Latest news with #MichiganCatholicConference
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Swing state judge strikes down 24-hour abortion waiting period as unconstitutional
A Michigan judge ruled on Tuesday that the state's 24-hour waiting period and informed consent rules restricting abortion were unconstitutional. The waiting period, which allows abortion-seekers to consider their options before the procedure, was voted into the state constitution by Michigan voters in 2022, before being challenged in a 2024 lawsuit filed by abortion rights groups. "The mandatory delay exacerbates the burdens that patients experience seeking abortion care, including by increasing costs, prolonging wait times, increasing the risk that a patient will have to disclose their decision to others, and potentially forcing the patient to forgo a medication abortion for a more invasive procedure," state Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel wrote in her opinion. Patel also ruled it was unconstitutional to ban nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants from performing abortions. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a post on X that she was "overjoyed" with the decision. "I'm overjoyed to say that the Michigan Court of Claims has seen these restrictive provisions for what they are: an unconstitutional overreach that infringes on our constitutional right to make our own reproductive health decisions," Whitmer wrote. "Today's ruling reaffirms what we already know: reproductive health decisions belong between a patient and their doctor, not the government. I'm proud to know that this Women's Health Week, we can celebrate by protecting and expanding women's fundamental rights and freedoms." Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul Long said the intent of the proposal was to grant constitutional protections to "an industry that places itself above the health and safety of women and the lives of pre-born children." "This decision is a tragic reminder that the normalization of abortion in Michigan exists to the detriment of some 31,000 children every year who will never have the opportunity to experience the gift and blessings of life," Long wrote in a statement. "Now, more than ever, we encourage others to envision a world where human life at every stage – from conception to a natural end – is truly cherished and protected, where expecting mothers are supported with love and care and have access to maternal needs, regardless of the circumstance of the pregnancy." The court upheld a rule that requires abortion providers to screen for signs of coercion. If the decision is appealed, the case would be elevated to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'A symbol of faith and social change.' Leaders in Michigan reflect on Pope Francis' death
Elected officials in Michigan joined those around the world mourning the death of Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome who led the Catholic Church for 12 years before his passing April 21. Francis, who died at 88, was credited by many as a compassionate leader who connected with marginalized communities in and out of the church. "The world has lost a leader who gave so many of us hope. Pope Francis was widely respected for his compassion, realness, and inspiration, which made him a global figure of belief, faith, optimism, and social justice," U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, said in a statement issued Monday morning. "He had a remarkable ability to connect with people on a personal level and advocate for the marginalized, inspiring action on issues like poverty, inequality, and environmental protection. His genuine humility and open-mindedness resonated with a broad audience, making him a symbol of faith and social change." Dingell recalled meeting Pope Francis after the pope delivered a speech to Congress in 2015. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, became Pope in 2013. When he was chosen as the 266th pope that year, he replaced Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned due to health issues. More: What did Pope Francis mean to you? Send a letter to the editor | Letters Pope Francis was 88 at the time of his death Easter Monday. He died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said in a death certificate released April 21. Those reacting to Pope Francis' death, and his leadership of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, said his tenure would be remembered in part for being more progressive on LGBTQ issues, climate change and the role of women in the church. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement, "Pope Francis was an inspiration to countless Michiganders and people around the world. He led with grace, compassion, and humility. He fought against poverty and called for action on climate change, economic injustice, and peace. "He reminded us that the true measure of one's devotion to God comes in one's devotion to others. Pope Francis was a leader who called on all of us to live up to our better selves. As we celebrate his life and mourn his death, let us live by the values he believed in — love, mercy, and compassion for all.' There are nearly 1.8 million Catholics in Michigan, according to the Michigan Catholic Conference. U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, posted on social media he and his wife would "Join the millions of Catholics around the world mourning the loss of Pope Francis. His devotion to God, humble servitude, and compassionate leadership will be remembered for generations. May he rest in eternal peace." President Donald Trump ordered all U.S. flags at public buildings and military installations to be flown at half-mast in remembrance of Pope Francis. Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Francis at the Vatican Sunday, one of the pope's final public meetings. "He will be remembered for his compassion and life of service to others," U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township, posted on social media. "Our hearts go out to the Christians around the world who mourn this loss. May he rest in peace." Members and advocates of the LGBTQ community in Michigan noted Pope Francis broke with centuries of tradition when he became pontiff in 2013, taking a more welcoming stance on issues of sexual orientation and religion. "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?" he said, after being asked a question about a priest being gay. "We shouldn't marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society." Pope Francis' response, while not being a complete embrace of the LGBTQ community, was a tangible effort to make the church more welcoming, one state lawmaker said. State Rep. Emily Dievendorf, D-Lansing, said the remark "signaled a profound shift in how the Church might view LGBTQ+ individuals: not as problems to be solved, but as people to be embraced. That spirit carried through to his support for blessing same-sex couples (even if within narrow parameters), and his affirmation that transgender people can be baptized, serve as godparents, and stand as wedding witnesses. "Were these declarations enough? Not quite. I do believe Pope Francis had a meaningful, if imperfect, impact on the Church's posture toward LGBTQ+ people. While his actions haven't always gone as far as many would hope, they've opened doors that previously felt permanently closed. His was a ministry of bridges, not finish lines. And that's the legacy I choose to honor today." Free Press staff reporters Georgea Kovanis and Niraj Warikoo contributed to this article. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Elected leaders in Michigan reflect on Pope Francis' death
CBS News
30-01-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Michigan Catholic bishops urge support for immigrant families
(CBS DETROIT) — The Roman Catholic bishops who serve the dioceses in Michigan have issued a joint letter "to offer our continued pastoral and prayerful support for migrant individuals and families" who now are living in the state. The letter, published this week by the Michigan Catholic Conference, was presented on behalf of the leaders of the Archdiocese of Detroit including the archbishop, the Most Rev. Allen Vigneron; and the bishops for the dioceses in Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Marquette and Saginaw. The conference serves as the official voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan on matters of public policy, and has issued advocacy statements on a variety of issues. "We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters," the bishops' letter said. "As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst." The bishops' letter urges elected officials "to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children." They specifically call on the Michigan Congressional delegation to "work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs." The letter includes wishes of peace, faith and hope for migrant individuals, and a petition to Our Lady of Guadalupe on behalf of all those who seek "heavenly intercession." Since President Trump took office, efforts to deport illegal immigrants have ramped up. On Wednesday, Metro Detroit politicians and advocates rallied together at Patton Park in Detroit to discuss the rights of local immigrants.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Catholic leaders in Michigan address immigration debate
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Catholic Charities of Inhgam, Eaton, and Clinton Counties took to to post 'A Pastoral Note to Migrants from the ' to outline their thoughts on migrants who may be experiencing fear over mass deportation. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,We, the Roman Catholic Bishops in Michigan, write to offer our continued pastoral and prayerful support for mi- grant individuals and families who over the course of time have entered the country and today are making a living in this state. Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find 'I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me… Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me' (Matthew 25:35,40).We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters. As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses un- yielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our urge our elected officials to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and unit- ed, and to protect those who arrived as children. We call on the Michigan congressional delegation to work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lord's words 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid' (John 14:27). Never fail to keep your faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, who promises a divine kingdom that we strive to inherit and together call our true abundant love and trust, we ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to hear the cries of the suffering and offer to her maternal compassion and protection all who seek her heavenly intercession. Catholic Bishops in Michigan The Trump administration promised mass deportations during his first week back in office. According to DC News Now, the , and as of Monday, 1,179 arrests have been made. They report the average for the fiscal year 2024 was 310 arrests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan Catholic bishops urge support for 'undocumented' immigrant families
As the administration of President Donald Trump intensifies immigration enforcement, the leaders of the Catholic Church in Michigan expressed support for immigrants regardless of their legal status and criticized hateful rhetoric aimed at them. In a pastoral note to migrants released Monday in English and Spanish, all of the state's 10 Catholic bishops said that supporting immigrants is rooted in their faith. "Our fraternal closeness to you and other immigrants, refugees, and those seeking humanitarian asylum is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where we find 'I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me … Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me' (Matthew 25:35,40)," the note published Monday reads. "We hear and empathize with families across the state who express anxiety and fear over mass deportations and harmful rhetoric that broadly demeans our immigrant brothers and sisters." The Archdiocese of Detroit, the largest diocese in Michigan, sent the note to its more than 200 parishes in southeastern Michigan, inviting them to publish it in their parish bulletins, Holly Fournier, an associate director at the archdiocese, said. It was also published online at the Michigan Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan. The