Public Statements, Testimonies, and Briefs on Issues of Interest
The WCC works with and on behalf of the bishops of Wisconsin with fellow Catholics, Church institutions, other advocacy organizations, and lawmakers to affirm and promote laws that serve human dignity and the common good.
The WCC’s advocacy is guided by Church teaching and conveyed through public statements, testimony, and briefs on a number of public policy issues. These publications also serve as educational resources and advocacy tools for those who want to learn more about an issue or enhance their advocacy efforts.
Bishops’ Statements
Pastoral Letters and Issue Statements made by the Wisconsin Bishops
- A Letter to Wisconsin Catholics on Faithful Citizenship (English) (March 2024)
- A Letter to Wisconsin Catholics on Faithful Citizenship (Spanish) (March 2024)
- A Letter to Wisconsin Catholics on Faithful Citizenship (English) (August 2022)
- A Letter to Wisconsin Catholics on Faithful Citizenship (Spanish) (August 2022)
- WI Catholic Bishops Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson (6/24/2022)
- WI Catholic Bishops Statement on Welcoming Afghan Refugees (9-17-2021)
- WI Catholic Bishops Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination and the Protection of Conscience (8-20-2021) (Spanish)
- WI Catholic Bishops Statement on the Equality Act of 2021 (H.R. 5) (3-25-2021)
- WI Catholic Bishops Statement on the Morality of COVID-19 Vaccines (1-13-2021) (Spanish)
- Statement on Province of Milwaukee Episcopal Accountability Protocol
- A Letter to President in Support of the Hmong Community
- A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Faithful Citizenship
- A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Faithful Citizenship (SPANISH)
- Statement of the Catholic Bishops on Unjust Killings and Recent Protests
- Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Wisconsin on the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Bishops’ Letter in Support of Federal Immigration Reform (June 2013)
- Now and at the Hour of Our Death: A Pastoral Letter on End of Life Decisions (Revised May 29, 2013)
WCC will provide one “complimentary” copy per household, additional copies are available for $1.50 each.
- Bishops’ Letter to the Legislature in Support of Parental Choice in Education (March 5, 2013)
- Traveling Together in Hope – Pastoral Letter on Immigration (December 12, 2011)
- Traveling Together in Hope – Pastoral Letter on Immigration (December 12, 2011) (SPANISH)
- Traveling Together in Hope – Q & A on Immigration (December 12, 2011)
- Traveling Together in Hope – Q & A on Immigration (December 12, 2011) (SPANISH)
- Pastoral Guidance on Conceal and Carry Law (October 2011)
- Pastoral Guidance on Conceal and Carry Law (October 2011) (SPANISH)
- Catholic Schools and Our Church: Faith Moving Forward (January 2011)
- Catholic Schools and Our Church: Faith Moving Forward (January 2011) (SPANISH)
- Bishops Joint Letter on Insurance Mandate for Contraceptive Services (August 2009)
- A Call for Health Care Reform (July 2008) (Continuous pagination)
- A Call for Health Care Reform (July 2008, booklet layout)
This version has the capacity to print in booklet form. To print a booklet, please use this version and make certain when printing you have selected “Multiple pages per sheet” under “Page Scaling” in the “Page Handling” section of the print command box. If possible, select double-sided printing.
