Inside the Capitol

  • Faithful Citizenship Beyond Election Day

    Posted by · November 15, 2024 10:51 AM

    Election Day has passed, and leaders have been chosen at every level of government. So, what happens next? This is when the real work begins.

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  • Gold and Silver Cannot Save

    Posted by · October 22, 2024 10:53 AM

    Across the country, the conversation around sports gambling continues to heat up, with 38 states already having passed laws to legalize the practice. Proponents argue that it generates revenue, but the data from states that have legalized sports betting tell a darker story. Instead of economic windfalls, these states have seen increased financial instability, rising debt, and other alarming social consequences. Some of these states are already rethinking legalization. Unfortunately, Minnesota is now in the crosshairs, with sports gambling advocates once again planning to press lawmakers during the 2025 legislative session. 

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  • Civility has a Bad Name these Days

    Posted by · September 13, 2024 10:56 AM

    Civility has a bad name these days, especially in an election year.  It is seen as being weak, or an unwillingness to “speak truth to power.”  If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention, as the saying goes. 

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  • Voting with a Catholic Conscience

    Posted by · August 19, 2024 1:19 PM

    The 2024 election will determine not only our next president but also numerous legislators at the local, state, and federal levels. As Minnesotans prepare to vote, we as Catholics are called to do so with a focus on human dignity, recognizing that every person is made in the image and likeness of God. This fundamental belief is central to how we engage in public life, including how we vote. Catholics should approach the upcoming election with this in mind, using the Church’s teachings as a guide to form their conscience and inform their vote at the ballot box.

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  • The Three C’s Behind How Legislators Vote

    Posted by · July 18, 2024 12:01 PM

    In a representative democracy, citizens vote to determine who will represent them, their families, and their neighbors at all levels of government. When voting for a candidate, citizens trust that the elected official will consider his or her conscience and do what is in the best interest of the constituents. 

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  • Lack of transparency calls for Catholic engagement

    Posted by · June 19, 2024 12:51 PM

    During the final day of the 2024 legislative session, as lawmakers were meeting late into the night and on weekends, the doors to the Minnesota State Capitol were locked. That is a fitting anecdote to a biennium that lacked both transparency and adequate citizen participation in the lawmaking process.

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  • Defending Religious Liberty

    Posted by · May 21, 2024 10:05 AM

    The Minnesota Legislature adjourned its 2024 regular session on Monday, May 20, at midnight. This session, shorter and with fewer bills passed than in 2023, posed significant challenges to religious freedom, affecting Catholics and all people of faith. In response, Catholics actively defended their faith and promoted the common good by engaging with legislators through the Catholic Advocacy Network, making thousands of communications to legislators via calls, letters, and emails.  

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  • Not for Rent. Not for Sale.

    Posted by · May 06, 2024 1:22 PM

    On April 29, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted to advance H.F. 3567, a bill that would establish a legal framework for commercial surrogacy agreements in our state. This legislation should stir grave concerns among Catholics and our belief in the protection and promotion human dignity and of human life from conception to natural death. 

     

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  • Legislators Roll Dice on Sports Gambling

    Posted by · April 22, 2024 10:03 AM

    The debate over the legalization of sports gambling has intensified at the Legislature, raising concerns about the potential negative impacts on individuals and communities. The Minnesota Catholic Conference stands firm in our opposition to the expansion of gambling, advocating instead for strict limitations and expansive safeguards against addiction.  

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