Providing the Catholics of Illinois a voice in public policy
Who We AreThe Best Possible Education for Our Kids
We work to make their dreams come true.
Protecting Every Life
We support legislative efforts to protect every stage of life.
Marriage and Family Life
We advance policies that promote marriage and strengthen the family.
Catholic Priorities in State Government
We represent the Catholic Church at the Illinois Capitol.
Social Services
We feed the hungry, care for the sick, and help the needy.
Social Justice
We advocate for policies that respect the dignity of immigrants, workers, senior citizens, and low-income individuals and families.
Ad Hoc Committee
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.
Catholics in Illinois
The Latest News & Updates
CCI Radio Hour: Dec. 21, 2020
Greg Schleppenbach of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops discusses the moral guidance on COVID-19 vaccines issued by the organization. Then, Kevin Grillot of weDignify talks about next month's March for Life Chicago. Then, Louis Jones of the Diocese of Belleville discusses the anti-poverty work that garnered him the 2020 USCCB Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. Closing out the show, Glenn Van Cura of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet talks about his 10 years at the helm of the agency as he gets ready to start a teaching position in the Republic of Korea.
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Illinois bishops join U.S. bishops’ statement on COVID-19 vaccines
Illinois bishops today joined the U.S. bishops' statement on COVID-19 vaccines that have been in recent news. The guidance issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops – "Moral Considerations Regarding the New COVID-19 Vaccines" – offers a detailed analysis of the origin of current vaccines and concludes that the Modern and Pfizer vaccines are morally acceptable. We urge all Catholics to read the document.
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CCI Radio Hour: Nov. 16, 2020
Ryan Burge, assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, talks about the Catholic vote in the Nov. 3 presidential election. Kent Redfield, retired professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, discusses the dizzying amount of money spent in the Nov. 3 election on the "fair tax" ballot initiative, the retention bid of an Illinois Supreme Court justice, and targeted legislative races. Then, David Spotanski, COO of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, talks about the upcoming Nov. 28 elevation to cardinal of Archbishop Gregory of Washington, D.C. Finally, Fr. Mike Meany of St. John Brebeuf parish in Niles talks about the Archdiocese's online photo exhibit honoring his late uncle, WWII chaplain Fr. John Beyenka.
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USCCB, Illinois bishops respond to Vatican report on former Cardinal McCarrick
The Vatican today released a report on its investigation into the career of the former high-ranking and now-disgraced U.S. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. Published by the Vatican's Secretariat of State office, the report draws on documents from five Vatican departments, four U.S. dioceses, two U.S. seminaries and the Vatican's U.S. embassy. Investigators also interviewed more than 90 people.
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Illinois bishops offer guidance for Election Day 2020
The general election set for Nov. 3 offers voters the opportunity to make their voices heard about representation for federal, state and local elected offices. Illinois residents will also consider an amendment to the state Constitution that will change the income tax from a flat rate to a graduated rate. The bishops of Illinois offer voting guidance during presidential election years and have approved the following reflection points for Catholics to consider before casting their ballot.
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Pope Francis releases new encyclical, “Fratelli tutti”
Pope Francis today called for a renewed spirit of global community with the release of his new encyclical, 'Fratelli tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship." The eight-chapter encyclical examines contemporary social and economic problems against a backdrop of the current coronavirus pandemic, which "unexpectedly erupted" during its composition. Yet Pope Francis notes the global health crisis only underscores that “no one can face life in isolation” and that the time has truly come to “dream, then, as a single human family” in which we are “brothers and sisters all."
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Illinois bishops offer thoughts on clean energy in Illinois
State lawmakers are expected to craft clean energy legislation during the spring 2021 legislative session. After celebrating the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis's Laudato Si' encyclical on the environment this past June, our Illinois bishops have looked to the groundbreaking document for specific points that would do well to be included in any legislation. The result is the following statement.
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Find out who are your elected officials, and how to contact them. Learn who is in the state leadership positions, and who sits on relevant committees in the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives.