Online Sports Gambling Floor Vote Postponed
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| After fast-tracking online sports gambling bills SB 592 and AB 601 through the committee process, the Assembly last week postponed a vote on the bills. The legislation was originally scheduled for a floor vote on Wednesday, November 19, but was pulled from the Assembly calendar. However, the Senate and Assembly may decide to take the bill up in January.
Until then, the WCC encourages all citizens to contact their state senator and representative to oppose SB 592 and AB 601, which begins the process of legalizing online sports gambling in Wisconsin. You can read more about the WCC’s opposition to online sports gambling here. Thank you to all who have already contacted their legislators to voice opposition. |
Pope Encourages All to Build Bridges on First Sunday of Advent
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(Vatican Media photo)
On November 30, the new Church year began with the First Sunday of Advent. Pope Leo XIV celebrated the start of Advent with a Mass in Turkey, as part of his pilgrimage to Turkey, Lebanon, and the Middle East to honor the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which gave us the Nicene Creed.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of our “common efforts to build bridges of unity on three levels: within the community, in ecumenical relations with members of other Christian denominations, and in our encounters with brothers and sisters belonging to other religions.”
He concluded the homily by urging us to “make these values our resolutions for the season of Advent and even more so for our personal and communal life. We journey as if on a bridge that connects earth to Heaven, a bridge that the Lord has built for us. Let us always keep our eyes fixed on both shores, so that we may love God and our brothers and sisters with all our hearts in order to journey together and find ourselves one day united in the house of the Father.” |
Holy Day of Obligation: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8
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| Monday, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and a Holy Day of Obligation. The Holy Day is celebrated nine months before the feast of Mary’s birth (September 8) and honors Mary’s conception free from original sin. |
| Paragraph 491 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (structured in part around the profession of faith in the Nicene Creed) explains that Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, stating:
“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”
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| Previously, in 1846, the bishops of the United States successfully petitioned Pope Pius IX to name Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States. The largest Marian shrine in the United States is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. You can read more about the Immaculate Conception here. |
WCC Internship Opportunity
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| The WCC is hiring an intern for Spring 2026. The individual will assist with coordination of March for Life 2026, communication and outreach to Catholic groups via social media and direct calls and emails, and event planning and logistics. See the full posting for additional details and how to apply. The deadline is this Friday, December 5. |
- Structured Camping Facilities for Homeless Individuals ▼ Registered in opposition
SB 621 (Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee) / AB 631 (Dave Maxey, R-New Berlin)
The bill classifies setting up a temporary residence on public property as a Class C misdemeanor. The bill also authorizes the Department of Administration and other political subdivisions to set up structured camping facilities for the homeless on public property. The WCC opposes the criminalization of homelessness, which will fail to help individuals out of homelessness.
Status: The bills await public hearings.
- Abortion Definition ▲ Testified in support
SB 553 (Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood) / AB 546 (Joy Goeben, R-Hobart)
Amends statutory definitions of abortion to exempt medical procedures or treatments designed or intended to prevent the death of a pregnant woman and not designed or intended to kill the unborn child from the definition of abortion.
Status: The bill passed the Senate and awaits action in the Assembly.
- Federal Tax Credits to Scholarship Granting Organizations ▲ Testified in support
SB 600 (Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk) / AB 602 (Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek)
Participating in the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits action in the Senate.
- Substitute Teaching ▲ Registered in support
SB 526 (John Jagler, R-Watertown) / AB 518 (William Penterman, R-Hustisford)
Allowing individuals who hold a substitute teaching permit to substitute teach at private schools participating in a parental choice program.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits action in the Senate.
- Drone Operation ▲ Registered in support
SB 519 (Jesse James, R-Thorp) / AB 530 (Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay)
Preventing drones from being flown over a school without permission of the school district/governing board or with certain exceptions.
Status: The bill passed the Assembly and awaits action in the Senate.
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Updates from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
To take action on the USCCB’s current federal action alerts, click here. |
Legislative Resources
Find the WCC’s session priorities, legislative committees, contact info for your legislators, and more.
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