News & Legislative Updates
ACTION ALERT: ULTRASOUND OPPORTUNITY ACT (HB 4085) SCHEDULED FOR HEARING (2/2/2012)
On behalf of the Catholic Conference of Illinois and other pro-life groups, Rep. Joe Lyons (D-Chicago) recently introduced House Bill 4085, The Ultrasound Opportunity Act.
This legislation simply requires that a woman seeking an abortion, after 7 weeks gestation, be offered the opportunity to receive and view an ultrasound of her baby by the physician who is to perform the abortion, the referring physician, or another qualified person working in conjunction with either physician.
Click here to read a fact sheet on the bill’s provisions. We expect House Bill 4085 to go to committee in three weeks. Please contact your Illinois state representative now and ask him or her to “vote for House Bill 4085, for informed consent and for the opportunity for women to see an ultrasound of their unborn babies.”
If you do not know who your state representative is, you can look it up by clicking here , or call our office at 217-528-9200 for assistance.
The time to act is now! Thanks for all you do in support of life.
CONTACT CONGRESS TO PRESERVE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM! (1/31/2012)
As part of the new federal health care reform law passed in Spring 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has ruled that almost all employers must offer health insurance coverage that pays for “preventive” services such as sterilization, contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs.
This final rule, announced last week, includes a religious exemption so narrow that most religiously affiliated organizations will not qualify for the exemption. Despite an onslaught of pleas to broaden the exemption so that Catholic and other faith-based organizations will not be forced to violate their conscience in offering such health coverage, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has refused to do so. Instead, she has given religiously affiliated organizations – such as Catholic hospitals, health care centers, social service providers, schools, colleges and universities – until Aug. 1, 2013 to comply with the rule.
The lack of an adequate conscience exemption is a slap in the face to common fairness and decency. It strikes at the mission of Catholic organizations to serve the poor and care for the sick. But forcing Catholics and members of other faiths to violate their conscience is a breathtaking attack on the religious freedom protections guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Stop this assault on the founding principles of our country.
Look up and contact your U.S. representative and U.S. senator, and tell them to urge President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to overturn this unjust mandate. Ask that they support H.R. 1179 and S. 1467, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. Both pieces of federal legislation call for a right of conscience regarding any coverage mandates arising from the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the formal name of the federal health care reform law.
Here is a sample letter to send.
Sign this online petition on the website of the White House, asking to rescind this unfair HHS rule.
Send this online alert to your elected representatives.
Pray that these efforts overturn the HHS mandate, and preserve religious freedom in this country.
CCI has sent a letter to the editor on this issue to media outlets throughout the state. Read the letter here.
REGISTER FOR SPEAKOUT ILLINOIS 2012 -- IT'S THIS SATURDAY! (1/25/2012)
There's still time to register for this Saturday's SpeakOut Illinois 2012 in Oak Brook.
Catholic Conference of Illinois Executive Director Bob Gilligan will participate in a political panel, and Cardinal George of Chicago will receive the Henry Hyde Life Leadership Award.
AND, former Planned Parenthood employee turned pro-life activist Abby Johnson will serve as the keynote speaker.
Click here to learn more and register!
JANUARY 2012 CCI RADIO HOUR, INCLUDING INFO ON THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT EXPANSION (1/23/2012)
It was a great show today!
CCI Executive Director Bob Gilligan talked with Chicago attorney Jim Geoly about the recent refusal of the Obama administration to broaden the religious exemption for mandated coverage of contraceptives and sterilization. They also spoke about the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Hosanna-Tabor case, which allows for a “ministerial exception” in employment discrimination cases.
Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center then joined Bob to discuss a proposed federal immigration rule that would allow certain immigrants to remain in the country while they go through the application process.
Bob and David Marzahl, president of the Center for Economic Progress, talked about the impact of the gradual expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income residents. The legislation, which takes effect June 1, increases the EITC from its current level of 5 percent of the federal EITC to 7.5 percent in tax year 2012, and 10 percent of the federal EITC in tax year 2013.
To listen to the show, click here.
To learn more about the Center for Economic Progress' free tax return help, click here and enter your zip code to find a site near you.
FEDS REFUSE TO BROADEN RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR MANDATED COVERAGE OF CONTRACEPTIVES (1/20/2012)
In a blow to religious freedom and conscience protections, Kathleen Sebelius of the federal Department of Health and Human Services today refused to change a religious exemption for mandated insurance coverage of contraceptives and sterilization.
The administration of President Barack Obama last summer announced that under the new federal health care reform law, all health insurance plans would have to cover contraceptives and sterilization. The proposed religious exemption was so narrowly defined that in order to qualify, religious organizations -- such as church-affiliated hospitals, universities and social service organizations -- would have to both hire and serve primarily people of its own faith. Jesus and his apostles would not be deemed "religious enough" for the exemption.
HHS was inundated with comments regarding the proposed exemption.
Religious organizations now have until Aug. 1, 2013, to comply with the regulation.
Click here to watch a video of Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB, for his comments on this sharp curb on religious freedom.
ACTOR MARK WAHLBERG TALKS ABOUT HIS CATHOLIC FAITH (1/17/2011)
Actor Mark Wahlberg discusses the importance of his faith during an interview with television talk show host Piers Morgan.
It's an inspiring piece.
Thirty-nine leaders of a variety of faiths today issued an open letter to all Americans on the close connection between protecting the meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman and protecting religious freedom in the United States.
The letter warns that changing the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples changes hundreds of laws in which rights depend on marital status -- such as employment and discrimination, employment benefits, adoption, education, health care, elder care, housing, property and taxation.
Four Catholic bishops were among the religious leaders signing the letter: Cardinal-designate and USCCB President Timothy M. Dolan of New York; Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif.; Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn.; and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind.
Other signers included top representatives of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Assemblies of God, the Church of the Nazarene and the Salvation Army, along with a collection of smaller Protestant denominations, seven pan-Christian associations including the National Association of Evangelicals, and two representatives of Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism.
The letter was released to precede the President's yearly proclamation for Religious Freedom Day, which is Monday, Jan. 16.
To read the letter, click here.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM (1/5/2012)
A march through downtown Chicago depicting Mary and Joseph as immigrants seeking shelter turns the spotlight on the need for comprehensive immigration reform, as we celebrate National Migration Week beginning Jan. 8.
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.
Read the Spanish translation here.
CCI DECEMBER RADIO HOUR (12/20/2011)
Are you ready for some great Catholic talk radio? The December CCI Radio Hour tackled a variety of timely issues.
CCI Executive Director Bob Gilligan spoke with Tom Chapman, head of the Iowa Catholic Conference, about the upcoming Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.
Bob and attorney Paul Linton discussed the recent decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to consider the constitutionality of the 1995 parental notification law, which has never been enacted because of court challenges.
Bob wrapped up the show by talking to Christene Dykes-Sorrells of Catholic Charities in Chicago about the increased stress on food pantries because of the recession.
Click here to listen to the show.
CCI DECEMBER EDUCATION NEWSLETTER (12/7/2011)
Read about the latest news regarding state education issues, including a new advocacy group that CCI is working with on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit as put forth in House Bill 3479.
Read the newsletter here.
NOVEMBER CCI RADIO HOUR (11/21/2011)
Did you know that the USCCB's Committee on Religious Liberty is planning a "Fortnight of Freedom" this summer?
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, who serves on that committee, mentioned the two-week event during this morning's CCI Radio Hour with executive director Bob Gilligan.
Later, Ralph Rivera of Illinois Citizens for Life talked about the importance of a religious conscience clause in the implementation of state health insurance exchanges as mandated by the federal health care reform.
And Joyce Duriga, editor of the Catholic New World, talked about the changes in the New Roman Missal set to take effect Nov. 27.
Click here to listen to the show.
ILLINOIS BISHOPS WRITE GOV. PAT QUINN, ASKING FOR MEETING (11/17/2011)
Illinois' diocesan and auxiliary bishops this week sent a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn, asking for a meeting to discuss the governor's stance on pro-life issues, civil unions and religious freedom.
Quinn made the letter public to the media after he received it.
Read the letter here.
CCI ADVOCATES FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN STATE WAIVER REQUEST (11/14/2011)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois today sent a letter to State Superintendent Chris Koch, requesting that Catholic and other private schools be included in the state's waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education.
CCI Director of Government Relations Zach Wichmann asked that any Title IA funds resulting from a waiver from requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act be considered for private school students.
Read the letter here.
BISHOPS OF BELLEVILLE, JOLIET, SPRINGFIELD DIOCESES DROP LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE ON BEHALF OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES (11/14/2011)
The bishops of the Belleville, Joliet and Springfield dioceses today dropped their lawsuit against the state of Illinois on behalf of Catholic Charities.
The bishops sued on the grounds of religious freedom, stating Catholic Charities was allowed to refrain from placing children with civil union couples in accord with its belief to place children with married couples.
A judge in August ruled Catholic Charities did not have property rights to state contracts.
The bishops sought a stay of the ruling in the appeals court, but was denied.
Read the bishops' joint statement here.
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS RESPONDS TO GOV. QUINN'S STATEMENTS ABOUT PERSONAL PAC (11/3/2011)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois issued a statement regarding Governor Pat Quinn's comments about his planned appearance at a Personal PAC event to give out a pro-choice leadership award.
Read the 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.
ACTION ALERT: ISBE TAKING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON BUDGET (11/1/2011)
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is currently taking public testimony on their Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal. This is an opportunity for Catholic schools to express a desire to see funding restored for the newly redesigned Textbook Block Grant Program. ISBE is accepting testimony via email at isbefy13@isbe.net.
Please, before the Thanksgiving break, send an email(s) on behalf of your school asking for funding to be restored.
Click here for a sample message.
REMINDER FOR PRINCIPALS
The effective IWAS submission deadline for the (1) Completed Health/Immunization Data Report (2) Nonpublic Registration, Enrollment and Staff Report (3) Nonpublic School Application for State Recognition and School Calendar is NOVEMBER 15, 2011! Please make sure you complete these reports on time. If you need any help or have any questions, please call or email. 217-528-9200
BISHOP PAPROCKI CALLS COURT DENIAL OF STAY FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES (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.
WE HAVE A WINNER IN OUR FACEBOOK CONTEST! (10/28/2011)
Annie Piekarczyk is the winner of the autographed copy of Fr. Robert Barron's "Catholicism," the book that accompanies the series currently airing on PBS.
Congratulations, Annie!
Everyone who liked us -- new and current -- by 9 p.m. CT Thursday, Oct. 27 was entered into a drawing for the book.
We thank all of our Facebook supporters!
Click here to go to our Facebook page, where you can click "like."
OCTOBER CCI RADIO HOUR (10/24/2011)
Did you miss today's CCI Radio Hour?
CCI Executive Director Bob Gilligan talked to Sara Howe of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association about state budget cuts. Then Patrick Cacchione of the Illinois Catholic Health Association gave an update on Gov. Pat Quinn's quest to strip nonprofit hospitals of their property tax exemptions. Deirdre McQuade of the USCCB winds up the show by talking about U.S. House passage of the Protect Life Act.
Click here to listen.
PROTECT LIFE ACT PASSES U.S. HOUSE; LOBBY SENS. KIRK, DURBIN FOR SENATE PASSAGE (10/24/2011)
The U.S. House recently passed HR 358, the Protect Life Act, by a 251-172 vote. It amends the federal health care reform law by banning federal funding to abortions and giving conscience rights to health care providers regarding abortions.
The U.S. Senate has similar legislation in S 877.
Contact U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D) or Mark Kirk (R) and ask them to support HR 358 or S 877.
Contact Durbin at 202-224-2152 and Kirk at 202-224-2854.
USCCB OFFERS "FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP" FOR 2012 ELECTION DECISIONS (10/5/2011)
Did you know that all Illinois state lawmakers and representatives to Congress are up for re-election in 2012? Add in the presidential race, and the 2012 campaign season promises to be lively -- and confusing.
How do you make decisions on who to vote for? USCCB offers its "Faithful Citizenship" as a guide. Read it here.
CCI OCTOBER EDUCATION NEWSLETTER (10/4/2011)
Veto session for the Illinois legislature begins Oct. 25. Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers may be shifting dollars around in the current budget. Does textbook funding have a chance? Read our October education newsletter to find out. Click here.
CCI LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE TO PRESERVE MARRIAGE (9/22/2011)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois has created a new department to preserve the sanctity of marriage.
To learn more about this new initiative, click here.
FIND OUT HOW YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR VOTED
Want to find out how your state legislator has voted on important issues? See roll call votes of the Illinois House and Senate below. To lookup who your state senator and/or state representative is, click here.
Note that your current legislator may not be listed in one or more of the roll call votes below depending on when the particular vote was taken and when he/she took office.
Abolition of the Death Penalty - Senate Bill 3539
House roll call
Senate roll call
Civil Unions - Senate Bill 1716
House roll call
Senate roll call
Tuition vouchers - Senate Bill 2494
Senate roll call
(Note: There was a vote taken on this bill in the House, but it did not become an official recorded vote, and the bill did not become law.)
USCCB PRESIDENT ARCHBISHOP DOLAN CALLS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HALT ATTACKS ON DOMA (9/22/2011)
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York warned President Barack Obama that continued attacks on the federal Defense of Marriage Act will seriously threaten Church/State relations.
In a strongly worded letter sent to Obama this week, Dolan criticized the administration's move from a lack of defense of DOMA -- which defines marriage as between one man and one woman -- to questioning its constitutionality by likening it to racial discrimination.
As president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Dolan noted that both he and his predecessor Francis Cardinal George OMI of Chicago have previously alerted Obama of their growing concern toward the administration's change in attitude toward DOMA.
Francis Cardinal George plans on sending the letter to all priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
To read the letter, click here.
SEPTEMBER CCI RADIO SHOW (9/19/2011)
Did you miss today's CCI Radio Hour on Relevant Radio? No worries -- catch it here.
CCI Executive Director Bob Gilligan talks with Maria Munoz, who is advocating for her undocumented friend, a college graduate who now can't get a job.
Bob then talks with CCI's own Marilou Gervacio to get an update on the Catholic Charities lawsuit. Ken Withrow, executive director of Evangelical Child and Family Agency, adds his perspective to the case since DCFS has refused to contract with his agency since it will not place children with same-sex civil union couples.
Bob then talks with Ron Prentice of ProtectMarriage.com, which is seeking legal standing to defend California's Prop 8. Voters passed the ballot issue defining marriage as between one man and one woman, but a federal judge has declared it unconstitutional. California's governor and attorney general have refused to defend the measure, leaving ProtectMarriage.com to step in.
To listen to the show, click 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.
CCI SEPTEMBER EDUCATION NEWSLETTER (9/9/2011)
School's back in session. Catch up on the latest on what you need to know for this school year in the September Education Newsletter.
Read it here.
CCI COORDINATES OPPOSITION TO HHS RULE MANDATING COVERAGE OF CONTRACEPTION AND STERILIZATION (9/7/2011)
The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued Interim Final Rules on Preventive Services to be covered by all private health insurance plans. The rule includes two highly objectionable provisions: (1) a mandate on all private health care plans to cover prescription contraceptives approved by the FDA – including abortifacient drugs -- surgical sterilizations and related patient education and counseling; and (2) an incredibly narrow definition of religious employer for exemption from the mandate.
Following the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ lead, CCI is speaking out in the media and through formal comments to the department in opposition to the rules.
Please join CCI in expressing your opposition to the rules. The deadline is September 30, but you may direct comments on the issue to the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services one of four ways:
-- Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=HHS-OS-2011-0023-0002.
-- By mailing written comments to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-9992-IFC2, P.O. Box 8010, Baltimore, MD 21244-8010. (Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.)
-- By express or overnight mail to: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-9992-IFC2, Mail Stop C4-26-05, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.
-- By hand or courier.
Please use these talking points to help guide your submission.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON HHS RULES MANDATING CONTRACEPTIVES COVERAGE (9/2/2011)
CCI took action on Friday by writing a letter to daily newspapers across the state, alerting their readers to recent rules handed down by the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
The new regulations require health insurers to cover contraceptives and sterilization, as well as create a narrow definition of religious organizations that are eligible for exemption.
Read the letter here.
CCI URGES ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE ACT (9/1/2011)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois today took action against the federal rules mandating insurance coverage of all contraceptives, calling for members of Congress to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act.
Read the letter sent by CCI Executive Director Robert Gilligan here.
USCCB SLAMS FEDERAL RULES ON MANDATED INSURANCE COVERAGE OF CONTRACEPTIVES -- RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TOO NARROW (8/31/2011)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Wednesday called for a cancellation of federal rules requiring coverage of contraceptives by private insurers.
The USCCB called the religious exemption in the rules "inexplicably narrow," and noted current state insurance mandates allow room for religious organizations to practice their faith.
The USCCB called for the rescission in formal comments submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services. The federal agency is taking public comments on the rules until Sept. 30.
