The two week period beginning June 21 and running through July 4 echoes an observance held last summer to protest the mandate handed down by the federal Department of Health and Human Services requiring all employers to offer insurance coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives and sterilization. The mandate went into effect on Aug. 1, 2012 for most employers, and will be implemented for religious organizations on Aug. 1, 2013. 

The nation is awaiting an additional threat to religious freedom by the end of June, when the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on two same-sex marriage cases: the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. 

The Fortnight kicks off with Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore celebrating an evening Mass June 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Baltimore. It will conclude with a noon Mass July 4 to be celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the nation’s capital.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has created a special web page — www.fortnight4freedom.org — containing prayer resources, homilies and fact sheets on religious liberty.

Illinois will participate in the Fortnight with the following events. (More events may be scheduled, so contact your local diocese.)

Archdiocese of Chicago — The Archdiocese will launch the Fortnight with an opening Mass at 4:30 p.m. on Sat., June 22, at St. Thomas More Parish at 2825 W. 81st St., Chicago. A Religious Liberty dinner will follow in Donlan Hall at a cost of $10 per person. Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society will give the keynote address. To register for the dinner, call 773-436-4444.

St. Peter's in the Loop at 110 W. Madison St., Chicago, will celebrate a special "Fortnight for Freedom" Mass at 12:15 p.m. on Mon., June 24, followed by a Eucharistic procession to Federal Plaza.

Diocese of Peoria — Bishop Jenky has written a letter to all Catholics in the diocese, encouraging them to observe the "Fortnight for Freedom." Read the letter in English and Spanish.

Diocese of Rockford — The diocese has created a special web page with multiple resources for pastors and parishioners.

Diocese of Springfield — Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will kick off the Fortnight with a Mass at 4 p.m. on Sat., June 22, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence Ave., Springfield.

Bishop Paprocki will also lead a prayer rally at noon on Wed., July 3, at the Lincoln Capitol Statue located at the intersection of South Second Street and East Capitol Avenue.

Senate Bill 10 calls for the state to change its legal definition of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two persons." The legislation passed the Illinois Senate on Feb. 14, 2013, and was the subject of a contentious battle in the House.

State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, sponsor of SB 10, announced tonight that he would not call the measure for a vote, and asked his fellow lawmakers to return to their districts, talk to their constituents about the issue, and return in October to possibly vote on the measure.

Our statement follows, and can be seen here as a PDF.

STATEMENT OF CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF ILLINOIS

ON SENATE BILL 10

CHICAGO – The Bishops of Illinois are profoundly grateful that Illinois House lawmakers listened to their constituents and declined to consider legislation that would redefine marriage in Illinois. The Catholic Church and many others have fought hard to oppose this legislation and to preserve our shared religious, legal and cultural understanding of marriage as God and nature intended: the permanent and exclusive relationship between a man and a woman committed to one another and their children. We are most grateful to all those who have courageously joined us in this effort.  

The Catholic Church has respect and pastoral concern for our brothers and sisters who have same-sex attraction. We offer our prayerful support to them and their families.  

We realize this issue will continue. Catholics and their Church must continue to engage our culture, even through political institutions, and be a consistent advocate for what is right and just while serving the needs of our community to the very best of our ability.

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The letter can be viewed here.

The Tribune published our letter — unchanged — in its online section.

Senate Bill 10 calls for the state's legal definition of marriage to be changed from "between a man and a woman" to "between two persons." The measure passed the Senate in mid-February, and has yet to be called for a vote in the Illinois House. The spring legislative session is set to end at midnight on Fri., May 31. 

Mark Fleming of the National Immigrant Justice Center joins Bob to talk about the current push for comprehensive federal immigration reform, as outlined in the Senate's "Gang of Eight" legislation. Next, Margie Manczko Breen of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Respect Life Office discusses the guilty verdict in the trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell. To close out the show, Dave Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, talks about the various marriage rallies his group has been hosting in targeted legislative districts as state lawmakers enter the final two weeks of the legislative session.

 Attention principals, teachers and parents of children in grades K-12: Some hope exists that funding for the Textbook Block Grant program may make it into the budget for the new fiscal year set to begin July 1.

This program has provided secular textbooks, learning materials and instructional computer software to public and nonpublic school students, but has not been funded for several years because of the state's dire financial straits.

However, legislation in both the House and Senate providing $12.5 million to the program have been introduced, respectively, by Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Oak Lawn, and Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago. House Bill 2321 and Senate Bill 2152 are the identical vehicle bills for this funding.

