Legislative Initiatives of Minnesota Catholic Conference

As lawmakers begin to address a full slate of legislative initiatives at the state Capitol, Minnesota’s bishops say they hope two issues in particular will get attention this spring: marriage and immigration.

The state’s seven bishops, including Archbishop Harry Flynn and auxiliary Bishop Richard Pates of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, spoke about their legislative priorities with The Catholic Spirit during a group interview March 7 in St. Paul, where the bishops were meeting as the board of directors of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

During the 30-minute interview, the bishops identified a wide range of issues that each said needs attention, including poverty, education and the need for more civility in public discourse. But most of the discussion focused on their efforts to uphold the traditional definition of marriage and protect the human rights of immigrants.