Session Snapshot from a Catholic Perspective

The Legislature is now adjourned for the 2025-2026 session. At the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, we look at evaluate every bill that is introduced through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and its impact on the Catholic Church and its parishes, schools, charities, cemeteries, and more.

Faithful Citizenship

Faithful Citizenship is the mindful consideration of public policy and voting issues through the lens of the Church’s teaching. It is also a call to action to become involved with legislative policy and to exercise the right to vote, so as to protect human life, uphold human dignity, and promote the common good.

“Politics has rightly been defined as “the highest form of charity,” quoting Pope Pius XI. Indeed, if we consider the service that political life renders to society and to the common good, it can truly be seen as an act of Christian love, which is never simply a theory, but always a concrete sign and witness of God’s constant concern for the good of our human family.”

— Pope Leo XIV

The Catholic Presence in Wisconsin

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Million Catholics in 5 Dioceses
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Catholic Parishes
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Catholic Schools
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Catholic Hospitals
  • Catholic churches and agencies across the state spend tens of millions of dollars annually to provide food, clothing, shelter, day care, elder care, adoption services, and pregnancy, family and personal counseling to persons of all races and religions

  • 1,749 Priests and Deacons
  • 1,645 Religious Sisters and Brothers
  • 280 Catholic elementary, middle and high schools annually educate over 50,000 students
  • 5 Catholic publications with a combined regular circulation of more than 80,000

  • Officiating at over 2,500 marriage ceremonies annually (Over 10% of all Wisconsin marriages)

  • 8 Catholic colleges and universities, enrolling over 24,500 students of all ages, races, and religions annually

  • 30 Catholic hospitals serving patients from around the world, as well as numerous clinics and long-term care facilities

  • Maintaining more than 600 Catholic cemeteries

Resources & Guides

The WCC offers decision makers studied positions on legislation and other matters related to the interests and teachings of the Catholic Church. Through policy statements, testimony, and other resources, the WCC informs Catholics statewide and serves to promote dignity, preserve justice, and advance the common good. Listed here are the most commonly requested resources for parishes and policymakers.

Take Action

As faithful Catholics, staying up to date on public policy issues and getting involved in the political process can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Join the WCC’s Advocacy Network to receive action alerts and the biweekly Capitol Update for information on legislative activity and WCC advocacy. Acting together, we can make a real difference!