This month we celebrated 242 years since the founding of our nation through the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Amidst the fun of fireworks, parades, and festivity, it’s easy to gloss over what it is we’re celebrating, the anniversary of a historic launching of a great experiment in self-government. Read more…
Chris Motz, Executive Director of the South Dakota Catholic Conference, was on Catholic Views to discuss Religious Freedom Week and the upcoming Red Mass which will be held June 21 at 5:30pm at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls, SD.
Real Presence Live In the first hour, host Fr. James Gross began by visiting with Chris Motz, Executive Director of the South Dakota Catholic Conference, about the importance of religious freedom and the upcoming week dedicated to this crucial topic.
Religious freedom is as American as apple pie and baseball. My wife makes the world’s best apple pie, and I love to root for the home team. However, if I had to pick one of these three as absolutely essential to the health of our country, it’s not a difficult Read more…
I spent last Saturday afternoon with my hands in the dirt. My wife and I just bought a house in town, near where I work and where we worship. It’s about a hundred years old and needs some attention, but it’s got good bones, as they say. The level yard Read more…
Chris Motz was recently on Catholic Views to talk about the past year’s legislative Session.
It’s Chris Motz’s job to talk about two topics that many people try to avoid: religion and politics. So, how does he start discussions without starting a fight? “Delicately is maybe one way to approach it,” he said, “but also to just name it right upfront, that this is hard Read more…
“The rural family needs to regain its rightful place at the heart of the social order.” Why? I’ve been pondering these insistent words written by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 since I first read them several years ago. Why is it so important that the rural family return to its proper place, Read more…
Fr. Gross speaks with Chris Motz of the South Dakota Catholic Conference about two important pro-life bills that could be coming up soon for a vote.
Senate Bill No. 110 Our Position: Support Brief Description: Establish certain findings pertaining to pre-abortion counseling practices by abortion providers in South Dakota and to amend provisions regarding mandatory third-party pre-abortion counseling. View Full Description
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3 Our Position: Support Brief Description: A Resolution committing the Legislature and urging the Governor, the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General to secure the blessings of life and liberty for South Dakota’s posterity, explicitly including the pre-born. View Full Description
House Bill No. 1123 Our Position: Support Brief Description: Prohibit certain persons suffering from a severe mental illness from receiving capital punishment View Full Description
Statement from the Roman Catholic Bishops of South Dakota Appointment of the Executive Director of the South Dakota Catholic Conference The Most Reverend Robert D. Gruss, Bishop of Rapid City, and the Most Reverend Paul J. Swain, Bishop of Sioux Falls are pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Motz Read more…
As our country approaches Election Day 2016, it is important for us to reflect on our responsibility to be both faithful Catholics and good citizens. We are called to exercise our civic duty by voting while doing so with informed consciences based on the teachings of Christ reflected over time Read more…
The USCCB Office of General Counsel is providing these guidelines to (arch)dioceses, parishes, and other Catholic organizations (“Catholic Organizations”) to assist them in distinguishing activities that are permitted during election campaigns from activities that are prohibited. The intended audience is Catholic organizations included in the USCCB group ruling that are Read more…
The South Dakota Legislature will consider legislation during the 2016 Legislative Session to repeal the death penalty. In 2012 we, the Roman Catholic Bishops of the Dioceses of Rapid City and Sioux Falls issued a statement on the Death Penalty. We re-issue that statement for consideration of the legislative, executive, Read more…
We the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in South Dakota support House Bill 1008 because it protects the rights and respects the innate dignity of all persons in our schools. We begin by making clear that God’s love is present to every person including those who manifest themselves as Read more…
2015 USCCB Document – Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States was developed by the chairmen, in consultation with the membership, of the Committees on Domestic Policy, International Policy, Pro-Life Activities, Communications, Doctrine, Education, and Migration of the United States Conference Read more…
In a statement released during the 2013 Legislative session I noted that “access to adequate health care is fundamental to embodying a demonstrated respect for life and human dignity.” It is a basic human right. Accessible, adequate and affordable health care assures that individuals and families can live fulfilling lives Read more…
The following is an excerpt from the September 2014 edition of The Bishop’s Bulletin addressing marriage “Among these counter cultural teachings under attack today are those on marriage, the family and human sexuality. Marriage as intended by God is the joining together of a man and a woman for the Read more…