Read about the rules here.
CATCH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOB GILLIGAN ON AUGUST'S CCI RADIO HOUR (8/29/2011)
This month's show features two hot topics: the federal rule requiring insurance coverage of contraceptives and the federal government's Secure Communities program.
Patrick Cacchione, executive director of the Illinois Catholic Health Association, and Erica Laethem, director of clinical ethics at Resurrection Health Care, joined Bob to discuss the new rule requiring insurers to cover contraceptives.
Then, Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center joined Allison Posner of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and Marilu Gonzalez of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office for Immigrant Affairs & Immigration Education to talk with Bob about Secure Communities.
Listen here.
LISTEN TO BISHOP PAPROCKI OF SPRINGFIELD ON WMAY (8/26/2011)
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield talks to Jim Leach of WMAY about the Catholic Charities ruling.
To listen to the interview, click here.
USCCB SAYS FEDS CROSSED LINE WITH CONTRACEPTIVES RULING
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops says the federal mandate requiring private health plans to cover contraceptives violates conscience rights. Read more here.
CCI RADIO HOUR - LISTEN & CALL IN!
Join CCI Executive Director, Bob Gilligan, for the CCI Radio Hour, every 3rd Monday of the month at 9:00 am on Relevant Radio 950 AM.
The following are archived news items of the Catholic Conference of Illinois:
MARY MASSINGALE JOINS CCI AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Mary Massingale has joined the staff of the Catholic Conference of Illinois as Director of Communications.
She is a veteran statehouse reporter and covered the Illinois legislature and state government for Copley Illinois Newspapers and Illinois Statehouse News. While with Copley, Massingale won two national first-place awards from Capitolbeat.org, a national association of statehouse reporters. She also reported for the Associated Press in West Virginia.
Massingale has also worked for nursing home and education associations.
A central Illinois native, she is a graduate of the master’s Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Massingale is married to Jim Hejl. They both recently moved to Chicago since Massingale is located at the Catholic Conference’s downtown office. She is a member of St. Gregory the Great Church in Chicago.
She can be reached at (312) 368-1066 or massingale@catholicconferenceofillinois.org.
CCI LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY LIST (2/28/2011)
Now that the bill introduction deadline for the spring legislative session has passed, the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) has compiled the following priority list for bills under consideration. Different issues may emerge in the weeks ahead, but for now, these are the focus.
Click here for the current CCI legislative priority list.
CCI ANNOUNCES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2011
The Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) has recently released its Legislative Agenda for the 97th General Assembly (2011).
ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY
Abolition of the Death Penalty Becomes Law in Illinois (3/9/2011)
Today, Governor Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 3539 to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. The Catholic Conference of Illinois commends the Governor on his approval of this legislation and thanks all the fellow advocates and Illinois lawmakers who have supported the repeal of the death penalty in Illinois.
Click here for the full statement on the signing of SB 3539 into law.
Catholic Bishops of Illinois Urge Governor to Sign Senate Bill 3535 (1/13/2011)
Senate Bill 3539, legislation to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, is awaiting consideration by the Governor. The Catholic Bishops of Illinois urge the Governor to sign this bill.
For more information, click here.
Senate Bill 3539: Statement from Illinois Bishops to Senators; Legislation Passes Illinois Senate (1/11/2011)
Senate Bill 3539, legislation to end the use of the death penalty in Illinois, passed the Illinois Senate today by a vote of 32-25, with 2 present votes. After passing the Illinois House last week, the bill goes next to the Governor for his consideration.
The Bishops of Illinois, through CCI, sent this statement to Senators, urging them to vote in favor of the bill.
Illinois House Passes SB 3539, Abolition of the Death Penalty (1/6/2011)
The Illinois House has passed Senate Bill 3539 to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. CCI commends the House on this historic vote. The bill next goes to the Illinois Senate. We urge the Senate to also vote to pass this important legislation.
Click here for our full statement on the House vote.
Testimony before IL House Committee, November 30, 2010
On November 30, Senate Bill 3539, as amended, passed out of a House committee. CCI Executive Director, Bob Gilligan, provided testimony to the committee in support of the bill. For the full testimony, click here.
Statement at March 2010 Press Conference
This past spring, CCI Executive Director, Bob Gilligan, spoke at a press conference, calling for the abolition of the death penalty. For his full statement, click here.
