What a difference a year makes – especially when it’s an election year. Illinois lawmakers this week approved a $38.5 billion budget for the new fiscal year set to begin July 1 — before the May 31 midnight deadline, by a relatively wide margin, and with none of the acrimony that marked last year’s contentious…
The Catholic Conference of Illinois today joined several statewide pro-life organizations in asking Illinois lawmakers that no money be appropriated for taxpayer-funded abortions in the upcoming budget. In a letter sent to lawmakers, CCI noted that legislation signed into law last fall authorizing taxpayer money to be used for elective abortions for Medicaid participants and…
May 21, 2018 show Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, joins Bob to talk about Gov. Rauner's call to reinstate the death penalty for mass murderers and those convicted of killing a police officer. Next, Greg Schleppenbach, assistant director of pro-life activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)…
Gov. Bruce Rauner today called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for individuals convicted of mass shootings or the fatal shooting of a police officer. His call came in his written amendatory veto of House Bill 1468, which requires a 72-hour waiting period before the purchase of an assault weapon. The governor introduces…
Legislation providing for the ratification of the federal Equal Rights Amendment has surfaced in the Illinois legislature – more than 35 years after the deadline set by Congress. SJRCA 4 calls for Illinois to approve the ERA, requiring a three-fifths vote from both the Illinois Senate and the House. The measure requires no signature from…
The Catholic Conference of Illinois will join advocacy groups on April 26 at the state Capitol for an Environmental Lobby Day that will in part celebrate Pope Francis' ground-breaking encyclical Laudato Si'. Participants will be encouraged to visit their state representatives and senator at their Springfield offices to ask that they co-sponsor a legislative…
Catholic bishops across the country and Illinois today marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Baptist minister and civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joined the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in tolling the shrine's bells 39 times to honor the…
Cardinal Blase Cupich today traveled to Springfield to hold a press conference at the Illinois Capitol on his concerns regarding the growing problem of gun violence, as state lawmakers discuss various proposals that would limit access to firearms. The Cardinal did not support any specific legislation. He recalled the recent Feb. 14 mass shooting at…
The spring session of the Illinois legislature is only a few days old, and an effort to undo the new Tax Credit Scholarship program is already under way. Senate Bill 2236 attacks the new program that allows low-income and working-class children to receive scholarships to attend a school of their choice by tying the program…
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Prison and Jail Ministry
CCI coordinates a statewide effort of prison and jail ministry offered through the dioceses. Lay Catholics receive training to offer hope to inmates through the salvation of the Gospel.
