Catholic Conference of Ohio The official representative of the Catholic Church in public matters affecting the Church and the general welfare of the citizens of Ohio.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio commends Governor DeWine for proposing significant investments in Ohio’s children and families through his Executive Budget. We are particularly pleased that the budget proposes a $2,500 per child state tax deduction. For several years, the CCO and USCCB have advocated for a child tax credit on the state and national levels. Further, Governor DeWine’s proposal eliminates the state sales tax for vital infant supplies, such as diapers, strollers, and car seats. In education, the budget calls for expanding Ohio’s EdChoice scholarship program to families at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. If enacted, more Ohio families can access the school of their choice, including Catholic schools. The budget also provides funding for school safety resource officers and increases past budget line items for public and private school students. Other measures that the CCO supports include the expansion of Ohio’s Bold Beginning Initiative and incentives to create more affordable housing options.

With these proposals, the Governor’s budget affirms the Catholic Church’s teaching that the family must be supported and strengthened through just public policies. The Catholic Conference of Ohio looks forward to advocating for these proposals in the months ahead, along with other measures that assist families with children in Catholic schools and programs that help poor and vulnerable Ohioans. 

The Associate Director for Social Concerns provides leadership and advocacy for the Conference’s activities related to social concerns and respect life. The position includes convening the diocesan offices of social action, social services (Catholic Charities), and respect life. The Associate Director implements statewide responses to the Catholic Church’s social teaching.

Click below to read the entire job description and how to apply for the position. 

Bishop Lach was installed in 2018 in the Catholic Eparchy of Parma and has served on the Catholic Conference of Ohio's Board of Directors since his installation. We're grateful for his ministry in Ohio and wish him the best in the Eparchy of Bratislava.  

The Catholic Conference of Ohio welcomes the Most Reverend Kurt Burnette as the Apostolic Administrator of the Eparchy of Parma. Bishop Burnette was also appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Holy Protection of Mary of Phoenix. 

The Board of Directors of the Catholic Conference of Ohio is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Hickey as the Conference’s new Executive Director, effective Jan. 3, 2023.

Click below to read the entire press release. 

Several of the USCCB's Bishop Chairmen released a letter to Congress with policy recommendations that cohere with the Church’s vision for an authentically life-affirming society that prioritizes the well-being of families. They wrote in part, “There are serious cultural, social, economic, and spiritual challenges that face women, families, and children today. These are challenges that concern the common good. Ensuring that no children grow up in poverty, that parents have time away from work to care for them, that families are formed and remain intact, that the healthcare necessary for healthy moms and children is affordable, that workplace policies respect pregnant and nursing mothers, that child care is affordable and high quality but also not forced on families by financial pressures, that no children are hungry or homeless, that toxic chemicals do not cause babies to have birth defects or cancer, that immigrant families be treated in accord with their inviolable dignity – all of these goals require the cooperation of all and the exclusion of none. Goals like these cannot be achieved by individual efforts alone and will necessarily require collaborative work on the part of our government leaders.”  

The Catholic Conference of Ohio continues policy advocacy on the state level to help make Ohio more life-affirming, especially for women and families. We’re grateful to Governor DeWine for his recent proposals to enhance Ohio’s Bold Beginning Initiative, which would make Ohio more welcoming and hospitable to women and children. We look forward to further promoting the Church’s vision for all people to flourish and contribute to the common good throughout Ohio.

See the full letter HERE.

Check out the most recent Catholic Conference of Ohio newsletter by clicking "read more" below. Subscribe to receive our newsletter through email here. We look forward to sending newsletters and advocacy alerts to you through our new advocacy platform.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is developing a new advocacy alert and newsletter system to help keep you up to date with the latest happenings at the Ohio Statehouse. This system allows you to write legislators, and keep up with news and policy information provided by the Conference. All we need to get you started is your email and zip code. 

Click on read more to sign up today.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is grateful a federal court lifted the injunction on Ohio's Heartbeat Law. Now, unborn children are legally protected from abortion at the moment a heartbeat is detected. We urge the Ohio General Assembly to pass further protections for all unborn children and consider transformative family policies that help parents and children flourish in Ohio. As the Ohio Bishops wrote on Friday, our commitment to protecting and promoting life includes providing resources and accompanying women during and after pregnancy through our numerous social service agencies and parishes. Let us not tire of forming a culture of life in both personal encounters and public policy that reflect God’s immeasurable love for each human life from conception to natural death.