Faith in the Public Arena
Religious coalition statement: We will not remain silent
“If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. If the church does not participate actively in the struggle for peace and for economic and racial justice, it will forfeit the loyalty of millions and cause men everywhere to say that it has atrophied its will.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., from A Knock at Midnight, 1963
Government shutdown could impact Catholic service providers
Catholic health care facilities and Catholic Charities could be among service providers that would feel the impact of a state government shutdown if Republican legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton fail to solve the state budget impasse by July 1.
State budget solution must not harm poor, vulnerable
The following is a legislative update provided by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which advocates on behalf of the state’s bishops for public policies and programs that support the life and dignity of every human person.
Minnesota’s legislative session ended on May 23 without a state budget for fiscal years 2012-2013 that both the Legislature and the governor could agree to, which means that a special session will have to be scheduled to create new finance bills.
Families voice support for parental choice in education bills
Last Monday was the final day of the 2011 regular session of the Minnesota Legislature with lawmakers and the governor at a virtual impasse regarding finance and revenue bills.
Minnesota Catholic Conference decries the choice of Bradlee Dean to deliver opening prayer in house of representatives
The Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC), the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, today decried the invitation of Bradlee Dean to give the prayer at the opening of today’s House session. “It was wrong to have a person with extremist views, like those attributed to Dean, deliver the prayer in the House,” said Jason Adkins, MCC executive director.
Parental Choice in Education Legislation Gains Momentum
The Minnesota Catholic Bishops’ support of parental choice in education legislation is
rooted in the principle, grounded in Catholic social teaching, that the family is the central social
institution, and that parents are primarily responsible for equipping their children with the knowledge
and skills necessary for success in life.
Budget threatens basic needs of vulnerable and disabled Minnesotans
More than 40,000 poor Minnesotans with disabilities and serious illnesses would be at risk of losing some or all of their basic needs assistance under the health and human services state budget passed by the legislature this week.
Immigration reform must protect families, human dignity
The following is a legislative update provided by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which advocates on behalf of the state’s bishops for public policies and programs that support the life and dignity of every human person.
Move budget talks from ideology to priorities
All the discussion around Minnesota’s $5 billion budget deficit seems to suggest that Minnesotans face an either/or choice of how to understand the budget: “Government and Taxes Are Good” vs. “Government and Taxes Are Bad.”
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