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

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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The Catholic Conference of Ohio submitted interested party testimony on HB 795, urging the House Medicaid Committee not to reverse the years-long policy of supporting family caregivers, and instead to seek targeted, proportional means to address bad actors committing fraud and abuse. CCO wrote, "Many family members forego other employment opportunities and struggle to make ends meet as they selflessly work to sustain the lives of their loved ones in need of this [life-sustaining] assistance. This is a clear, pro-family policy for those who need it most. [Family members] receiving payments for essential care should not lose the small benefits they receive because of bad actors who must be held accountable."

UPDATE: HB 795 has been amended to remove the ban on family members' ability to be paid by Medicaid for providing personal care services to relatives. We are grateful for this revision. 

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The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in front of the Senate Health Committee in support of House Bill 324 (R-A. Mathews | R-Craig), the Patient Protection Act. The bill previously passed the House. CCO stated, "HB 324 employs reasonable safeguards on the dispensing of medications known to cause serious adverse effects by requiring that patients be assessed and fully informed as to the associated risks in order to be free to consent to a recommended course of treatment." Due regard for the dignity of human life and the integral good of each person warrants more prudent and humane measures when dispensing pharmaceuticals with a higher rate of adverse effects.

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