The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), the public policy voice of Wisconsin’s bishops, expresses its deep sadness and dismay that Planned Parenthood plans to resume abortions in Wisconsin.
Category: State News
Wisconsin Catholic Conference urges legislators to oppose abortion expansion
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference strongly urges legislators to oppose LRB-2151/1, legislation that would create an exception in Wisconsin’s statute permitting children conceived in rape and incest to be killed and expand abortion access in cases of fetal abnormality or risk to the mother.
WCC announces new leadership and staff
The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) announced today that Executive Director Kim Vercauteren will be departing the agency effective September 1, 2022. Associate Director Barbara Sella will succeed her, joined by two new Associate Directors.
Statement of the Wisconsin Catholic Bishops on Dobbs V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This decision corrects a tragic wrong in our federal jurisprudence that has permitted the killing of millions of innocent human beings. In Wisconsin alone, approximately 600,000 unique lives were taken, each created in God’s image and loved for all eternity.
Wisconsin bishops urge support for Afghan guests at Fort McCoy
Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops have issued a statement in support of those displaced from Afghanistan and residing at Fort McCoy.
Wisconsin Catholic charities coordinate aid for Afghan arrivals, request help
All five Wisconsin Catholic Charities agencies are collaborating with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Migration and Refugee Services (MRS). The USCCB will address legal, morale, and wellness concerns on base, as well as the immediate basic needs of Fort McCoy’s newest residents.
Wisconsin bishops address vaccination and conscience protection
Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops have issued a statement to address the ability of individuals to seek exemption from COVID-19 vaccination mandates based on conscience objection.
Catholics at the Capitol 2021 goes virtual
MADISON — Due to the current pandemic and numerous factors affecting individuals’ ability to travel and gather, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) is announcing the cancellation of the Catholics at the Capitol in-person event scheduled for Wednesday, April 21, 2021. However, in lieu of the in-person event, the WCC is sponsoring a free virtual advocacy day on April 21 and has just opened the online registration: www.wisconsincatholic.org/catholics-at-the-capitol
“Catholics at the Capitol is something that we and our Catholic partners have regularly hosted for 20 years,” said WCC Executive Director Kim Vercauteren. “We’re going to miss having Catholics come together from all over Wisconsin for this day of prayer, fellowship, and advocacy. However, it remains vitally important that policymakers hear from the faithful during these challenging times. We wanted to make certain that the collective Catholic voice was still present and heard at the State Capitol.”
State bishops warn of harm to First Amendment freedoms under Equality Act
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MADISON — Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops have issued a letter urging the faithful to actively oppose H.R. 5, a federal bill that if signed into law would dramatically limit First Amendment freedoms, especially the free exercise of religion. Known as the Equality Act, H.R. 5 would alter provisions of the federal Civil Rights Act, adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as categories of people protected from discrimination.
The Catholic bishops of Wisconsin affirmed that “every person is made in the image of God and must be treated with respect and compassion. Individuals have a right to live free of discrimination or harassment.”
Nevertheless, the bishops explain that the Equality Act actually fosters inequity and intolerance. “As Catholics, we are called to shield individuals from discrimination, accompany the vulnerable, and be a voice for the voiceless. However, the Equality Act would require religious entities to abandon the very principles of faith that undergird their ministry and service. Under the Equality Act, ministries would not be able to acknowledge the biological reality of male and female.”Bishops address COVID vaccine concerns
MADISON — Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops have issued a statement that addresses moral considerations regarding newly-developed COVID-19 vaccines.
In their letter, the bishops acknowledged the devastating impact of coronavirus infections worldwide but also lauded the efforts of nations and organizations to develop safe vaccines that will effectively diminish the impact of the virus.
Moral questions
While the promise of inoculation provides hope for the end of the current pandemic, the bishops indicated that many Catholics have raised moral questions about receiving vaccinations, especially the use of vaccines that utilize cell lines from aborted children in development and production.
There are also questions surrounding the right of conscience and the duty of all Catholics to advance the common good.