- Serving All and Sacrificing None: Ethical Stem Cell Research Resource (April 29, 2008)
- A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Defining Marriage in Our State Constitution (June 28, 2006)
- One Man, One Woman, One Union (2006)
- A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on Defining Marriage in Our State Constitution (SPANISH)
- A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on the Death Penalty (June 28, 2006)
- Choose Life: Oppose the Death Penalty (2006)
- A Letter to Catholics in Wisconsin on the Death Penalty (June 28, 2006) (SPANISH)
- Now and at the Hour of Our Death: A Pastoral Letter on End of Life Decisions (Revised March 2006)
- Now and at the Hour of Our Death: A Pastoral Letter on End of Life Decisions (Revised March 2006)
no graphics, large print - Archbishop Dolan’s Address to State Legislature (March 18, 2003)
- Making Wisconsin Work Well: A Labor Day Challenge (August 28, 2001)
- Renewing Participation in Public Life: A Call for Campaign Finance Reform (June 26, 2000)
Testimony
The WCC’s formal public advocacy statements
- WCC Support for Task Force on Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls (3/6/24)
- WCC Support for Human Trafficking Bills (Senate) (2/21/24)
- WCC Opposition to AB-953 Direct Primary Care (2/14/24)
- WCC Support for AB-845 Prohibiting Life Sentences without Parole for Minors (2/8/24)
- WCC Opposition to AB-1004 Refugee Resettlement (2/7/24)
- WCC Opposition to SB-916 Refugee Resettlement (2/6/24)
- WCC Opposition to SB-703 Palliative Care Council (2/1/24)
- WCC Support for Human Trafficking Bills (Assembly) (1/24/24)
- WCC Opposition to AB-975 14-Week Abortion Referendum (1/22/24)
- WCC Support for AB-37 Expungement of Certain Crimes from Records (1/11/24)
- WCC Opposition to AB-736 Palliative Care Council (1/10/24)
- WCC Support for SB-170 Earned Release (1/3/24)
- WCC Support for AB-822 Occupational Credentials for DACA Recipients (12/13/23)
- WCC Support for SB-378, AB-377, SB-377 and AB-378 School Sports Participants (12/13/23)
- WCC Support for SB-172 Community Reentry Centers (11/2/23)
- WCC Support for AB-336 Adoption Grants & AB-369 Newborn Infant Safety Devices (11/1/23)
- WCC Support for SB-480 Help Not Harm Act (10/12/23)
- WCC Support for SB-430 Breastfeeding Breaks (10/5/23)
- WCC Support for AB-465 Help Not Harm Act (10/4/23)
- WCC Support AB-378 Colleges and Universities School Sports Participants (10/4/23)
- WCC Support for AB-377 School Sports Participants (10/4/23)
- WCC Support for AB-180, 181, 182, 183 Increasing Offender Employment Opportunities (10/3/23)
- WCC Support for SB-369 Newborn Infant Safety Devices (9/21/23)
- WCC Support for SB-300, 343, 344, 345, & 346 Embrace Them Both Bills & Abortion Activity Prohibition (9/19/23)
- WCC Opposition to SB-211 Permitting Pharmacists to Prescribe Certain Contraceptives (7/12/23)
- WCC Opposition to AB-176 Permitting Pharmacists to Prescribe Certain Contraceptives (6/6/23)
- WCC Opposition to SB-1 Establishing a Flat Individual Income Tax Rate (4/25/23)
- WCC Support for SB-38 Expungement of Certain Crimes from Records (4/18/23)
- WCC Opposition to AB-148 BadgerCare Plus Continuing Eligibility (4/12/23)
- WCC Support for AB-60 Sex Trafficking in Adult Establishments (4/12/23)
- WCC Support for SB-110 Extension of Eligibility Under the Medical Assistance Program for Postpartum Women (3/29/23)
- WCC Support for SB-56 Sex Trafficking in Adult Establishments (3/7/23)
- Heal Without Harm Coalition Urges Support for Medicaid Postpartum Expansion (2/10/23)
- Joint Letter to Wisconsin Senate Raising Concerns Regarding Medical Guidance and Opinion Bills
March 4, 2022 - WCC Letter to Governor Evers Urging Veto of FSET and Medicaid Prohibitions
March 4, 2022 - WCC Statement in Support of Prohibiting Juvenile Restraints
February 15, 2022 - WCC in Opposition to SB 902, 905 & 912, FoodShare and Medicaid Continuing Eligibility
February 9, 2022 - WCC in Opposition to AB 934-936, FoodShare and Medicaid Continuing Eligibility
February 8, 2022 - WCC Support for Fetal Heartbeat Detection
February 8, 2022 - WCC Support for EITC Marriage Penalty Elimination
February 2, 2022 - WCC Support for TAD Mental Health Treatment Grants