Additional information on ending the use of the death penalty can be found at the Catholic Mobilizing Network .
Take Action to Support House Bill 786, The Ultrasound Opportunity Act
House Bill 786 simply requires that a woman seeking an abortion, after 6 weeks gestation, be offered the opportunity to view an ultrasound of her baby.
A floor vote is coming soon: now is the time to act! Please call your state representative as soon as possible and ask that they vote YES on House Bill 786.
If you do not know your state representative, you can look him or her up on the Illinois General Assembly’s web site, www.ilga.gov. On the bottom right hand column click on Legislator Lookup and follow the instruction on entering your home address. If you cannot do this, call our office and ask for assistance: 217-528-9200.
Click here for a fact sheet.
USCCB President Calls Refusal to Defend Defense of Marriage Act an "Alarming and Grave Injustice"
President Obama recently instructed the Department of Justice to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a move that Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), recently called an "alarming and grave injustice."
Click here for Archbishop Dolan's full statement.
Statement on Passage of Senate Bill 1716 (12/1/2010)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) has issued a statement on the passage of Senate Bill 1716 (Civil Unions), expressing regret for the General Assembly's passage of the bill.
In addition, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield has issued a statement on the legislation.
Click here for the IL House roll call on SB 1716.
Click here for the IL Senate roll call on SB 1716.
CCI Publishes Paper Describing Opposition to Civil Unions
Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) opposes legislation to enact 'civil unions' for same-sex couples in Illinois. The text of the legislation and the example of other states prove civil unions legislation is meant and designed only to further the pursuit of same-sex marriage. Read Promoting Civil Unions to Undermine Marriage to understand how this process has played out across the country and how it is currently happening in Illinois.
Legislation to Restore Textbook Loan Funding Introduced!
Legislation to restore funding to the Textbook Loan Program has been introduced in the Illinois House and Senate: House Bill 1199 & Senate Bill 1964.
Contact your State Representative and Senator today and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors! You can find out who your state Rep. and Senator are by going to the General Assembly web site (www.ilga.gov)and clicking on Legislator Lookup in the lower half of the page or by calling our Springfield office: 217-528-9200.
Click Here for a fact sheet with more information.
Politics over Kids (Again) (5/14/2010)
On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the Illinois House of Representatives added another failure to the already dysfunctional record of state government in recent years. On that day, Senate Bill 2494, legislation seeking to establish a pilot voucher program as a means to deliver as many as 30,000 students from Chicago’s worst performing and most overcrowded public schools, was voted down.
CCI Associate Director for Education, Zach Wichmann, has written a commentary on why the bill did not pass.
Click here for the full commentary.
Voucher Bill Fails in the House (5/6/2010)
As you are surely aware, Senate Bill 2494 (voucher bill) failed in the House of Representatives yesterday. We needed 60 votes to pass the bill. After a spirited debate on the House floor, the vote at one point during the roll call reached 54 in favor; however, once it was clear the 60 mark was not going to be reached, some members jumped off the bill and in the end we garnered only 48 yes votes.
You can watch the vote below and see how your state representative voted:
Throughout last winter and this spring, our efforts came a long way, made a lot of new allies but ultimately failed. We will continue to work towards a more equitable system that respects parents as the primary educators of their children and provides state support for their preferred choice of school. Thank you for all you have done in support of that goal.
Voucher Bill To Be Voted on Soon! (4/28/2010)
Senate Bill 2494, after being passed by the State Senate nearly a month ago and the House Executive Committee last week, will soon be taken up for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives. Please call your State Representative as soon as possible and share this message:
"Senate Bill 2494 provides educational choices to families enrolled in Chicago lowest performing and most overcrowded elementary schools. This is a good way to test a public/private educational partnership. Please vote yes."
To find the contact information for your State Representative, go to www.ilga.gov and click on Legislator Lookup in the lower, right-hand portion of the page. You can then look up your State Representative by district #, your home or school address, or zip code. You can also call our offices for assistance at 312-368-1066 or 217-528-9200.
For a fact sheet explaining the bill, click here.
CCI Applauds Senate Passage of School Voucher Bill (3/25/2010)
CCI celebrates the Senate passage of Senate Bill 2494 to provide tuition vouchers to the families of children enrolled in Chicago’s lowest performing schools.
Click here for the full press release.
