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. The next meeting is September 4, 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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