Bishops Statements
ILLINOIS BISHOPS RELEASE STATEMENT ON NATIONAL MIGRATION WEEK (12/27/2011)
The bishops of Illinois today released a statement on National Migration Week, beginning Jan. 8.
Like the Magi following the star to the hope, love and freedom embodied in the Holy Child, many immigrant families are on a similar journey as they seek hope in a new country.
During the next six months, each diocese in Illinois will share stories of immigrant families in their parishes and communities. These stories will be published in diocesan newspapers, bulletin inserts and on our website.
Read the bishops' statement here.
ILLINOIS BISHOPS COMMENT ON GOV. QUINN AND PERSONAL PAC (11/2/2011)
Last week, Personal PAC, the Political Action Committee for Planned Parenthood, sent out an email to its supporters that Gov. Pat Quinn would give out an award -- the Pro-Choice Leadership Award -- at the PAC’s annual luncheon on Nov. 17.
The bishops of Illinois have put out a statement on Quinn’s plan to present this award.
Read the bishops' statement here.
BISHOP PAPROCKI CALLS COURT DENIAL OF STAY FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES "REGRETTABLE" (10/27/2011)
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield today commented on the 4th District Appellate Court's denial of a stay of the original ruling against Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Belleville, Peoria and Joliet sued the state to retain their contracts for foster care and adoption. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services cancelled the contracts after the implementation of the new civil union law, claiming Catholic Charities discriminates in its practice of referring same-sex couples seeking to become foster parents back to the state agency.
However, the 4th district Appellate Court has yet to rule on the merits of the case.
Read Bishop Paprocki's statement here.
Leaders of Illinois' six Catholic dioceses today called for Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to revoke new rules mandating insurance coverage of contraceptives and sterilization that also create an extremely narrow definition of religious organizations eligible for exemption.
To read the bishops' letter to Sebelius, click here.
To read the press release accompanying the bishops' letter, click here.
BISHOPS PAPROCKI AND JENKY RELEASE STATEMENTS ON COURT RULING AGAINST CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOSTER CARE DISPUTE (8/19/2011)
Read what Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield and Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria have to say about the court decision against Catholic Charities in the organizations' efforts to continue contracting with the state for foster care and adoption services.
Judge John Schmidt on Thursday ruled the state does not have to contract with Catholic Charities. The organizations' 40-year history of providing foster care and adoption services does not create a protected property interest in the renewal of their contracts, the judge wrote.
Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Belleville, Joliet, Peoria and Springfield sued the state over the implementation of the new civil unions law. The organizations do not place children with any co-habitating couples, and sought to continue referring same-sex couples wanting to serve as foster care or adoptive parents to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Read Bishop Paprocki's statement here and Bishop Jenky's statement here.
Letter from Illinois Catholic Bishops on SB 1716 (5/27/2009)
The Catholic Bishops of Illinois have written a letter in opposition to Senate Bill 1716. This legislation seeks to codify civil unions as the legal equivalent of marriage.
Bishops Release Election Statement (9/22/2008)
Illinois' Catholic Bishops have released a statement seeking to encourage Catholics to participate in the political process and to help them prepare for November's elections. We urge all Catholics to read the statement and weigh the issues and all the candidates for elected office carefully before voting.
For press release, click here.
For statement, click here.
For a Spanish version, click here.
For a Polish version, click here.
