Minnesota
Minnesota Bishops Release Immigration Statement
06/17/10
Minnesota Bishops Release Immigration Statement
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Minnesota Catholic Conference Supports Impartial Judiciary
04/22/10
The Minnesota Catholic Conference supports legislation that would ensure an impartial judiciary for the courts of Minnesota. Representative Steve Simon has authored such a bill, H.F. 224. Chris Leifeld, Executive Director of MCC, wrote a letter in support of this bill on April 21, 2010. In his letter, Mr. Leifeld states:
Access to courts without regard to economic or social standing is necessary to safeguard freedom and human rights. Every citizen deserves, when needed, access to a fair court system and a hearing before a fair and impartial judge.
You can read the full text of the letter here.
To read the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s (JRLC) position paper on impartial judiciary, click here.
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Access to courts without regard to economic or social standing is necessary to safeguard freedom and human rights. Every citizen deserves, when needed, access to a fair court system and a hearing before a fair and impartial judge.
You can read the full text of the letter here.
To read the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s (JRLC) position paper on impartial judiciary, click here.
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Action Alert from Minnesota
04/06/10
Action Alert: Act Now to Save Minnesota’s Social Safety Net
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Minnesota Catholic Bishops Urge Legislature To Support A Reformed General Assistance Medical Care Program
02/18/10
Saint Paul – In a February 18, 2010 letter to members of the Minnesota House of Representatives, the Minnesota Catholic bishops urged lawmakers to support a reformed General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program that “not only guarantees accessible and quality care to our neighbors with the greatest needs, but does so in a way that safeguards human life and dignity.” The bishops continued, “when we deny health care for any human person, we ignore their human dignity. And when we ignore their human dignity, we fail to recognize and value human life itself.”
GAMC is an essential state-funded health care program that annually provides basic care to 77,000 of Minnesota’s poorest and most vulnerable adults. It is scheduled to end on April 1, 2010. The majority of Minnesotans receiving GAMC have as their only income the $203 per month they receive from General Assistance payments. One-third of Minnesotans enrolled in GAMC are homeless, more than half suffer from mental illness or chemical dependency, and nearly one-third live with a chronic medical illness. The bishops stated that the focus of GAMC reform efforts must be “providing accessible health care coverage to our neighbors in need.”
The Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to vote on a reformed GAMC program (House File 2680) during today’s 11:00 a.m. floor session.
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GAMC is an essential state-funded health care program that annually provides basic care to 77,000 of Minnesota’s poorest and most vulnerable adults. It is scheduled to end on April 1, 2010. The majority of Minnesotans receiving GAMC have as their only income the $203 per month they receive from General Assistance payments. One-third of Minnesotans enrolled in GAMC are homeless, more than half suffer from mental illness or chemical dependency, and nearly one-third live with a chronic medical illness. The bishops stated that the focus of GAMC reform efforts must be “providing accessible health care coverage to our neighbors in need.”
The Minnesota House of Representatives is expected to vote on a reformed GAMC program (House File 2680) during today’s 11:00 a.m. floor session.
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Pohlad Family Announces Commitment to Urban Catholic Schools
01/06/10
Minneapolis, MN, December 17, 2009 – The Pohlad family today announced a major commitment to keeping urban Catholic elementary schools affordable for young people from economically-disadvantaged families. Through the Minneapolis Foundation and the Catholic Community Foundation, a total of $1 million in tuition assistance will be distributed to nineteen Catholic schools for use during the 2009-2010 school year. The Pohlads plan to continue this million dollar funding each year through 2013-2014.
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Third Annual Midwest Catholic Conference Education Meeting
08/06/09
The Third Annual Midwest Catholic Conference Education Meeting took place July 9-10, 2009 at the Michigan Catholic Conference offices in Lansing, Michigan. In attendance were 23 participants, presenters and guests who discussed a wide range of topics including early childhood learning, charter schools, parental choice in education, special education and marketing strategies. Representing the Minnesota Catholic Conference was Pete Noll, Education Director. Catapult Learning, Mindstreams/A+ Educators, ACE Consulting at the University of Notre Dame and The Friedman Foundation sponsored events and provided participants with valuable updates on services and programs.
Anthony Picarello, USCCB General Counsel participated in the meeting via videoconference and provided information on recent court cases of interest to attendees.
The Friedman Foundation highlighted its promotion of school choice in general terms before focusing on the recent success of a tax scholarship program in Indiana.
The first such meeting was hosted by the Minnesota Catholic Conference in December 2006. A planning committee has been formed to organize the summer 2010 meeting.
NASCCD Meets
08/06/09
The National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors (NASCCD) meets twice a year to discuss the challenges that Conferences face in state capitols throughout the country. On July 26-28, 2009, the NASCCD met in Chicago, Illinois at the Archbishop Quigley Pastoral Center. Over 40 states were represented, including Minnesota, with the Minnesota Catholic Conference represented by its Executive Director Christopher Leifeld. Also in attendance by teleconference, was Nancy Wisdo, Associate General Secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and USCCB staff. Topics included state issues such as budget challenges and education, and federal issues including healthcare reform and immigration. The next NASCCD meeting will be in Washington DC in December 2009.
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Governor Pawlenty's Proposed Unallotments Harm the Poor and Vulnerable Among Us
07/17/09
Prior to the announcement of Governor Pawlenty’s unallotment plan, the Minnesota Catholic bishops wrote a letter to the Governor urging him not to “impose even greater hardships on those among us who are struggling to live.” In the June 12 letter, the nine Catholic bishops stated, “we are compelled to speak with and for those among us who voices are not always heard, and whose lives are oftentimes devalued. We are gravely concerned that our state’s unbalanced budget for FY 2010-11 will be resolved by further eliminating critical services for Minnesotans with urgent needs. We fear that additional spending reductions to beneficial health care and human services programs will have detrimental consequences for those who are poor and vulnerable, and ultimately to our state.”
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