Legislative Statements & Testimony

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Statement in Support of S.F. 26 (Champion) / H.F. 28 (Frazier) - Right to Vote Restored
February 20, 2023

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Supplement to Testimony in Opposition to S.F. 23 (Dibble)
Minnesota Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee
February 14, 2023

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Chair Klein and Members of the Committee:

The Minnesota Catholic Conference writes to reinforce our opposition to S.F. 23, the counseling ban. We enclose here, for reference, our prior testimony from February 8 in the Health and Human Services Committee, but I also wish to add supplemental information regarding unnecessary limits being imposed on advertisements and sales.

The prohibitions in this bill, and specifically Subd. 7, are overbroad and vague, and therefore threaten the freedom of speech guaranteed to us in the First Amendment. Under the proposed language, faith groups, religious bookstores, or even Barnes & Noble could conceivably be penalized for selling or distributing the Bible or the Catechism of the Catholic Church because of their promotion of an integrated sexuality consistent with human flourishing and their exhortation to turn away from sin. In short, both books call on the reader to “convert.” 

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Testimony in Opposition to S.F. 148 (Maye Quade)
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

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Via Electronic Delivery
Finance Committee
Minnesota Senate

Re: Opposition to Section 10 of SF 70

Chair Marty and Members of the Committee:

We write to highlight and express our opposition to Section 10 of SF 70, which would eliminate the requirement that no public funds be used for coverage of abortion under Minnesota Care.

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Supplement to Testimony in Opposition to H.F. 16 (Hollins)
Minnesota House of Representatives Commerce Finance and Policy Committee
February 1, 2023

Chair Stephenson and Members of the Committee:

The Minnesota Catholic Conference writes to reinforce our opposition to H.F. 16, the counseling ban. We enclose here, for reference, our prior testimony from January 18 in the Human Services Policy Committee, but I also wish to add supplemental information regarding unnecessary limits being imposed on advertisements and sales.

The prohibitions in this bill, and specifically Subd. 7, are overbroad and vague, and therefore threaten the freedom of speech guaranteed to us in the First Amendment. Under the proposed language, faith groups, religious bookstores, or even Barnes & Noble could conceivably be penalized for selling or distributing the Bible or the Catechism of the Catholic Church because of their promotion of an integrated sexuality consistent with human flourishing and their exhortation to turn away from sin. In short, both books call on the reader to “convert.” 

Minnesotans should be allowed access to timeless truths that will help them to flourish. Placing a ban on advertisements and sales removes this right.

We do not endorse any particular form of counseling or therapy to address unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, and we oppose the use of objectively harmful practices.  But people have a right to access the psychological sciences to treat conditions and the underlying trauma that often causes those conditions to manifest themselves. What is on the table today is simply a desire to ban talk therapy and its accompanying materials because one side’s viewpoint has become to them a sort of religion to which everyone must agree. Instead of leaving room for youth to seek the types of treatment and materials that would be most helpful to them, this bill micromanages what message they receive and how it is portrayed.  Somehow, youth can access so-called gender-affirming care and allegedly have the right to sterilize themselves and procure an abortion, but they do not have the ability to obtain counseling. 

H.F. 16 is an attack on our fundamental rights and limits youth from getting the help they need. We hope you vote no on this legislation.

Thank you.

Maggee Hangge, Policy Associate
Minnesota Catholic Conference
[email protected]

 

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