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Catholics in Illinois

The Latest News & Updates

Spring 2021 Legislative Roundup

Jun 2, 2021

Invest in Kids Act: In the Budget Implementation Act (BIMP), we were successful in fighting off the Governor's proposed cuts and in achieving a one-year extension of the program. The Invest in Kids Tax Credit is now scheduled to expire on January 1, 2024. This change...

ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE HOUSE BILL 2789

May 26, 2021

House Bill 2789 (see fact sheet here) seeks to codify, during a gubernatorial declared public health emergency, a new complaint process against public and nonpublic schools that can apparently be submitted by anyone for any perceived violation of mitigation efforts....

Extreme Proposed Changes to Schools’ Sex-Ed Curriculum in SB818

May 17, 2021

SB 818 mandates adding considerable course material and instruction on sex education in public schools. After reviewing the materials mandated in the bill that are contained in the National Sex Education Standards, the Catholic Conference feels compelled to speak...

Illinois bishops issue letter urging Catholics to save Tax Credit Scholarship program

May 4, 2021

Our Illinois bishops today issued a letter to Catholics across Illinois, urging them to contact state lawmakers to save the Tax Credit Scholarship program from cuts proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in his budget plan released in February.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois Opposes House Bill 1736: the expansive REACH Act

Apr 20, 2021

House Bill 1736, known as the Responsible Education for Adolescent and Children’s Health (REACH) Act, seeks to expand and extend sex education in public schools. The bill does not impact what is taught in Catholic schools; however, there are a number of...

Join Clean Energy Advocacy Day – April 26

Apr 20, 2021

Join Catholics from throughout the state of Illinois for the Clean Energy Advocacy Day on April 26, 2021. Talk virtually with your state legislators about principles of clean energy. See more information on this flyer.

CCI celebrates Predatory Loan Prevention Act becoming law

Mar 23, 2021

The Catholic Conference of Illinois is proud to announce that Gov. J.B. Pritzker today signed into law Senate Bill 1792, creating the Predatory Loan Prevention Act, which caps the annual percentage rate (APR) on payday and auto title loans at 36%. Illinois becomes the 18th state to cap APRs at 36%, along with the District of Columbia.

CCI Radio Hour: March 15, 2021

Mar 15, 2021

Bill Woolf, a human trafficking expert who has done trainings for USCCB, talks about the link between parental notice of abortion and raising a red flag about trafficking victims. Next, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka of Aguduth-Israel discusses the importance of the Tax Credit Scholarship program to Jewish schools as the scholarship program for nonpublic schools faces a cut proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Then, Tony Cube of USCCB’s Justice for Immigrants initiative talks about the actions President Joe Biden has taken in favor of immigrants since assuming office in late January, and what’s ahead on the political horizon, including the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. Finally, Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, talks about sponsoring Senate Bill 133, the Ultrasound Opportunity Act.

Illinois bishops issue letter urging Catholics to fight repeal of parental notice of abortion law

Mar 15, 2021

Our Illinois bishops today issued a letter to Catholics across the state, urging them to contact their state lawmakers and tell them to reject a current effort to repeal Illinois' parental notice of abortion law.

Catholic Conference responds to Gov. Pritzker’s proposed cut to Tax Credit Scholarship program

Feb 17, 2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker today unveiled his budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1, proposing a cut to the Tax Credit Scholarship program that allows low-income and working-class students to receive scholarships to Catholic and other nonpublic schools. The Catholic Conference today issued a statement in response to Pritzker's proposal.

More News

Stop Repeal of Parental Notice
The Illinois Catholic bishops have written a letter to the Catholic faithful urging them to contact their lawmakers to oppose a bill to repeal parental notice of abortion when a minor seeks an abortion.

Read The Letter

The 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.

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Find Your Legislator

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.