For the last two and one-half years, Kathryn Grafsgaard has served as the conference’s health care advocate and associate director. Kathy now leaves the conference to be closer to her family and to pursue new endeavors. Her work and dedication to the conference's work for the Church has been a blessing. We wish her the best.

The conference has chosen Caitlin McDonald as the new health care advocate and associate director. Caitlin was raised in Bismarck and recently returned from the University of Kansas. She represented the State Association of Nonpublic Schools during the last legislative session.

The North Dakota Catholic Conference web site was down for a couple of days due to a problem with company that handles our server. We apologize for any inconvenience.

SB 2212 Health Care Directives

HB 1463 Medical Assistance and S-CHIP

HB 1466 Prohibition on Abortion

Clicking on will generate an sample e-mail to send to your legislator. In some cases, the addresses will already be filled in!

Also: Check out the Action Alerts page for a list of current action alerts.

The Catholic Bishops of Texas have just issued two statements that would be of interest to many North Dakotans.

The controversy over the HPV vaccine has gained national attention as some state legislatures consider making the vaccination mandatory. Texas has been the center of the controversy and the state's bishops have issued a useful statement on the HPV vaccine matter. The North Dakota legislature is not considering any vaccination program. House Bill 1471, however, would appropriate funds to the Department of Health for education about the vaccine.

At the same time, the Texas bishops released a statement on the construction of new coal-fired energy plants. The statement gives principles for guidance drawn from Catholic social teaching. Since North Dakota is also an energy producing state looking at expanding coal-based energy, the statement should be of interest to North Dakotans.

Patrick Atkinson, founder of the God's Child Project, recently gave a presentation at the University of Mary on human trafficking and slavery. Fighting human trafficking is becoming a top priority for church leaders around the world. This Bismarck Tribune story discusses Atkinson's talk.

Msgr. George D. Schneider died early this Wednesday morning, December 13, 2006 in Harvey, ND.  He died from respiratory failure at St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey. Msgr. Schneider was always an advocate for social justice, the former rural life director for the Diocese of Fargo, and supporter of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Pray that Christ, the Good Shepherd, may reward him with the crown of eternal life for his faithful service as a priest and shepherd to Christ's flock, the Church.  Pray that God may comfort his family, friends, and parishioners that he served, and all who served with him.