Support House Bill 6096 and Senate Bill 3530 to Restore Textbook Loan Funding
To augment our on-going efforts, we have asked Representative Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) and Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) to introduce legislation in the House and Senate to restore funding to the Textbook Loan Program at Fiscal Year 2007 levels: the bills are House Bill 6096 and Senate Bill 3530. Our goal is to sign up as many co-sponsors as possible. To date, we have added 32 co-sponsors in the House and 15 in the Senate.
Now we need your help: please call your State Representative and ask him or her to sign on as a co-sponsor to House Bill 6096 and call your State Senator and ask him or her to sign on as a co-sponsor to Senate Bill 3530.
The Textbook Loan Program has been in operation since 1975. Its purpose is to provide secular textbooks, learning materials and instructional computer software to public and nonpublic school students grades K-12. Although most of the program’s funding goes to public schools, Catholic schools have long depended on this program and have used the benefit to continually update math, science, and reading textbooks, as well as to purchase new instructional software for technology labs. Students cannot learn or succeed without effective and up-to-date learning materials, and this program has helped ensure those materials are present in ALL schools.
To find the contact information for your State Representative and State Senator, go to www.ilga.gov and click on Legislator Lookup in the lower, right-hand portion of the page. You can then look up your State Representative and State Senator by district #, your home or school address, or zip code. You can also call our offices for assistance at 312-368-1066 or 217-528-9200.
CCI Offers Testimony in Support of Education Programs (9/15/2009)
CCI testified to the Illinois State Board of Education's (ISBE) September Board meeting in support of the Illinois Textbook Loan Program, the Educational Improvement and School Safety Block Grant, and the Parent Transportation Reimbursement Program. For the full testimony, click here.
Immigration 101 Training Hosted by CCIR-IL Statewide Network & CCI
On August 7, 2010, the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform-Illinois Statewide Network (coordinated under the Catholic Conference of Illinois), hosted the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) and representatives of Pastoral Migratoria of the Archdiocese of Chicago, for an “Immigration 101” training for parish leaders and community advocates from the six Illinois Catholic dioceses. Click here to find out more about the training.
Foster Care & Adoption and the Civil Unions Law
ACLU Allowed to Intervene in Catholic Charities Case
The ACLU claims it is acting in the best interest of children. Read more by clicking here.
Update on Catholic Charities Dispute with DCFS Over Foster Care/Adoption (7/14/2011)
A Sangamon County judge has issued a temporary injunction against the state's decision not to contract with Catholic Charities for foster care and adoption cases. The dispute centers around the state's civil unions law, which took effect June 1. To read more, click here.
Legislative Alert: Catholic Charities Adoption and Foster Care Programs At Risk
Unless more explicit language reflecting the legislative intent of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act is enacted, faith-based agencies, including Catholic Charities, will be at risk of impending legal action that aims to close their doors. This will lead to an unnecessary disruption in the lives of thousands of children in Illinois foster care.
The remedy to this situation can easily be accomplished via legislation designed to assure that faith-based agencies are allowed to maintain our religious identity and continue to provide foster care and adoption services AND to ensure civil union couples have unfettered access to foster care and adoption licensing services.
Click here for further information on this issue.
Statement on Senate Bill 1123 (4/13/2011)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois issued the following statement after the close committee vote on Senate Bill 1123 to allow faith-based agencies to continue to provide foster care and adoption services to the most vulnerable children in Illinois:
"Lawmakers are obviously engaged in this issue. We will continue to seek a resolution that allows Catholic Charities to serve thousands of abused and neglected children in Illinois, and we are hopeful that resolution will be supported moving forward,” said Robert Gilligan, Executive Director, Catholic Conference of Illinois.
“This legislation allows Catholic Charities to operate within Church teachings, within the law and always with the best interest of the child at the forefront. Those in civil unions will not be prevented from becoming foster or adoptive parents. From Catholic Charities, they will be referred to DCFS or to one of the approximately 50 other private child welfare agencies throughout the state. Our agencies serve thousands of abused and neglected children in Illinois and are constantly rated a top performer by DCFS in providing permanency, stable foster homes and protection from further harm. We simply want to continue.”
Click here for the full statement.
Other Issues
Statement on House Bill 5428 - Access to Original Birth Certificates (4/13/2010)
House Bill 5428, which passed the Illinois House and is now before the Illinois Senate for consideration, would allow adult adopted persons to have greater access to obtaining a copy of their original birth certificates.
