fine woman of deep faith, humility and a dedication to public service. She was a role model for all elected officials in the graceful manner by which she conducted herself and how her deep faith informed her daily work in the legislative and executive branches, especially on behalf of children. Michigan Catholic Conference is pleased to have collaborated with Mrs. Binsfeld on her significant legislative accomplishment pertaining to surrogate motherhood and her role as honorary vice-chair of the Citizens for Compassionate Care group that defeated an assisted suicide ballot proposal in 1998. Michigan Catholic Conference and the State of Michigan this week mourn the death of a true and faithful public servant.”
