History

The original constitution of the Catholic Conference of Illinois was approved by Cardinal John Cody, and the Bishops of the Province of Illinois, on July 2, 1969. The governing structure of the conference was laid out in this constitution, and the Bishops – ordinaries and auxiliaries – spent the next year and a half fulfilling the logistical, organizational and personnel needs embodied in that text. The first full board meeting convened on December 5, 1970 and all departments and divisions of the conference were soon after, if not already, staffed and operational.

In October, 1972, the constitution of the Catholic Conference of Illinois was amended to clarify the conference’s chain of authority. The amendment made all staff of the conference immediately subject to the chairman of its board, the Metropolitan of the province of Illinois, the Archbishop or Cardinal leading the Archdiocese of Chicago. Since that time, the Metropolitan of the province of Illinois has lead the Catholic Conference of Illinois, through its Board of Directors, and ensured that the beliefs, values and needs of the Catholic Church are well-represented to this state’s political and governmental authorities.

Every five years an internal organizational review is undertaken so that the Board of Directors may ensure that the efficacy and efficiency of the Catholic Conference of Illinois is maintained. Throughout the thirty-plus years of the conference’s existence, these reviews have engendered slight reorganizations of structure and of stated priorities, but the overall mission and means of the conference have changed very little.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois was established as the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Illinois. It remains so today.