The Missouri Catholic Conference reviews the 2025 Missouri legislative session. Discussion includes the passage of HJR 73, the demise of the immigration bounty hunter bill, and the passage of safe baby boxes.

With the Missouri General Assembly’s 2025 legislative session ending last week, the MCC is pleased to announce that SB 72 (better known as the Bounty Hunter Bill), SB 58, and other measures that posed a threat to the dignity of immigrants in the state, did not pass and thus will not become laws. The only bill related to immigration that will become a law makes translation and interpretation services for criminal, civil, and juvenile proceedings, payable from state-allocated funds. We thank lawmakers from both parties for listening to the concerns of the Catholic Church and ultimately protecting the dignity of every person in the state of Missouri.

In this video, Dr. Guillermo Villa-Trueba gives a brief recap of the immigration bills of the 2025 legislative session in Spanish (en español).

Visit https://mocatholic.org/podcasts/ for more podcasts and information.

The MCC discusses the latest bills and upcoming 2025 legislative session focusing on immigration, criminal justice, child tax credits and abortion.

Curt Wichmer, Legislative Analyst at the MCC, recently spoke with Mary Varni, Director of the Respect Life Apostolate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Deb Sheppard, Director of the Life and Justice Office for the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, and Sister Janine Tran, Respect Life Director for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, about the dangerous and misleading language in Amendment 3. They discuss how miscarriage care will still be provided, that the amendment would prohibit any type of penalty for someone who assists a person in “exercising their right to reproductive freedom,” and how it would open the door to taxpayer funding of abortion.

Gabriel's Retreat Ministries helps women find love and support when expecting the unexpected. By meeting women where they are, Gabriel's Retreat provides love and support for them and their families to bring hope and peace in a time of unexpectedness. Participation in their retreats and programs will help women to nurture their faith as beloved daughters of God, grow in community with others, and find joy in motherhood.

https://gabrielsretreat.org/

The Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Fr. Brad Berhorst, JCL, JV, discusses annulments on the MCC from the Capitol podcast. Many Catholics confuse civil divorce with the Catholic Church’s declaration of annulment. Fr. Berhorst discusses the differences, what constitutes a valid marriage, reasons that create an impediment to a valid marriage, and the annulment process. 

If you have questions or comments about this subject, please contact communications@mocatholic.org.

Chuck and Linda Raymond discuss the lingering pain and guilt felt by women and men after an abortion. This podcast covers how to find healing and hope as individuals and couples and what resources are available through the Catholic church to help those who are wounded by abortion.

You can view a list of resources available by diocese on the Missouri Catholic Conference website at https://mocatholic.org/women-and-families-resources/

Jamie Morris, the MCC’s Executive Director and General Counsel, recently spoke to Jimmy Akin about the lack of civility in politics for our MCC from the Capitol podcast.

Mr. Akin is a senior apologist at Catholic Answers and the host of Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World. He is the author of several books including The Bible is A Catholic Book and Teaching with Authority: How to Cut Through Doctrinal Confusion & Understand What the Church Really Says.

Visit Jimmy Akin at:

jimmyakin.com

mysterious.fm

catholic.com

Missouri Catholic Conference Executive Director and General Counsel, Jamie Morris, talks with Rev. Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. about the ethical concerns and Church teaching on In Vitro Fertilization.

Fr. Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and serves as Senior Ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

https://www.youtube.com/@FatherTad/videos

https://www.ncbcenter.org/

https://www.fathertad.com/

Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa talks with MCC, Executive Director, Jamie Morris, about New Wave Feminists and their advocacy for the vulnerable. New Wave Feminists is a pro-(all) Life feminist organization, that believe every human being should live a life free from violence, from the womb to the tomb.

Bishop Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph discusses the importance of the real presence of Jesus Christ being truly present in the Holy Eucharisst.

MCC Executive Director Jamie Morris sits down with Jessica Woolbright, Executive Director of the Saint Martha’s domestic violence center in St. Louis, and Deacon Tyler McClay, Director of Advocacy at Catholic Charities of St. Louis, to discuss the impact of guns in domestic violence situations, federal and state legislation, and the upcoming gun violence summit.

MCC Executive Director Jamie Morris sits down to discuss which MCC priority bills passed during the 2023 legislative session and which did not. To see the complete MCC 2023 End of Session report, click here.