The Missouri Treasurer’s office is rolling out the new Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program, passed into law in 2021, that allows qualifying students to apply for a scholarship to attend a private or other qualifying school. Guests Jeremy Lillig from the Bright Futures Fund and Nicolette Gibson from MoCAPE dive into the program, how it works, and what it means for the students in your life.

What happened – and what didn’t happen – in Jefferson City during the 2022 legislative session? Find out by listening to the Missouri Catholic Conference’s latest legislative roundtable episode of MCC from the Capitol, MCC's podcast. Be sure to let us know how much you enjoyed the podcast by giving it a rating afterward.

What happened – and what didn’t happen – in Jefferson City during the first nine weeks of the 2022 legislative session? Find out by listening to the Missouri Catholic Conference’s latest legislative roundtable episode of MCC from the Capitol, MCC's podcast. Be sure to let us know how much you enjoyed the podcast by giving it a rating afterward.

In this episode of MCC from the Capitol, the three Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) lobbyists discuss the happenings of the early 2022 Missouri legislative session along with the MCC's public policy priorities. The team converses about increasing the minimum wage for state employees, bitter divisions regarding the new congressional map, and parental rights in education.

Few issues are as morally challenging for Catholics as the death penalty. Since capital punishment was re-instated in 1976, the United States has executed 1,536 individuals. Missouri, with 91 executions, is in the top five states resorting to capital punishment. While support for the death penalty has steadily decreased over the years, the majority of Americans favor it. But what does the Catholic Church teach about capital punishment? Exonerated Death Row Prisoner Joe Amrine and one of the members of the jury that convicted him, Deacon Larry Hildebrand, share their incredible stories of faith and forgiveness in this podcast.

The world’s leaders recently met in Glasgow, Scotland to discuss climate change and to reassess the agreements set out in the 2015 Paris climate Accord.  The meeting ended with the attendees agreeing to a new “pact” to continue addressing global climate changes.  Dr. Benjamin de Foy, Professor of Atmospheric Science at St. Louis University, joins the podcast to discuss what was accomplished in Glasgow and how the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount offer Catholics a Biblical lens through which to view this important issue. 

Catholics and the Catholic Church have been present in the Midwest since before Missouri was officially recognized as a state. History records that the Church in Europe sent priests and religious to the New World as missionaries to bring the faith to native peoples and to establish schools and parishes for Catholic settlers. Monsignor Robert Kurwicki of the Diocese of Jefferson City, who currently serves as Chaplain to the Missouri House of Representatives in Jefferson City, joins the podcast to discuss the rich and interesting history of the Catholic Church in Missouri.

Central Missouri has been a safe harbor for people seeking refuge from wars and natural disasters for several decades, and the Catholic Church has been active in their settlement. Though the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. varies from year to year, the ministry to those hoping to find a new home continues. Dan Lester, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri (CCCNMO), and Samantha Moog, CCCNMO Director of Refugee Services, offer their expertise and perspective on this important ministry of the Church.

In May of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that challenges the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi law banning abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy with few exceptions. A ruling by the Supreme Court that the law is constitutional could upend its own landmark decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Tom Buckley, in-house General Counsel for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Bill Francis, Director of the Respect Life and Human Rights Office for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, join the podcast to discuss what the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs could mean for Missouri. 

Catholic healthcare institutions work tirelessly to provide faith-based healthcare to the people of Missouri. They also offer employment opportunities for healthcare workers seeking to practice their profession in accord with their Catholic faith. MCC Public Policy members Jared Bryson, Vice President of Mission and Church Relations for Mercy Health, and Chris Baechle, Chief Executive Officer for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services in St. Louis, discuss how their employers carry on this work in the current legal and regulatory environment influenced by an increasingly secular culture and society. 

During the 2021 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly unanimously voted to denounce the 1852 Missouri Supreme Court decision which denied Dred and Harriett Scott freedom from slavery.  Joyce Jones, MCC Public Policy Committee Chairwoman, and Monsignor Michael Witt, Professor of Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, join the podcast to discuss this historic vote along with other historic examples of systemic racial injustice, which continue to impact people of color today. 

Like many states, Missouri faces a shortage of affordable housing.  Military veterans, low-wage earners, families, the physically and mentally disabled and the elderly all struggle to find an affordable place to live. How do federal and state low-income tax credit programs help to encourage developers to build housing for those in need?  Meleah Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of The Kitchen, and Becky Selle, co-founder of Sustainable Housing Solutions, LLC, join the podcast to discuss how they utilize these tax credits in their efforts to provide low-income housing solutions in Springfield, MO. 

In this episode of MCC from the Capitol, MCC Executive Director Tyler McClay discusses Fulton v. Philadelphia  with Lance Kinzer of the First Amendment Partnership, and MCC lobbyist Jamie Morris joins in to discuss Sanchez v. Mayorkas, an immigration case, along with the decision on the Affordable Care Act.

Looking for more inside news about the 2021 legislative session? In the latest episode of MCC from the Capitol, our lobbyists discuss the surprises, setbacks, and successes of this year's Missouri legislative session. 