The Catholic Conference of Illinois is not in opposition to HB 5428, but we believe there are ramifications, both positive and negative (the latter primarily concerning confidentiality of birth parents in older cases) that lawmakers should contemplate when considering this legislation. Click here for the full statement.
UPDATE (5/21/2010): HB 5428 has been signed into law by the Governor.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About the New Health Care Reform Law and the U.S. Bishops
The North Dakota Catholic Conference has developed a helpful FAQ regarding the new federal health care reform law and the U.S. Bishops.
Another Important Victory for Health Care Right of Conscience (8/25/2009)
Last Friday, the Springfield Circuit Court enjoined the enforcement of former Governor Blagojevich's administrative rule requiring pharmacy owners to stock and dispense upon request Plan B and other forms of emergency contraception. The case will still be heard, and no success is guaranteed, but as Judge John W. Belz ruled, 'Plaintiffs have certain and ascertainable rights under state and federal law. Plaintiffs are suffering irreparable harm in the form of an ongoing chill of their free exercise rights and rights of conscience under federal and state law, as well as unlawful coercion based on their religious and moral beliefs.'
The judge went on to find that the plaintiffs 'have a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims.'
As a result of the injunction, the pharmacists will be permitted to refuse to dispense Plan B and other forms of emergency contraception, if doing so would violate their religious or moral beliefs.
Thankfully, Illinois courts have acted over several years to chip away at former Governor Blagojevich's actions in this regard. In Menges v. Blagojevich, a number of individual pharmacists succeeded in having the state amend the regulation to recognize the conscience rights of individual pharmacists. In Vandersand v. Walmart and Quayle v. Walgreens, other courts ruled that Illinois pharmacists are protected by the State's Health Care Right of Conscience Act.
The current case, Morr-Fitz, Inc. v. Blagojevich, seeks to ensure that pro-life pharmacy owners - not just individual pharmacists - receive the legal protection to which they are entitled under state laws as well as the U.S. Constitution.
US Bishops Launch Website on Health Care
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a Web Page - http://usccb.org/healthcare - promoting its support of "truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity." The page includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress.
Letters to Congress include an August 11 letter by Cardinal Justin Rigali, the bishops' Pro-Life chairman, criticizing abortion provisions in the House version of health care legislation and a July 17 letter from Bishop William Murphy, the bishops' Domestic Social Justice chairman, outlining the bishops concerns and priorities for health care reform as a whole.
The site will feature Web videos of USCCB policy staff discussing the bishops' position on health care. Kathy Saile, director of Domestic Social Development, outlines the general position and concerns. Richard Doerflinger, associate director of Pro-Life Activities, describes how abortion relates to the health care reform debate.
The page also contains facts and statistics about Catholic health care in the United States, which includes 624 Catholic hospitals, 164 home health agencies, and 41 hospice organizations.
Illinois Supreme Court Announces Decision Regarding Statute of Limitations (9/24/2009)
The Catholic Conference of Illinois, representing the six Catholic dioceses in our state, has issued a statement following the Illinois Supreme Court's decision regarding the statute of limitations. For the full statement, click here.
CCI has released its 2010 Legislative Report on important legislative and budget issues considered during this year's spring legislative session in Springfield. For the full report, click here.
CCI Releases Survey of Candidates for Illinois Governor
On October 4th, the Catholic Conference of Illinois released its Candidate Survey of the candidates for Illinois Governor. With Election Day on November 2nd, the candidate survey has been compiled to assist Catholics in discerning the positions of the candidates on various issues. It has been approved by the Bishops of Illinois and is being distributed across the state.
Candidate Survey (English)
Candidate Survey (Spanish)
Candidate Survey (Polish)
The responses to the candidate survey were gathered as part of interviews we conducted with the candidates this summer. In these interviews, the candidates elaborate on the issues set forth in the survey, as well as other important issues. Here are the transcripts:
Sen. Bill Brady (Republican)
Mr. Scott Lee Cohen (Independent)
Mr. Lex Green (Libertarian)
Mr. Rich Whitney (Green)
Governor Quinn refused to participate in the survey and interview. We contacted Governor Quinn numerous times, by phone and email, but he did not respond to our requests.
This candidate survey can also be used in response to any requests to parishes and other Catholic organizations to distribute candidate surveys from other organizations.