January 20, 2022 - WCC Support for TAD Mental Health Treatment Grants
January 18, 2022 - WCC Support for Visitation of Long-term Care Facility Resident or Hospital Patient
January 12, 2022
- WCC Opposition to AB 597, Concealed Carry in a Worship Space on School Grounds
December 8, 2021 - WCC Opposition to SB 584, Concealed Carry in a Worship Space on School Grounds
October 14, 2021 - WCC Support for SB 503, Medicaid Abortion Ban
October 14, 2021 - WCC Support for SB 593, Selective Abortions
October 12, 202 - WCC Support for SB 592, Congenital Condition Educational Resources
October 12, 2021 - WCC Support for SB 591, Abortion Pill Reversal and Reporting
October 12, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 593, Abortion Pill Reversal and Reporting
October 7, 2021 - WCC Opposition to AB 36, Pharmacists Prescribing Contraceptives
October 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 594, Congenital Condition Educational Resources
October 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 262, Induced Abortion Reporting
October 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 493 and 528, Medicaid Abortions
October 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 6, Born Alive Protection
October 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 595, Selective Abortions
October 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 562, Parental Notification on Orientation and Gender
September 16, 2021 - WCC Support for Senate Bill 16, Born Alive Protection
September 9, 2021 - WCC Support for Assembly Bills 195 and 196 and Senate Bills 322 and 323, Male, Female, and Coed Athletics
May 26, 2021 - WCC Support for Senate Bills 260 and 261, Abortion
May 26, 2021 - WCC Support for Assembly Bills 108, 109, 110, and 134, Policing Reform
May 18, 2021 - WCC Support for Senate Bill 78, Expungement of Certain Crimes from Records
May 6, 2021 - WCC Opposition to SB 228, Disposition of Human Remains through Alkaline Hydrolysis
April 27, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 69, Expungement Reform
April 7, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 55, Holocaust and Genocide Education
March 10, 2021 - WCC Support for AB 24, Prohibitions on Places of Worship Closures
March 3, 2021 - WCC Support for SB 69, Holocaust and Genocide Education
February 22, 2021 - WCC Opposition to SB 30, Pharmacist Contraceptive Prescribing
February 9, 2021 - WCC Support for SB 7, No Prohibitions on Place of Worship
January 21, 2021 - WCC Opposition to SB 8, No Vaccination Preference for Incarcerated Individuals
January 21, 2021
- WCC Comments on USDE CARES Act Equitable Services Interim Final Rule
July 31, 2020 - Testimony on Senate Bill 744 & Assembly Bill 816, Holocaust and Genocide Education
March 11, 2020 - Testimony on Senate Bill 822, Concealed Weapons
February 20, 2020 - Testimony on Assembly Joint Resolution 130, Personhood Amendment
February 12, 2020 - Testimony on Assembly Bill 816, Holocaust and Genocide Education
February 12, 2020
- Testimony on Senate Bill 114, Tax Credit for Stillbirth
December 18, 2019 - Testimony on Senate Bill 151, Prohibiting Sanctuary Cities
December 17, 2019 - Testimony on Senate Bill 286, Pharmacist Prescribing of Contraceptives
November 20, 2019 - Testimony on Senate Bill 468 and Assembly Bill 501, Public Defender Pay Progression
October 31, 2019 - Testimony on Assembly Bill 304, Pharmacist Prescribing of Contraceptives
August 14, 2019 - Testimony on Assembly Bill 84, School Lunch and Breakfast Programs
May 30, 2019 - Testimony in Support of Assembly Bills 179-183, Pro-life Legislation
May 7, 2019 - Testimony in Support of Assembly Bills 175, The Born Alive Protection Act
May 7, 2019 - Testimony in Support of Senate Bills 174 & 187, A Women’s Right to Know Act and Medical Assistance Certification for Abortion
May 7, 2019 - Testimony in Support of Senate Bills 173, Prohibition on Selective Abortions
May 7, 2019 - Testimony in Support of AB 129, Virtual Instruction in Parental Choice Program Schools
April 18, 2019
- WCC Comments on Public Charge Rule
December 7, 2018
- Assembly Bill 1072 – Federal Government Waivers and Other Requests
December 3, 2018