In the latest episode of MCC from the Capitol, MCC Executive Director Tyler McClay talks with Mary Hasson about the Equality Act and gender ideology. During this episode, Tyler and Mary discuss these very sensitive issues from a Catholic perspective, providing an understanding and a way forward for the faithful who may know someone struggling with gender confusion. Mary also weighs in on the Equality Act, and the impact it would have on religious organizations and individuals if it were to pass.

Mary Hasson bio: Mary Hasson, JD, is the Kate O’Beirne Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where she also directs the Catholic Women’s Forum, a network of Catholic professional women and scholars seeking to amplify the voice of women in support of Catholic teachings. An attorney and policy expert, Mary advises legislators and faith-based organizations, including the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, for whom she consults. Mary is the co-author of two books on education and editor of Promise and Challenge: Catholic Women Reflect on Feminism, Complementarity, and the Church. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School, Mary and her husband are the parents of seven adult children. 

In this episode of MCC from the Capitol, the MCC lobbyists discuss the happenings of the first half of the 2021 Missouri legislative session, including which MCC public policy priority bills are moving—with a focus on the areas of criminal justice and pro-life—how legislators are (or aren't) working together on select bills, and insights into what the second half of the session may bring. We hope you enjoy this episode of MCC from the Capitol!

In this episode of MCC from the Capitol, MCC Executive Director Tyler McClay talks COVID-19 vaccines with Bishop McKnight of the Diocese of Jefferson City, and Dr. Keith Starke, internist and Senior Advisor, Office of Clinical Excellence at Mercy.

Bishop McKnight and Dr. Starke answer common questions about the COVID-19 vaccines from both a Catholic and medical perspective, shining light on the truths and misconceptions about these vaccines, from their connections to morally-compromised cell lines, efficacy, safety, and more. 

To learn even more about these vaccines from a Catholic perspective, see the Winter 2021 edition of MCC Messenger. 

In this episode of MCC from the Capitol, the three Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) lobbyists discuss the happenings of the early 2021 Missouri legislative session, including the governor's inauguration and early bill filings, along with the MCC's public policy priorities. In addition, the team converses about political rhetoric, the attack on the Capitol, and navigating our polarized political arena. They also share a preview of an upcoming episode of MCC from the Capitol with a focus on COVID-19 vaccines.

Our political discourse has become increasingly rancorous and bitter. Spend any time on social media or watching the news and it is apparent that we are living in an era of outrage. The U.S. bishops began a campaign last year to restore civility to our public and political discourse called Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate. Join MCC staff members and newly-appointed Archbishop of St. Louis Mitchell Rozanski as they discuss civility and how it can lead to more respectful dialogue as we enter the remaining weeks of the 2020 Presidential election season.

Pope Francis has made the plight of refugees, migrants, and immigrants a focus of his pontificate, speaking frequently about the need for people of faith to offer assistance to those fleeing war, persecution and economic desperation.  In this podcast, we invite listeners to hear the stories of recent immigrants to the U.S. from Mexico and Central America through the work of Deacon Enrique Castro, director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Jefferson City, and Javier Orozco, executive director of Human Dignity and Intercultural Affairs for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. 

Our parish schools play a critical role in helping to form our Catholic young people. Yet, challenges abound for parents seeking to provide a Catholic education for their children, especially when teaching and learning must be done remotely. Join Dr. Erin Vader, Superintendent for Catholic schools in the diocese of Jefferson City, and Nicolette Gibson, Executive Director for the Missouri Council of American Private Education as they discuss the challenges faced this past year for educators and parents alike.

Vatican II proclaimed that religious liberty lays its foundation in the dignity of the human person, and that no one should be compelled to act in a manner that violates his/her conscience.  But are their limits to this liberty that people of faith must accept for the common good?  Bishop Mark Rivituso, Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Tom Buckley, General Counsel for the Archdiocese, discuss the Church’s response to the recent government shutdowns due to the COVID pandemic. 

For decades, we were warned of overpopulation and its attendant problems: food shortages, environmental damage, and mass deaths. However, statistics show that worldwide birth rates have been steadily decreasing for the last 50 years and by mid-century, the world’s population is expected to begin to shrink. How did we get here, and what steps can be taken to reverse this trend? Jonathan V. Last, executive editor at The Bulwark and author of What to Expect When No One’s Expecting, America’s Coming Demographic Disaster, joins us to discuss the economic, cultural, and political effects of a shrinking population. 

The senseless death of George Floyd reveals that we still have much work to do in this country to address racism. How can we address the racism of our past and the systemic racism that continues to exist in the present?  Guests Joyce Jones, program director for racial harmony for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Jeff Schulenberg, facilitator of the social justice commission at Sacred Heart parish in Valley Park discuss the seminar they offer parishes called “The Racialization of America.”

In this episode, we chat with Tamara Kenny, Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement at Catholic Charities of St. Louis, and Brock Ingmire, Director of State Policy & Advocacy for Ascension Health, about Medicaid expansion in Missouri. Missourians will vote on Medicaid expansion (Amendment 2) on August 4, 2020.

For more information on Medicaid expansion, please visit our resources page at mocatholic.org