note was accompanied by a list of Frequently Asked Questions that explained Catholic teachings on immigration, calling for immigration reform that "offers fair and generous pathways to full citizenship for immigrants living and working for many years within this country." The FAQ section added that while the Catholic Church supports immigrants, it does not support open borders and "encourages the use of lawful immigration pathways. The Church does not encourage unnecessary or irregular migration." The note was one of the strongest statements made in recent years by Catholic leaders in Michigan in support of immigrants. It echoes the views of the national representative of the Catholic Church, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron was the lead signer of the note. "We urge our elected officials to support policies that keep immigrant and undocumented families safe and united, and to protect those who arrived as children," said Michigan's bishops. "We call on the Michigan congressional delegation to work for a humane immigration system that welcomes refugees and immigrants by providing a fair pathway to citizenship; one that also keeps borders safe and secure from criminal activity, including human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal drugs." The pastoral note is one of several ways that faith leaders have responded to Trump's executive orders on immigration. A couple of churches in metro Detroit hosted know-your-rights events in recent weeks for immigrants and a Lutheran congregation in Detroit has declared itself a sanctuary congregation for immigrants. The note from Michigan's leaders comes after a week of contentious debate between the USCCB and some conservatives, including Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic. On Thursday, the USCCB had released a statement criticizing a part of a Trump executive order signed last week that ended protections for sensitive locations such as churches and schools that blocked them from being raided by federal immigration agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Some churches have acted as sanctuaries for immigrants over the years. 'Human Dignity is Not Dependent on a Person's Citizenship or Immigration Status," read the title of the USCCB statement on Jan. 23. "Non-emergency immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, social service agencies, healthcare facilities, or other sensitive settings where people receive essential services would be contrary to the common good," the USCCB statement said. "With the mere rescission of the protected areas guidance, we are already witnessing reticence among immigrants to engage in daily life, including sending children to school and attending religious services." In response, Vance said on Sunday that "as a practicing Catholic, I was actually heartbroken by that statement." He spoke about how some Catholic groups receive federal money to assist immigrants, saying they are influenced by the government funding. "I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns?" Vance said. "Or are they actually worried about their bottom line? We're going to enforce immigration law. We're going to protect the American people." In response, the USCCB issued another statement on Monday, defending its programs, saying that helping refugees is being "faithful to the teaching of Jesus Christ." "In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs," the statement from Catholic leaders said. "Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church.' More: DOJ shuts down Detroit legal program helping immigrants in court after Trump order Michigan's Catholic leaders released the pastoral note the following day, echoing those views. "As shepherds of our flocks, we pledge amid such uncertainty to promote through the Michigan Catholic Conference and in our respective dioceses unyielding support and respect for the human dignity of all migrant people in our midst," the Michigan bishops said in the note. Quoting from the Bible, the note added: "Mindful of the dire conditions from which many travel, oftentimes with children through great difficulty and despair, we encourage you, our migrant brothers and sisters, to be strengthened by our Lord's words." The note also made reference to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a title often used by Mexican Catholics to describe the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. "With abundant love and trust, we ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to hear the cries of the suffering and offer to her maternal compassion and protection all who seek her heavenly intercession," the note said. This is not the first time Catholic leaders in Michigan have expressed support for immigrants. During Trump's first term, Vigneron released several statements in support of immigrants and Muslims. Catholics are the largest religious group in Michigan. There are about 900,000 Catholics in the six counties that make up the Archdiocese of Detroit, with close to 1.5 million Catholics statewide. Other Christian denominations have been wrestling with immigration issues this month. With Trump sitting in front of her at an interfaith service last week, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, told the president "to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,' referring to immigrants and LGBTQ children. "The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals," she said. Mayor Mike Duggan: Detroit will continue to work with ICE Her views were echoed by the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, the Right Rev. Bonnie Perry, who said in a Facebook post that Budde's remarks "made clear the welcome and care that we in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and the Episcopal Church writ large offer to the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants and refugees." At a protest last week in Grand Rapids on Inauguration Day in support of immigrants, Pastor Ricardo Angarita of United Methodist Church La Nueva Esperanza said, "Jesus always showed us that God cares for and loves all nations and immigrants, seeking peace and protection for them.' Contact Niraj Warikoo:nwarikoo@ or X @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Catholic bishops urge support for 'undocumented' immigrants
