Catholic Conference of Ohio The official voice of the Catholic Church in Ohio on matters of public policy and government relations.

Join the Catholic Conference of Ohio for a monthly Zoom event to pray the Divine Office, delve into Church teaching on important issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, and capital punishment, and learn how you can get involved to uphold the dignity of life in Ohio!

Meetings are held every first Friday* from 11-11:45 AM, beginning August 7, 2026.
*October and January are moved to the second Friday due to the Ohio March for Life and New Year's Day. 

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The Catholic Conference of Ohio released a statement commending the diligent work of the Ohio Pupil Transportation Working Group in producing a report to the Ohio General Assembly. The CCO expressed appreciation for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) for including CCO Associate Director Tom Rhatican on the group to represent the chartered nonpublic school community. Brian Hickey, executive director, noted, "A parent’s choice of the best educational option for their child often becomes moot without the reliable transportation promised in Ohio law. Transportation challenges often disproportionately affect single-parent or lowincome households whose parent(s) have inflexible work schedules.” Tom Rhatican, associate director for the CCO, shared, "High performing districts transporting all eligible students should continue to be examined for their best practices, and the report duly notes the need for greater oversight of districts that are declaring all or most students and schools impractical to transport." The statement also covered highlights of the report and additional recommendations for the General Assembly to consider.

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The Catholic bishops in Ohio released a statement as Haitians in Ohio awaited a Supreme Court ruling on their Temporary Protected Status. They wrote, "We reflect upon the promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and to worship God free from government intervention. We take seriously the truth that our rights come from God and recognize the great blessings that God has bestowed on our country. Therefore, as proud and faithful citizens of the United States, we need to take responsibility to support the common good of our country and to love our neighbors as ourselves." The bishops lamented the situation of Haitians in Ohio and across the U.S. who despite working hard to support their families, worshiping God regularly, and seeking to live in peace, "may be forced to abandon familial stability, jobs, and community due to policy decisions. We find no moral justification for terminating their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) without an alternative way to adjust their immigration status."

"Welcoming immigrants and refugees represents the Christian ideals our country stands on. The denial of a dignified life for law-abiding families fleeing an unstable home and contributing to the common good signifies how much easier it is to declare that we are “One Nation Under God” rather than to actually do the will of our Heavenly Father (cf. Matthew 7:21)," wrote the bishops. They continued to share the need to reform our immigration policy, while affirming, "the nation's right and responsibility to regulate immigration and protect its borders for the sake of the common good and address genuine public threats."

The statement concludes with sharing a path forward, "Like so many of you, we yearn for political leadership that can deliberate effectively without the partisan rancor that so often seems to take precedence over legislation for the common good. Looking back over our nation’s rich history, with its faith-centered values of welcoming those who seek refuge while ensuring the safety and order of our communities, can reveal a way forward." They reaffirmed their solidarity with immigrant brothers and sisters and asked Catholics in Ohio and all people of goodwill to pray for America at 250 years and to embody the words of Pope Leo XIV, “Those who believe in him are engaged in the great work of renewal that began with the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection, and they cooperate in building up the Kingdom of God, learning to embrace all men and women as brothers and sisters, children of one Father.” (Magnifica Humanitas 49)."

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Brian Hickey, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, issued a statement in response to Governor Mike DeWine’s comments on the death penalty, stating, "Governor DeWine is correct that Ohio should not kill human beings, given the flawed system of execution. Ohioans are increasingly recognizing that the death penalty perpetuates a cycle of violence, deprives offenders of rehabilitation, and increases costs to the state." He continued, "Several of Ohio’s death row inmates have found redemption through the Catholic faith. They have repented of their egregious crimes and seek to live as witnesses to a better way of life through prayer, penance, and service to other inmates. In a state and country in which alternatives to execution exist, we should support punishments that are in greater conformity with the dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God." The statement concludes with, "We join Governor DeWine in urging Ohio legislators to pass House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 134 to prohibit the State of Ohio from funding the intentional termination of human life––including abortion, assisted suicide, and State-sanctioned execution––and to abolish the death penalty in favor of life without parole."

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The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in support of Senate Bill 341 (D-DeMora | R-Blessing) to raise the legal age to marry from 17 to 18. CCO stated, "90% of children married in Ohio between 2000 and 2024 were girls married to adult men. Once a minor gets married, the child is legally emancipated from their parents, who no longer bear responsibility for caring for the child or providing financial support. This creates a vulnerable situation for young people seeking to flee violence and abuse as they often face hindrances to bringing a legal action in their own name and experience barriers to support, such as domestic violence shelters, due to being underage... The Church teaches that 'the consent [to marry] must be an act of the will of the contracting parties, free of coercion or grave external fear. No human power can substitute for this consent.' (CCC, 1628). Weighing the short time frame of one year before a minor can access adult rights and privileges against the risk that some will exploit the legal loophole to facilitate exploitation, it is fitting that the law aligns the age of marriage with the age at which individuals can legally consent to contractual obligations.”

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