Legislative leaders are asking to hear from their constituents on these bills. The EASIEST way for you to ask your state representative and senator to vote "yes" for textbook funding is to CLICK here to send a pre-written email to them about HB 2321 and SB 2152.

If you want to call your state representative and state senator, you can click here to look up who they are, and then contact them.

Here's a fact sheet on HB 2321 and SB 2152.

WE NEED YOU: Your support of this initiative is essential — please be sure your legislators hear from you and your school community!

Bishop Lance Davis of the African-American Clergy Coalition joins Bob to talk about the fight against redefinition of marriage efforts in the form of Senate Bill 10. Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran adds to the discussion by telling how he sees the importance of marriage and a strong family in his work. Sr. Lisa Polega of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Immigrant Affairs & Immigration Education talks about a campaign for federal immigration reform called "Together as Brothers and Sisters." 

Priests for Justice for Immigrants and Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants joined immigrant families and supporters at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago to unveil "Together as Brothers and Sisters." 

Cardinal George in his statement urged the Catholic community and all people of faith and good will to unite in supporting the immigrant mothers, fathers, men, women and children among us.

"The discordant voices in today's society are many," Cardinal George writes. "Our voices of faith must rise above the crowd and speak out about the sanctity and dignity of the most vulnerable in our society. Our voices should echo the voice of Christ, our Shepherd, our Hope, our Peace. We are disciples of Jesus and must use the prophetic voice given us through baptism to address the injustices in our society."

Cardinal George underscored the call from "Together as Brothers and Sisters"  for the following components in any new federal legislation:

• Provide a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the country;
• Preserve family unity as a cornerstone of our national immigration system;
• Provide legal paths for low-skilled immigrant workers to come and work in the United States;
• Restore due process protections to our immigration enforcement policies; and 
• Address the root causes (aka push factors) of migration, such as persecution and economic disparity.

Cardinal George stressed that reform can be put off no longer.

"Now is the time to fix a broken system, a system that for too long has divided and devastated families through massive deportations, subjected them to mistreatment and discrimination by employers and others, and cast a crippling pall of fear upon the immigrant community," he wrote.

"Together as Brothers and Sisters" and its upcoming activities are being coordinated by the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office for Immigrant Affairs & Immigration Education. "Like" the office's Facebook page to stay updated on events and activities.  

Read a press release of today's press conference here. View a video of the press conference here.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging parishioners nationwide to send an electronic postcard urging immigration reform to their U.S. Senators and Representatives through its Justice for Immigrants website.

Senate Bill 10 seeks to change the state's legal definition of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two persons." It has previously passed the Senate, and is the center of a contentious battle in the House.

Media reported yesterday that Sullivan, a Republican from Mundelein, had changed his mind from opposing SB 10 to supporting it. Sullivan's district lies within Vicariate I, which is overseen by Bishop Rassas.

In his statement, Bishop Rassas notes that "Representative Sullivan had indicated for some time that he understood the gravity of this issue and was prepared to oppose Senate Bill 10."

He later notes that religious freedom is at stake in the legislation. 

"Representative Sullivan mistakenly claims that Senate Bill 10 contains strong religious freedom protections.  In fact, the bill allows only meager protections for what happens within the walls of select religious facilities.  It offers very limited protections to religiously affiliated nonprofits, which are extensions of religious missions, or to individual conscience – the right of any man or woman to live by their own religious beliefs in every avenue of life.   Every state that has redefined marriage by legislation has offered greater religious liberty protections than does Senate Bill 10."

Read the entire statement here.

Senate Bill 10 changes the state's legal definition of marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two persons." The measure has passed the Senate, and is under consideration by the House.

Click here to watch a video of all of the pastors' statements (18 minutes). Click here to watch a video of the question-and-answer segment (12 minutes).

After the press conference, Pastor James Meeks of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago joined Cardinal George and the other pastors for a brief meeting.

Cardinal George was joined by the following clergy:

Dr. Byron Brazier, Pastor of the Apostolic Church of God

Bishop Willie James Campbell, jurisdictional bishop of the Church of God in Christ

Bishop Lance Davis, Senior Pastor of the New Zion Christian Fellowship Church of Dolton

Pastor Kenneth Giles, Senior Pastor of the Greater New Mount Olive Baptist Church

Pastor Andrew Singleton, Senior Pastor of the Victory Apostolic Church

Bishop Horace Smith, Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

Bishop Larry Trotter, Presiding Prelate of the New Century Fellowship International