Each spring, the bishops from Minnesota’s six dioceses who comprise the Minnesota Catholic Conference convene in St. Paul to meet with the governor and key state legislators.
The annual day of meetings, which typically occurs around the midpoint of the legislative session, helps give momentum to the advocacy of MCC staff, who are tasked with bringing the bishops’ legislative concerns to the attention of lawmakers.
This year, the bishops focused their conversations with Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller and other key legislative leaders on strengthening family economic security by creating a Minnesota Child Tax Credit, combating homelessness by assisting the work of emergency shelters, providing equitable funding to nonpublic pupil aid programs, and opposing the legalization of online sports gambling.
As always, these conversations showcase an excellent model of faithful citizenship. Even during points of disagreement, the bishops and legislative leaders engaged in civil dialogue, as all recognize that these are difficult issues with myriad considerations. The Church’s advocacy is principled, not partisan, thereby allowing Catholics to work collaboratively across the political spectrum.
The policy advocacy of our bishops offers a credible witness to the Gospel and is an expression of their pastoral care for all people in the community, especially the poor and vulnerable. By modeling principled advocacy, our bishops help our elected officials come to view the Church as a home for people to know, love, and serve the Lord.
Opposition to sports gambling platforms
Minnesota’s Catholic bishops joined a coalition of faith leaders from Minnesota’s Jewish, Muslim and Protestant communities to express their opposition to the legalization of commercial sports gambling via a letter delivered to the governor and every member of the Minnesota House and Senate.
The letter — which was spearheaded by MCC’s partner organization, the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) — lays out concerns, not only from a moral perspective, but also addressing the very real costs of gambling and the damage that would be created by normalizing mobile gambling.
The fact that the letter was signed by a diverse array of nearly two dozen faith leaders ranging from rabbis in Duluth to rural area Protestant leaders to Muslim imams in the Twin Cities, highlights the underreported reality that the push by sports gambling companies to enter Minnesota is not as widely embraced as lawmakers may have been led to believe.
The full letter can be read at mncatholic.org/gambling.
“Inside the Capitol” is an update from Minnesota Catholic Conference staff during the legislative session.
Lawmakers are attempting to make Minnesota the land of anytime, anywhere gambling by allowing sports betting through mobile apps. A new source of addiction and depravation must not be unleashed just so a privileged few can have a bit more fun watching a ballgame. Please visit MCC’s Action Center to find ways to get engaged on this important issue, at mncatholic.org/actioncenter.
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