Welcome, Nathan Fisher, New Catholic Conference Associate Director!

The Colorado Catholic Conference announced the appointment of Nathan Fisher as its new associate director, bolstering its mission to represent the three Catholic dioceses in Colorado and more than 1 million Colorado Catholics in public policy and government relations.

Prior to joining the Catholic Conference, Fisher served as chief of staff for the House GOP in the Colorado Legislature. Fisher also previously served in several legislative roles in the Colorado Capitol, including deputy chief of staff for the House Minority, office budget director for the House Minority and legislative policy analyst. He also served as executive director of the Jefferson County GOP from 2018 to 2023.

A graduate of Elon University in North Carolina, Fisher completed his Bachelor of Science in Science, enrolled in the pre-med program before answering a call to public service in politics. During his tenure at Elon University, Nathan studied abroad in Italy, including spending time at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. This visit to the Holy See planted the seed for his later conversion to Catholicism.

On Easter 2024, Nathan joyfully entered into communion with the Catholic Church, and shortly after, entered into the sacrament of Matrimony. He and his wife welcomed their first child this summer. Nathan says he is most proud of his vocations as husband and father.

“My brother bishops and I look forward to Nathan’s work at the Colorado Catholic Conference, utilizing his extensive knowledge of the Legislature to work for a culture of life in accord with Catholic Social Teaching,” Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila said in a statement.

“His efforts are made all the more vital given Colorado’s recent legislative track record attacking life, religious liberty, subsidiarity and parental rights. In the face of this culture of death, the Colorado Catholic Conference continues to advocate for the true dignity of every human person in this apostolic age, a dignity found in Jesus Christ and him alone.”

Colorado is a state where policy ideas have been tested to lead the country, for better and for worse.

In the last three years, the Colorado General Assembly has promoted a culture of death through taxpayer-funded elective abortion for all nine months of pregnancy and expansions in the state’s physician-assisted suicide law. Additionally, since 2021, Colorado lawmakers have redefined Colorado’s anti-discrimination law to include new protected classes of “sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.” As of the last legislative session, it will also require taxpayers to fund so-called gender affirming care for minors.

The extreme abortion and LGBTQ-focused policies carry the weight of criminal and financial penalties for any faith-based or private institution that disagrees with the state’s definition of human sexuality and marriage, and that respects parental rights over their minors for decisions regarding abortion or gender transition medical interventions.

On the other hand, Colorado has also led the way in programs to support the work of Catholic Charities and other nonprofits in their ministries to low-income mothers and families and the migrant community. In recent years, Colorado has also worked to promote restorative justice and policies to assist nonviolent criminals’ reintegration into society.

“Now is the time for strong leadership in the Catholic Church to combat policies that are damaging to the family and reject the natural law,” said Brittany Vessely, the conference’s executive director.

“Nathan Fisher has been in the legislative pressure cooker for the last five years and has demonstrated courageous leadership and fidelity to biblical principles and Catholic social teaching. We are proud to have Nathan join the Colorado Catholic Conference to expand the work of the Church in political discourse!”