Posted August 14, 2026
In a victory for religious liberty and free speech, the state of Michigan agreed to not enforce a law opposed by MCC that impacted Catholic and faith-based counselors, following a lawsuit filed by a Catholic Charities agency and Catholic counselor based in the Diocese of Lansing.
Three years ago, MCC offered opposition to the bills as they moved through the legislative process, raising similar concerns that prompted the legal challenge once they became law.
Proponents of the legislation had framed it as banning “conversion therapy,” which often refers to inappropriate or coercive practices in a counseling setting. However, the text of the legislation went far beyond prohibiting these practices by also barring mental health professionals from using “any practice or treatment” that “seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” The legislation only applies to child patients.
The concern was that the law would create situations where counseling conversations could only go one way—specifically, toward encouraging children to reject their God-given biological sex, rather than working through the underlying causes and helping children embrace their God-given identity as a son or daughter of God.
As a result of the lawsuit, the state agreed that the law was unconstitutional as applied to any licensed professional who engages in therapy that consists exclusively of talking.
“Kids who are hurting deserve compassion, not a one-way ticket to harmful drugs, hormones, and surgery,” said Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the lead attorney at the firm that represented the counselors. “Now counselors can offer compassionate counseling without fearing that state bureaucrats will come knocking.”
In a press release issued at the time, MCC pointed out that the limitations on speech present in the legislation not only raised concerns over constitutional rights but also restricted counselors and their minor patients from having—even at the patient’s request—an open discussion about his or her particular situation.
An earlier federal court decision had ruled that Michigan’s law likely violated the Constitution, according to the Diocese of Lansing press release. The U.S. Supreme Court then ruled against a nearly identical Colorado counseling ban. After that, Michigan agreed to resolve this case and not enforce the law.
During this current legislative session, fewer bills are becoming law than usual. But two MCC-supported bills recently received the Governor’s signature after garnering broad bipartisan support in both legislative chambers.
Senate Bill 18, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), stops the state’s past practice of seizing and spending benefit money tied to foster children. Instead, the state would keep those benefits in accounts that foster children could access after exiting state supervision, which could help them get on stable economic footing.
Notably, the legislation passed the Senate unanimously and received only one no vote in the 110-member state House.
Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Sen. Sue Shink (D-Ann Arbor), will implement better standards and resources for indigent juveniles’ legal defense, after a statewide task force previously found Michigan lacks minimal standards, supports, or resources for juvenile public defense.
The indigent defense bill also received bipartisan support, passing 95–13 in the House and 23–13 in the Senate.
The bills are among the 91 public acts signed into law this year, following just 74 signed into law in 2025.
Previously, the Legislature typically approved several hundred bills in a year’s time, but split party control between the two chambers has reduced that output. Any legislation reaching the Governor’s desk requires majority Republicans in the House and majority Democrats in the Senate to agree to it.
The results are in from the statewide primary election that took place on Tuesday, August 4, setting the stage for the general election matchups this November.
In the state gubernatorial primaries, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the primary to represent the Democratic party. U.S. Rep. John James, who currently represents the state’s 10th Congressional District, was selected as the Republican nominee. They will face off in November to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2027, who is term-limited.
The other major statewide race was the Democratic nomination for one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats, which is being vacated by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a former health department director for the City of Detroit and Wayne County, was picked by voters as the Democratic nominee over current U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, who represents the state’s 11th Congressional District.
El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. Rogers previously represented what was known as the 8th Congressional District.
Besides these races, the November ballot will also feature:
Ballots for early absentee ballots will not be available until September 24. However, it is not too early to prepare for the election by forming your conscience according to Church teaching and studying the candidates’ positions. There are dozens of state and local candidates on the general election ballot, so getting started early is ideal for casting an informed vote.
To help and encourage Catholics to prayerfully prepare to participate in the election, MCC has published its latest faithful citizenship guide via Focus, titled Form Your Conscience, Vote With Faith, which is available in print and online at micatholic.org/election2026. For a print copy, inquire at your parish.
Posted June 24, 2026
Catholics have a particular call to engage in elections as faithful citizens by forming their consciences and voting with faith. This edition of Focus will unpack what that looks like and encourage Catholics to embrace the call to faithful citizenship in this year’s election in Michigan.
During election years, MCC staff often give presentations at parishes about faithful citizenship and the Catholic approach to voting. If you are interested in having a member of MCC staff give a presentation like this at your parish, please email publicpolicy@micatholic.org.