MADISON — Charles M. “Chuck” Phillips was a familiar sight at the state Capitol for many years as the first executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC).
Tag: Wisconsin Catholic Conference
Viajando Unidos en la Esperanza
Estimados hermanos y hermanas en Cristo:
En el transcurso de dos mil años, la Iglesia católica ha desarrollado una pericia especial en el campo de la inmigración.
Bishops ask Catholics to welcome immigrants, back reform
MADISON — Wisconsin’s Roman Catholic bishops are asking Catholics and others to reach out to immigrants and to back comprehensive immigration reform that does not unfairly discriminate against them in a pastoral letter to Wisconsin’s largest religious denomination.
The bishops released the letter, “Traveling Together in Hope,” on December 12, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas.
Abstinence education: Why it’s more important than ever
In Wisconsin, we’ve been hearing a lot in the media these days about sex education. Our state Legislature is debating a bill which would overturn a law passed two years ago called the Healthy Youth Act.
That law required public schools that offer sex education to teach about proper use of contraceptives, among other things. The proposed new law, called the “Strong Communities . . . Healthy Kids Act,” would emphasize abstinence as the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy and disease.
Bishops offer guidance on concealed carry
As Wisconsin’s law permitting people to carry concealed weapons takes effect, Wisconsin’s Roman Catholic bishops are urging Catholics to reflect on the meaning of freedom, the Catholic tradition of nonviolence, and to remember that churches are “sacred spaces.”
WCC supports bill to restore flexibility, local control to sex ed
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) urged support for legislation to provide local districts more flexibility in teaching human growth and development classes, as well as to permit abstinence-based instruction.
Bill may keep abortion from health exchanges
The State Senate gave its approval to legislation to prohibit health insurance providers that participate in future state exchanges from including elective abortions in their coverage.
Bishops oppose ‘preventative services’ mandate
The leaders of Wisconsin’s five Roman Catholic dioceses have written the Obama administration to express opposition to the mandated full coverage of sterilization, contraception, and related counseling services by private health plans as required under new federal health care reform regulations.
Is conceal carry proposal necessary?
The right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and by the Wisconsin Constitution.
But that right, like many others, is not absolute and may be regulated to a certain extent. One such regulation is our state’s current ban on carrying concealed weapons.
Proposal up for consideration
Wisconsin is nearly alone in that regard. For some time this fact has fueled a desire to join other states in permitting citizens to carry a concealed weapon (CCW). Such legislation has passed twice in recent years only to be vetoed by Governor Doyle.
Make your voice heard to protect the poor and vulnerable at state, federal levels
We have been hearing so much about the fiscal challenges facing our state and national governments. Sometimes we may feel so frustrated that we don’t do anything.
But now is not the time to stand back. It is time to make your voice heard with your elected representatives at the state and federal levels. In this week’s Catholic Herald, we have published some suggestions on how to contact your legislators effectively. Many of these suggestions come from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), the public policy arm of our state’s Catholic bishops.