About Us

The Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC) assists the bishops of the four Roman Catholic Dioceses in the Commonwealth by giving witness to spiritual values in public affairs.  Under the direction of the Archbishop of Boston, and the Bishops of the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester, the MCC will:

  • Apply Church teaching to any public policies and programs affecting the common good of all Massachusetts residents and the interests of Catholics;
  • Speak for the Roman Catholic Church in Massachusetts before all branches of government and before all groups concerned with social policy:
  • Identify needs in the areas of morality, health, welfare, education, human and civil rights, and determine ways to meet those needs;
  • Foster public understanding of the Church's teaching on social issues.  

Since 1969, the MCC has served as the official representative of the four Catholic dioceses in the Commonwealth on public policy issues.  The MCC speaks not only to specific legislative proposals and administrative procedures, but reflects also on the major human and social moral issues of the day. 

At the end of the MCC's first official board meeting, then-Boston Archbishop Humberto S. Medeiros prayed that the MCC would become "a sign of great hope for the future -- a seed which could grow for the benefit of those in need throughout Massachusetts .... If we speak with one voice, with strength and conviction, we can accomplish much ....We must be certain of our principles and totally committed to them."

From its very beginning, the MCC has concerned itself with foundational social issues affecting the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of all human lives.  In the face of threats posed by the legalization of abortion and euthanasia, the reinstatement of the death penalty, the redefinition of marriage and the family, and economic injustice, the involvement of all Catholics in the public policy arena is absolutely crucial. 

The MCC serves as an informational resource, and encourages the active participation of all Catholics in these important public debates.