Archive Latest News
2003-2004
Final Edition of MCC 03-04 Priorities & Concerns
January 7, 2005 Former MCC Executive Director receives papal award. See Papal Award.
November 29, 2004 MCC staff issued press release responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal of an appeal involving the Goodridge same-sex marriage decision of the Supreme Judicial Court. See MCC Press Release
November 3, 2004 Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley sent a letter of appreciation to Ray Flynn for an ad in the New York Times critiquing the position that nominees to the federal courts should be excluded if they oppose abortion. See Letter to Flynn
October 29, 2004 The Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts issued a statement on the 2004 general election. See 2004 Election Statement.
October 21, 2004 Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell of the Springfield Diocese issued a statement opposing the decision of the Holyoke School Committee to authorize condom distribution to students in grades six to twelve. See Bp McDonnell Statement.
October 1, 2004 Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Worcester Diocese commented on the responsibilities of the Catholic voter in a local cable interview. See Bp McManus Interview.
June, 2004 Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Worcester Diocese issued a reflection on the USCCB document "Catholics in Political Life". See Bp McManus reflection.
May 10, 2004 The Archdiocesan Office of Planning Affairs and the MCC issued a joint press release on proposed amendments to Chapter 40B governing mixed-income housing. See Joint Statement of Archdiocesan Planning Office for Urban Affairs and MCC on Chapter 40B amendments.
May 1, 2004 Archbishop Sean O'Malley, Boston, reflected on the death penalty after Governor Romney's Death Penalty Commission recommends reinstatement. See Statement on Governor Romney's Death Penalty Commission Report.
February 9, 2004 Religious and black clergy leaders in Massachusetts issued two joint statements supporting the Marriage Affirmation & Protection Amendment. See Inter-Religious Statements
January 19, 2004 The Roman Catholic Bishops announce mailing of million pieces on marriage. See Marriage Mailer Statement.
January 12, 2004 Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston addressed the legal profession on the definition of marriage during the Red Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston on Jan 11. See Archbishop O'Malley's Red Mass Homily
November 28, 2003 The Roman Catholic Bishops issue a statement to be read in the parishes this weekend, Nov. 29-30, on the Goodridge decision. See Joint Statement to Parishes on Goodridge. See also Joint Statement in Spanish.
November 19, 2003 In response to the "same sex marriage" ruling of the Supreme Judicial Court, Archbishop O'Malley, Bishop Reilly, Bishop Coleman, and the MCC staff issued statements. See Responses to Goodridge Decision.
October 31, 2003 Bishop Reilly testifies before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on abortion informed consent (Woman's Right to Know) and civil union legislation, see (pdf) Bishop Reilly Testimony; see also Don't Believe the Headlines & Bishop Reilly's Letter to Editors
October 3, 2003 Archbishop O'Malley addresses inter-religious summit on marriage with remarks regarding same sex marriage, see What's At Stake
July 2, 2003 For a brief analysis of the impact of the decision in Lawrence v. Texas by the U.S. Supreme Court on the definition of marriage issue, see Impact of Lawrence on Marriage Question
June 11, 2003 The Joint Committee on Health Care of the Massachusetts legislature heard testimony on a bill mandating access to contraceptives after rape. See MCC testimony on EC bill.
June 1, 2003 The Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts issue joint statements on MA & MA to parishioners and to legislators. See Joint Statement to Parishes; Spanish Version; Joint Statement to Legislators
May 15, 2003 The state legislature has scheduled a constitutional convention for November 12, and could vote on the marriage issue. MCC has issued a legislative alert--"Vote yes for MA & PA"--on constitutional amendment affirming marriage as the union between one man and one woman. See Alerts.
April 25, 2003 Bishops Lennon (Boston), Reilly (Worcester), and Dupre (Springfield), along with Diocesan Administrator Coleman (Fall River) issue a statement on the state budget deficit and funding cuts. See Pastoral Statement on the State Budget
April 22, 2003 See a comprehensive Question & Answer fact sheet on the marriage debate in Massachusetts, particularly the Marriage Affirmation & Protection Amendment, proposed and up for discussion in the state legislature: Marriage, Same-Sex Relationships, and the Debate in MA
April 7, 2003 The Joint Committee on Criminal Justice of the Massachusetts General Court heard testimony on the death penalty on March 27, see brief account of the hearing at Death Penalty Hearing 2003; the Joint Committee on Government Relations heard on March 31 testimony on proposals to establish casinos and approve slot machines in Massachusetts . See MCC testimony against gambling (pdf). Other hearings are scheduled on cloning (May 1, Gardner Auditorium) and emergency contraception (June 11, Joint Committee on Health Care).
March 10, 2003 The Massachusetts legislature will consider this term a bill mandating contraception availability in all rape treatment cases. For a brief explanation of the Catholic Church's position on emergency contraception in rape cases, see Emergency Contraception and Rape: A Catholic Perspective
February 6, 2003 In January, the Boston Pilot published informative articles on bills in the Massachusetts legislature affirming the traditional definition of marriage and altering it. See Marriage & Civil Union Bills Introduced.
January 7, 2003 On December 20, 2002, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference joined several other national and local religious groups and individuals in filing a friend-of-the-court brief urging the state supreme juidicial court to uphold the traditional definition of marriage in the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health case. For a story by the Worcester Catholic Free Press see Marriage Brief Story; for a pdf copy of the brief itself, see MCC Marriage Brief. An additional amicus brief was filed by the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. See Catholic Action League Brief (also pdf).