March 19, 2024

Assumption Community, Cold Spring, transfer of membership to Benedictine completed

With song and prayer, Minnesota-based Benedictine welcomed Assumption Community, a senior living community in Cold Spring, Minn., to its family of senior living communities.

Father Tom Knoblach, vicar of clergy and health care ethics for the Diocese of St. Cloud, presided over the blessing and welcoming ceremony on March 5. As part of the ceremony, Benedictine President/CEO Jerry Carley honored the legacy of Assumption Community to the Cold Spring area and welcomed all on campus to Benedictine. (more…)

March 4, 2024

Urge Your State Legislator to Support Real Care at the End of Life, NOT Assisted Suicide

The Catholic Health Association working closely with the MN Catholic Conference are are encouraging the public to speak out against H.F. 1930/S.F. 1813 which will degrade the trusting relationship patients have with their providers.

(more…)

January 23, 2024

Support real care, oppose assisted suicide

Representative Tina Liebling, Chairwoman of the Health Finance and Policy Committee, has scheduled a hearing on physician-assisted suicide for Thursday, January 25 at 1 p.m. H.F. 1930S.F. 1813 is one of the most aggressive physician-assisted suicide bills in the country because it lacks meaningful safeguards for older adults and people with disabilities. Send a message to your legislature and share the action alert with your parish.
October 25, 2023

CHAMN Executive Director Opening

The Catholic Health Association of Minnesota (CHA-MN) is seeking a new Executive Director (posting).  The Executive Director (ED) is an advocate at the State Capitol and in the public square for Catholic healthcare provider institutions in Minnesota so that they can continue to deliver healthcare services consistent with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services promulgated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.  The ED provides resources to Catholic Health Association of Minnesota (CHA-MN) member institutions and their leaders to assist them in their responsibilities, and also serves as a liaison between members and the Catholic bishops of Minnesota.  The ED works at the direction of the CHA-MN board to implement its strategic initiatives in the core business areas of advocacy, member support, and Church relations.  This part-time contracted position provides opportunities and independence, as it operates under the direction of the CHA-MN Board of Directors.  For additional information, contact tpearson@chamn.org.  Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, three references and a short writing sample, preferably on a topic relevant to the position to applicants@chamn.org.  Application reviews and invitations for interviews will be made by the Board of Directors.  Complete applications will only be considered.  Interviews will begin in mid-November on a rolling basis.

 

February 17, 2023

Assisted-suicide bill introduced

As expected, a new assisted suicide bill (HF1930/SF1813) was introduced February 16th in the Minnesota Legislature. Upon initial review, it seems similar to the last iteration of the bill in 2021. We are in the process of taking an in-depth look at the legislation and will report back anything that is new.

(more…)

February 7, 2023

Over Catholic protests, Minnesota lawmakers pass right to abortion law, send to governor

In a party line vote, Democrats in the Minnesota Senate passed a bill 34-33 in the early morning hours of Jan. 28 to place a right to abortion for any reason and without a limit on viability into state law. The House approved the measure Jan. 19, and Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill into law. (more…)

January 10, 2023

Action Alert: Contact Legislators

Join Minnesota’s Bishop is speaking out against the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act. Send your legislators a message urging them to vote NO on this bill that will enshrine abortion into MN law.  Visit Minnesota Catholic Conference for further instruction.

December 12, 2022

Appeals court rules Catholic Medical Centers cannot be forced to perform transgender surgeries.

A federal appeals court blocked the Biden administration ‘s requirement that healthcare and insurance groups perform transgender procedures in a case brought by religious doctors who argued the mandate violated their religious beliefs.  The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Religious Sisters of Mercy and other groups in a unanimous ruling on Friday, saying they are entitled to a permanent injunction against the mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services .

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/appeals-court-rules-catholic-medical-centers-cant-be-forced-to-perform-transgender-surgeries
March 2, 2022

February Economic Forecast

Earlier today, Governor Walz and the leadership of the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget formally released the February Economic Forecast.  The forecast will provide the Walz Administration and the Minnesota Legislature with the fiscal roadmap necessary to design a supplemental budget, bonding bill and potentially some form of tax relief.  The good news, since the November Forecast Minnesota’s budget surplus has continued to grow. Over the past few months, Minnesota has added an additional $1.5 billion dollars to the state’s surplus.  This is on top of the billions of dollars the state has put away into budget reserves, stadium reserves and rainy-day funds.  This also does not include the roughly $1.2 billion in unspent federal COVID funds the Legislature and Governor left unspent at the end of the 2021 Legislative Session.  This means, there is roughly $10.4 billion dollars (20% of the state’s biennial budget) available for the Legislature and Walz Administration to divvy up in the coming weeks. 

(more…)

February 16, 2022

Legislative Update – February 16, 2022

As the 2022 legislative session moves forward, here is an update on two key bills that CHA-MN in partnership with the Alliance for Ethical Healthcare is supporting.
The House Health Finance and Policy Committee will hear both HF 2517, funding for the Palliative Care Advisory Council, and HF 3148, legislation to modify the state definition of palliative care on Wednesday, March 16 at 3PM.