All four Roman Catholic dioceses in Massachusetts plan to allow signature gathering at churches by supporters of a measure that would amend the state constitution to make it clear that it doesn't require public funding of abortion.
Individual pastors will decide whether and where the gathering of signatures takes place but if it does it "must take place at a designated location(s) on the property away from the flow of parishioners approaching or departing from Holy Mass," according to new guidelines issued this week by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, which represents the four Catholic bishops in the state.
Unsatisfied with the progress or lack thereof at the bargaining table, the state's largest public employee union last week called on Governor Charlie Baker's administration to exempt state employees from having to pay into the state's new paid family and medical leave program.
