Leaders of nonpublic schools from across Michigan were in Lansing this week to meet with dozens of lawmakers to advocate for state support of nonpublic schools, including restoration of previously funded items for school safety and robotics programs. Also, the Senate unfortunately voted to send the MCC-opposed surrogacy legislation to the Governor. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
This week, MCC spoke in support of the Legislature advancing limits on payday lending, but against lawmakers voting to support compensated surrogacy contracts. At the heart of both issues, MCC’s advocacy aims are the same: To protect the poor and vulnerable of our state. Read more in this week’s Lansing Update.
Allowing individuals to enter compensated contracts for the creation of children puts vulnerable surrogate mothers at greater risk of exploitation, MCC said in opposition to legislation that passed a state Senate committee, which would allow for compensated surrogacy contracts in the state and also make Michigan an outlier among the international community, which largely views surrogacy as a human rights violation.
MCC commends the state Senate for providing bipartisan support to legislation that would stop payday lenders in Michigan from charging exorbitant interest and fees on short-term loans that ensnare low-income customers in a cycle of debt.
Just months after Pope Francis issued a call for a global ban on surrogacy, Michigan lawmakers resumed consideration of legalizing commercialized, compensated surrogacy contracts in this state, which would make Michigan an international outlier. Learn why MCC testified against this legislation and why it’s harmful for the vulnerable women who become surrogates in this week’s Lansing Update.
These nine advocacy principles originate from Catholic social teaching and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within each principle are specific policy priorities MCC brings to dialogue that occurs at the state Capitol.
Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.
All people must have access to basic human needs to ensure they can live in a dignified manner, with a particular concern for the poor, the vulnerable, and anyone who goes without those basic needs.
Faith-based organizations provide services to the needy and contribute to the common welfare of society through institutions like schools and hospitals. Faith is what animates these providers to serve and is the foundational dimension of their identity.
The human dignity of both the crime victim and the offender should be acknowledged within the criminal justice system when considering punishment and the capacity for rehabilitation.
The human dignity of the immigrant, the refugee and the asylee—regardless of personal circumstances, background, or even legal status—must not be forgotten when considering how to manage immigration practices.
Environmental stewardship has a moral dimension, particularly in the recognition of the impact that environmental deterioration has on people, families, and the poor.
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, we wish to highlight several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.