It’s an easy way to put your faith into action. Get informed and speak out on issues important to your Catholic faith:
The Catholic Advocacy Network is a free online service provided by Michigan Catholic Conference, the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Michigan at the state Capitol.
Weekly news updates on legislation from a Catholic perspective emailed to your inbox
In a few clicks, you can tell your representative about the Catholic issues that matter to you
Become informed and make a difference on important policy issues quickly and easily with the help of the Catholic Advocacy Network
“I encourage Catholics in southeast Michigan and across the state to become familiar with public policies that advocate for and strengthen human dignity, education, religious liberty, and the common good. The Michigan Catholic Conference Catholic Advocacy Network is an effective tool that helps people of faith promote Gospel values in the public square.”
By providing your information, the Catholic Advocacy Network can connect you directly to the officials who represent you, making your advocacy much more effective.
“Lansing is all about relationships. Grassroots networks like the Catholic Advocacy Network is a great place to begin developing those relationships with your elected officials.”
“Now more than ever, grassroots advocacy from people of all faith backgrounds is important to uplifting social justice, equity, and opportunity. We may not always agree on every issue, but I always think it is important for residents in my district and across the state to be engaged, advocate for issues you believe in, and speak up for what is right. From battling poverty and protecting people from water shutoffs to fighting for the rights of immigrants, our Catholic neighbors have been on the side of kindness, generosity, and inclusion.”
In early 2021, more than one thousand people used the Catholic Advocacy Network to urge lawmakers to appropriate millions in federal COVID money intended for nonpublic schools after the Governor had vetoed a bill with the funding in it. The money was ultimately distributed to help nonpublic schools maintain healthy and safe classrooms and facilities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
A few years ago, Michigan Catholic Conference helped defeat a payday lending bill that would have expanded predatory lending practices and harmed families already struggling financially after members of the Catholic Advocacy Network sent more than one thousand email messages to lawmakers opposing the bills.
In 2019, after Catholics encouraged lawmakers to pass juvenile justice reforms, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed eighteen “Raise the Age” measures into law, which gave judges the discretion to charge 17-year-olds as adults based on the severity of the crimes, rather than automatically doing so by age. The bills also connected juveniles with age-appropriate rehabilitation and services appropriate to their age and development.
In 2013, the Catholic Advocacy Network helped to distribute information about a petition drive to ban taxpayer funding of abortion on the state health care exchange, which eventually became law after enough signatures were gathered.
“In this land, the various religious denominations have greatly contributed to building and strengthening society. It is important that today, as in the past, the voice of faith continue to be heard, for it is a voice of fraternity and love, which tries to bring out the best in each person and in each society."
