A Reflection on the 93rd Legislative Session

November and December are a time of looking back at the prior year and looking ahead to the new one—in the Church and at the State Capitol. In the Church, we end the liturgical year (right after the general election) with the feast of Christ the King, remembering that no matter who is in public office, the Lord is on the throne.

We then enter Advent, where we begin anew in anxious anticipation of his coming now in consolation to feed us; the Word of Life becomes the Bread of Life. 

At the Capitol, the election is, in some ways, a referendum on the prior biennium and starts the process by which we look forward to a new Legislature and what may be accomplished.   

Looking Back 

Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) staff and bishops reflected this fall on our public policy efforts in the previous biennium (2023-24) and how they are rooted in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the enduring truth of God’s Word. To visualize the consistent ethic of life and preferential option for the poor and vulnerable that guides our advocacy, we published an Advocacy Report on the 93rd Legislative Session as a comprehensive review of the past biennium (2023–2024) at the Minnesota State Legislature. This report highlights the critical work of MCC staff and the Catholic bishops of Minnesota. 

READ ADVOCACY REPORT ON THE 93RD MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE HERE 

The Advocacy Report serves to educate Catholics about the wide array of policy issues MCC addresses, from protecting life and supporting families to upholding religious freedom and promoting environmental stewardship. Many Catholics are unaware of the breadth of MCC’s efforts or the extent to which legislative decisions impact our faith and values. The report underscores the importance of these issues and how they connect to our civic responsibility. 

Among the significant accomplishments detailed in the report are: 

• The passage of a nation-leading Child Tax Credit, providing financial relief for growing low- and middle-income families; 

• Restoring religious freedom in the Minnesota Human Rights Act, ensuring, among other things, that faith-based employers can hire according to mission; 

• The passage of driver’s licenses for all, granting dignity and opportunity to immigrant communities; 

• Preventing the legalization of online sports gambling, safeguarding vulnerable households from a predatory industry; and 

• Stopping the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, and protecting the elderly vulnerable and those with disability. 

These achievements reflect MCC’s mission to promote the common good through faithful advocacy. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching, our efforts remain consistent regardless of shifting societal trends or political ideologies. 

Looking ahead 

The Advocacy Report is more than a review of legislative accomplishments; it is also an invitation to reflect and act. This Advent, consider how your faith intersects with your civic life. What policy issues resonate with you? What societal debates inspire you to act? By engaging with this report, you can better understand the challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota and discern how to support the bishops’ work in the new year as a faithful citizen. 

To begin, consider two ways to get involved: 

Participate in Adoration at the Capitol: Join us in prayer on the first Fridays of each month from January through May. Our first Adoration at the Capitol will take place Friday, January 3, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Governor’s Historic Dining Room. RSVP here. 

Sign up for the Catholic Advocacy Network (CAN): Receive regular updates from MCC, including opportunities to write to legislators, share your personal experiences, and access resources to deepen your knowledge of faith and public policy. Subscribe here. 

This Advent, let us reflect on the ways we can bring Christ’s light into the public square. By reading MCC’s Advocacy Report and committing to action, we can ensure that our faith continues to guide the policies that shape our state.