- WCC Comments on the Proposed Changes to the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA)
November 5, 2018
- Testimony on January Special Session Welfare Reform Bills
January 31, 2018
- Testimony in Opposition to SB 637 and AB 759: Rent-to-Own Transactions
January 30, 2018
- Testimony in Support of SB 456 – Compensating Wrongfully Imprisoned
January 11, 2018
- Testimony in Support of AB 660: Juvenile Justice
January 11, 2018
- Testimony on SB 548: Palliative Care Council
January 10, 2018
- Testimony in Support of SB 81/AB 128: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
December 13, 2017
- Testimony on AB 633: Palliative Care Council
December 12, 2017
- Testimony in Support of AB 550 – Heal Without Harm Legislative Initiative
November 14, 2017
- Testimony in Support of SB 423 and SB 424 – Heal Without Harm Legislative Initiative
November 2, 2017
- Testimony in Opposition to SB 422 – Fetal Body Parts
November 2, 2017
- Testimony in Support of SB 154 – Abortion Prohibitions for UW Employees
October 17, 2017
- Testimony on Senate Bill 275: Prohibiting Sanctuary Cities
October 12, 2017
- Joint Memo Opposing Rent-to-own Transaction Changes in State Budget Bill
September 5, 2017 (updated September 6, 2017)
- Testimony in Support of AB 206: Prohibiting UW Employment & Training at Abortion Clinics
July 18, 2017
- Testimony in Support of AB 383: Changes to Parental Choice Programs
June 13, 2017
- Testimony on AB 304 & AB 300, Mandatory Pupil Examination Opt Out
June 7, 2017
- Testimony in Opposition to SB 169 – Carrying Concealed Weapons
May 31, 2017
- Testimony Supporting AB 128 – No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
April 19, 2017
- Food Share Work Limits Letter to Governor Walker
April 11, 2016
- Testimony for Information on AB 723/SB 533 – Photo Identification Cards
February 10, 2016
- Testimony for Information on SB 369/AB 450 – Immigration Status Inquiries
February 10, 2016
- Testimony Supporting SB 322 and AB 460 – Compensating Wrongfully Imprisoned
December 16, 2015
- Testimony for Information on SB 302: Cemetery Regulation
November 23, 2015 - Testimony Supporting AB 310: Title X Funding Reform
September 2, 2015
- Testimony Supporting AB 305: Prohibiting the Sale of Fetal Body Parts
August 11, 2015
- Joint Memo – Oppose Payday Lending Grab-Bag in State Budget
July 8, 2015
- Testimony on Senate Bill 193: Mandatory Pupil Examination Opt Out
June 17, 2015
- Memo in Opposition to Rent-to-Own in State Budget
June 15, 2015
- Testimony in Support of SB 179/AB 237: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
June 2, 2015
- Testimony on Assembly Bill 177: Allowable Food
April 30, 2015
- Interfaith Groups Oppose Drug Test Mandate
April 16, 2015
- Testimony on Senate Bill 44: Right-to-Work
February 24, 2015
- Testimony on Senate Bill 1: School Accountability
January 27, 2015
Public Policy Positions
The WCC’s Public Policy Positions reflect the themes of Catholic social teaching and their corresponding priorities as set forth by the bishops of Wisconsin, in concert with the U.S. bishops.
Issue Briefs
Background briefings on public policy issues of note or importance in Wisconsin
- 2005 Biennial Budget Bill
- Access to Health Care in Wisconsin
- Cloning of Human Life
- Supporting the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
- Reforming the Criminal Justice System
- Opposing the Restoration of the Death Penalty
- The Public Interest in Defining Marriage
- Immigration: Welcoming the Stranger Among Us
- Raising the Minimum Wage
- Respecting Life: Affirming the Humanity of the Unborn and Helping Pregnant Women
- Biotechnology: Finding Cures We All Can Live With
- Stewardship of Creation in Wisconsin
- Refining Wisconsin Works (W-2)
- Medicaid: Wisconsin’s Health Care Safety Net
Advocacy Resources
For those interested in learning more or who are already active advocates, the WCC offers the following resources for legislative involvement.
A directory of Wisconsin elected officials and legislative committees, click here »
A guide on the fundamentals of the legislative process and on how to become an involved, informed citizen, click here »
Resources to help Catholics reflect on faithful citizenship through Catholic social teaching, click here »