THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR

This past week saw a smattering of policy action in various legislative committees.  You will repeatedly hear us say that taxes will be the dominant discussion point for the 2025 Legislative Session.  Yes, the Catholic Church cares about taxes, but the public policy voice of the Kansas Bishops, the Kansas Catholic Conference (KCC), has typically not advocated for or against tax policy proposals. One recent exception was our support for the elimination of sales taxes on groceries in Kansas, which is now a reality.

That being said, the KCC is intensely interested in a wide range of social issues. Our priority issues include the protection of women and children from the predatory abortion industry and the building up and defense of the family against the LGBTQ+ lobby. Mother Catholic Church is dedicated to defending the human rights and dignity of migrants--balancing that position with our call for border security and enforcement of the law.  

Later in this newsletter we will explore the evolving immigration question. Solutions to this question and other issues involving public policy are not simple or easy.  But we press forward, seeking justice and the common good in all public policy.  

Here. We. Go.  

Kansas legislators are now primed and ready to really get down to business this coming week. In fact, this could be one of the busiest and most consequential weeks at the Statehouse all year, at least on issues of importance for the Kansas Catholic Conference. 

Add to that the welcome presence in Topeka this week of Kansas Catholic Bishops, and it's shaping up to be a great week!  Here's what's happening.

MONDAY

You can watch a livestream of bills being introduced at 1:30 p.m. in both the House Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee designed to strengthen the Kansas low income tax credit scholarship program. This is the educational choice program in Kansas where students and families from low income families are better able to attend the school of their choice.   

TUESDAY--HUGE DAY!

The Help Not Harm bill, known as SB 63 will protect Kansas children from insidious transgender surgical and chemical procedures. This measure begins its legislative journey at 8:30 a.m. with a hearing in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.  Look for the live link to the hearing here: Kansas Legislature Livestream Page

An identical bill on Help Not Harm in the House Health and Human Services Committee, known as HB 2071, will be heard at 1:30 p.m.  Again, we encourage you to find the link on the Kansas Legislature Livestream Page and watch the proceedings.  

RECENT SCHOOL CHOICE RALLY AT THE KANSAS STATEHOUSE

The annual Kansas School Choice Rally will be held on the steps of the Kansas Statehouse beginning about 11:30 a.m. Students, teachers, parents and others will gather to raise their voices to legislators in support of school choice! 

The Annual Red Mass in Topeka will be celebrated at noon at historic St. Joseph's Catholic Church, located at 227 SW Van Buren.  All are welcome!  

At 1:30 p.m., The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on a school choice bill known as SB 75.  This legislation is very similar to a school choice law passed and implemented in Oklahoma. The Kansas Catholic Conference has submitted written testimony in favor of this legislation, and other Catholic supporters of educational choice are expected to testify in person. 

On Tuesday evening, the KCC will host our annual dinner with the Catholic Bishops of Kansas and the officers of the Kansas Knights of Columbus.  The Knights are often referred to as the "right hand" of the Kansas Bishops, and we consider them great allies in our legislative endeavors, most particularly in defense of preborn life and support of mothers in difficult pregnancies. 

WEDNESDAY--ANOTHER BUSY DAY!

This is the Kansas March for Life Day in Topeka.  Hundreds of Respect Life advocates converge upon the Capitol City in an outward demonstration of support for preborn babies and their mothers.  

There is a rally called IGNITE beginning at 9 a.m., followed by a Catholic Mass. Our own Lucrecia Nold will address marchers before they set off for the short walk to the steps of the Kansas State Capitol.  There will be a powerful display of support for the unborn and mothers at the conclusion of the rally you will not want to miss.  

Click this link for more information: Kansas March for Life information 

At 3:30 p.m., the Kansas Catholic Conference will offer testimony in favor of HB 2062, a bill that would require men to pay child support dating back to the conception of a child they fathered. One might also call this the "Stop Deadbeat Dads" bill. This hearing will take place in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and you can watch the livestream by finding it at: Kansas Legislature Livestream Page

THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE AND KANSAS

Analysis by Chuck Weber

With that headline, no matter your position or feelings, one can almost sense the tension. We offer here a brief look at what is happening on the immigration question and statements from the Catholic Church.  

There is little doubt that immigration policy and enforcement is top-of-mind among many Americans. It is dominating the news. Next to the economy, immigration was the top issue for voters in the recent Presidential election.  The immigration debate is heating up in Kansas as well. This past week, there were hearings and debates in the Kansas legislature on resolutions calling for cooperation from Kansas officials with federal officials for immigration enforcement. You can read the resolution here: SCR 1602 explained. You can watch a discussion from the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee here: SCR 1602 Final Action 

You can read the statement about immigration from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops here: USCCB statement on immigration and enforcement

The Colorado Catholic Conference issued a statement that has been commended by at least two Kansas Bishops.  You can read that statement here: Colorado Catholic Bishops on immigration statement and here is a summary: SUMMARY Colorado Catholic Bishops on immigration 

Catholic Church statements are not always easy to absorb!  It is safe to say, I believe, that the Catholic Church, and the Kansas Catholic Bishops, support the identification, capture and deportation of criminals who are in our country illegally.  We also support the rights of our country to secure our border.  But we must also add that absolutes are not always helpful when dealing with such a complex problem. We do not want law enforcement agents regularly entering Catholic churches or schools to arrest undocumented men or women, unless those people pose a danger to those around them.  Yes, we support the right and ability to secure our border and protect the integrity of our country.  But this can be done in a humane way.  What does that mean?

This past August, I visited the Mexico-U.S. border to see what was happening firsthand. Bishop Vincke of the Diocese of Salina was with me, as well as a number of "Border Bishops," Bishops from throughout the U.S., and State Catholic Conference directors like myself. 

SURVEILLANCE DIRIGIBLE AT THE BORDER

In an impromptu discussion with a Border Security official after a luncheon, we were told that surveillance dirigibles were one of the most effective tools at stopping border crossings. The smugglers and other "bad guys" knew the dirigibles could and would see them, and they stayed away from those areas. No "wall" was needed. Yet for some reason funding was cut off for dirigibles and the Border Patrol official only had two of seven such high-tech aircraft in operation.  In my opinion, this is one example of effective but humane border enforcement we could be employing more often.   

Bishop Vincke and I communicated to those gathered that illegal immigration was causing problems in Kansas. This was a difficult message for some to hear.    

Together we had the chance to see what the Catholic Church was doing to provide humanitarian aid to migrants. We saw and heard firsthand the stories of those wanting a better life in our country.  Bishop Vincke met and blessed one woman from Venezuela and her infant child. The woman had just given birth to her infant four days earlier after swimming across the Rio Grande to America.  

Bishop Vincke of Salina blesses a four-day-old infant during a border visit in August. 

The woman told us through an interpreter, that 10 days earlier she had a decision to make. She and her soon-to-be-born child could stay in Mexico and surely die. Or she could try to swim to the U.S. and at least have a chance together at a life of freedom and prosperity. 

Yes, we want people to enter our country legally.  But I ask--what would you do?  

Emotions are running high.  This is an important issue, and we are at a crossroads for our country on the immigration question.  People of a certain age will remember a man named Richard Nixon. He was a hard-right anti-communist. That policy position helped him get elected. Yet Nixon "opened up" China to the U.S. and the world after taking office.

Might President Trump be the unlikely political leader who helps solve, at least to some extent, the immigration crisis we face as a country?  Let us pray it be so! 

Final thought.  This past weekend, on Saturday, January 25, I brought my family to Dodge City to take part in the Diocese of Dodge City Pilgrimage for Life. Together we marched in the cold and wind for almost three miles--for life--for the moms and the babies.  

There were presentations and prayers--in English and Spanish. We broke bread together--a Midwestern white guy like me and first generation Mexicans who speak no English, and everyone in between.  We were one body in Christ.  This is not some sentimental "feeling," or some fake kumbaya song around the campfire. It is the reality in Kansas and in our country that we must embrace. 

Let us pray and work for a balanced public policy that protects our borders and our citizens, but is humane and recognizes that we are talking about the lives of people, about fellow children of God. 

FIRST AMENDMENT DISCUSSION--NEXT WEEK.

Last week we had promised an article about First Amendment concerns at the Kansas Statehouse and connections to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.  Time constraints prevented this from happening. We will address this topic next week.

IN CONCLUSION...

Please pray for our state. Please pray for our Bishops.  Please pray for Lucrecia and I as we navigate many complex issues at the State Capitol that defy simple solutions. 

Thank you for the many nice comments about our newsletter. We welcome all critiques as well.  If you have a question, email me at: 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us!

Until next time,

We persevere.

Chuck Weber

Kansas Catholic Conference