TIME TO OVERRIDE!
KANSAS LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND ANALYSIS BY CHUCK WEBER, KANSAS CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
THE HEADLINES
- CRUCIAL VETO OVERRIDE VOTES ON THE LINE
- CALLING OUT ANTI-CATHOLIC BIGOTRY
- SADNESS IN SENECA
Short, intense and productive. That pretty much sums up the 2025 Kansas Legislative Session. What's left to be determined, at least from the perspective of the Kansas Catholic Conference, is how productive. That final analysis will depend on what happens starting this coming Thursday, April 10, when state legislators gather again in Topeka for the traditional "Veto Session."
Here are bills of great interest from the Kansas Catholic Conference that have passed the legislature but face a likely veto from Governor Kelly. We will be encouraging a veto override vote from State Senators and State Representatives on the following measures.
STRONGER CHILD SUPPORT FOR SINGLE MOTHERS
Bringing a child into the world should come with responsibility from both mother and father. Too often, men engage in a relationship with a woman and then walk away when a pregnancy happens. The woman and child suffer as a result.
HB 2062 is legislation that allows a judge to consider awarding child support payments to a mom from the father of his child (their child!) dating from the time of conception. This legislation also allows the judge to pull funds from the father's retirement or pension accounts to help pay for child support. And as an added bonus to this legislation, there is a new child tax exemption that financially helps couples who bring a new baby into the world.
The Kansas Catholic Conference testified in support of this legislation.
We told you about this in our KCC March 16 2025 Newsletter (see: "CHILD SUPPORT FROM CONCEPTION ADVANCES--ABORTION INDUSTRY CYNICISM EXPOSED")
We are hoping Governor Kelly signs HB 2062, but we are also prepared for her veto. If the veto comes, we will be asking you to reach out to your elected officials and encourage them to vote to override the veto. Single moms need more help. This is a step in the right direction.
TEACHING KANSAS CHILDREN THE SCIENCE OF PREBORN LIFE
It's little wonder that Planned Parenthood and the Kansas abortion industry hates legislation known as S sub for HB 2382. If passed into law, Kansas school children will be watching a video about fetal development during courses that address human growth, human development or human sexuality. This legislation provides flexibility to school districts on what to show, something often referred to as "local control." An example of a video that could be shown is the Baby Olivia Video.
The Kansas Catholic Conference testified in support of this legislation.
We anticipate a veto from Governor Kelly on this legislation. If the veto happens, we will be asking you to reach out to your elected officials and encourage them to vote to override the veto. Kansas students deserve to know the truth about human life. This legislation is a step in the right direction.
PROTECTING COUPLES SEEKING TO PROVIDE FOSTER CARE OR ADOPT
We are sorry to report that some states have denied couples the right to provide foster care for children or adopt a child because prospective couples do not conform to certain "gender ideology" guidelines in that state. HB 2311 is legislation that protects the religious and civil rights of parents in this regard. Put another way, they do NOT have to profess or agree with a "woke ideology" in order to be a foster parent or adoptive parent in Kansas.
The Kansas Catholic Conference testified in support of this legislation.
This bill has been sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting action. While we are hoping for the best, we anticipate a veto. If that happens, we will be asking you to reach out to your elected officials and encourage them to vote to override the veto.
LINE ITEM VETO BATTLES
The Kansas State Budget is a big deal. We've said it before that really, passing a Kansas Budget is the only action legislators must take before adjourning. SB 125 is the proposed Budget for the legislative session. It is nearly 300 pages long, and if you really want to see how your tax dollars are spent, this is the place to look!
The Governor has the authority to veto certain items when they come with a price tag. This is known as a "line item veto."
The Kansas Catholic Conference has two items that have drawn our special support.
There is $1.5 million in the current proposed budget that would again be allocated to qualified "non-public schools," like Catholic schools, for mental health services. This is all part of the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) program funding.
There is also $3 million allocated for the Pregnancy Compassion Act where dollars are distributed to qualified Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC's) and maternity homes for the purpose of helping women with unplanned pregnancies bring their children into the world.
We are cautiously optimistic that MHIT funding will be spared from a line-item veto. Unfortunately, we anticipate the Governor will line-item veto the Pregnancy Compassion Act funding.
If that veto comes, we will be reaching out to you and asking you to ask your legislator to override the Governor's veto so we can continue to help women in difficult pregnancies.
THEY REFUSED TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST ANTI-CATHOLIC BIGOTRY
Anti-Catholic bigotry is nothing new, but it is growing more blatantly aggressive. The recent news media stunt featuring Satanic worship rituals conducted on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol on March 28 is but one example.
Permitted by the Governor and specifically targeting Catholics, the Satanic rituals were brazenly hateful and hostile. They ended with fisticuffs and multiple arrests. One wonders if such events would have taken place if it involved the slurring of Muslims, Jews or other religions.
To their credit, Kansas state legislators drafted and passed non-binding resolutions condemning the Satanic worship rituals before they happened.
Precisely written to acknowledge legitimate First Amendment freedoms, Senate Resolution 1717, SR 1717, and House Resolution 6016, HR 6016 , both denounced the upcoming event “…as a despicable, blasphemous and offensive sacrilege to not only Catholics but all people of goodwill…”
Thankfully, the Kansas Senate unanimously adopted SR 1717.
Shockingly, and inexplicably, 15 Kansas House members failed to condemn the hate and voted NO on HR 6016. Nearly all those House members (12) represent large numbers of Catholic constituents from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, with three members from the Wichita area.
Is there a connection between the not-so-subtle spirit of religious hatred and growing incidents of vandalism and anti-Catholic, anti-Christian bigotry?
As the public policy voice for the Kansas Catholic Bishops, our office engages in sometimes fierce debates. Our advocacy for the protection of women and their preborn babies from the predatory abortion industry, religious freedom, and defense of the integrity of the family—among other issues—will continue.
Catholics in the pew have their own responsibility to engage the process and the people representing them at the Statehouse. Now is the time to let these elected officials know anti-Catholic bigotry and hatred will not be tolerated.
We have compiled a way for you to let these elected officials know how you feel about their NO vote on the House Resolution condemning the Satanic worship rituals. Please take time to reach out and express your opinion. Please keep it civil, but direct. No name-calling.
CLICK THIS LINK
TAKE ACTION AGAINST ANTI-CATHOLIC BIGOTRY IN KANSAS
FINAL NOTE ON THE SATANIC WORSHIP RITUAL
We are so proud of the hundreds of Catholics and others who came out for a peaceful and prayerful presence at the State Capitol on Friday, March 28. EWTN had good coverage of the day here: EWTN coverage of Catholic Response to Satanic Worship Ritual at the Kansas Statehouse
In addition to the Holy Hour and Mass with Archbishop Naumann across the street from the Statehouse at Assumption Catholic Church, the Catholic Cathedrals in Dodge City, Wichita and Salina were filled with the faithful.
Fr. Arul Carasala
MAY HE REST IN PEACE
There are no words to convey the sorrow and shock at the tragic death of Father Arul Carasala of Seneca, Kansas and Saints Peter and Paul Parish, who was killed by a gunman on Thursday, April 3. You can read Archbishop Naumann's initial statement here:Archbishop Naumann statement on Father Arul
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas newspaper, The Leaven, covered the story here: Remembering Father Arul
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Until next time, in mourning, we persevere.
Chuck Weber
Kansas Catholic Conference