Jan. 20, 2020 show Jill Rauh of USCCB’s Dept. of Justice, Peace and Human Development talks about the organization’s election year initiative, “Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate”. Next, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, talks about
Dec. 16, 2019 show Claire Culwell, keynote speaker for the March for Life Chicago set for Jan. 11, joins Bob to talk about her experience of meeting her birth mother in 2009, who told her she survived the surgical abortion that took the life of her twin brother. Next, ...
Nov. 18, 2019 show Dr. Richard Mantoan, a dentist who owns his own practice in Flossmoor, discusses the complaint he filed against the Reproductive Health Act with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. Mantoan, who is being represented by The Thomas More Society, does not want to provide health insurance that includes abortion to his employees, ...
Oct. 21, 2019 show Barbara Lyons of the Patients’ Rights Action Fund joins Bob to talk about the National Council on Disability’s recent report on assisted suicide and its impact on the disabled community. Next, Jim Geoly, partner at the Chicago law firm of Burke, Warren, MacKay and Serritella, discusses the civil ...
Sept. 16, 2019 show Megan Gilbert of Catholic Relief Services joins Bob to talk about the distinction among migrants, asylum-seekers and immigrants, as federal officials discuss lowering the cap on migrants seeking entry to the United States. Then, Frances Jimenez of Aid for Women, the leading ...
Aug. 19, 2019 show Dr. MaryClare Birmingham, executive director of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Kolbe House jail ministry, joins Bob to talk about the crucial importance of the first 72 hours after an inmate's release. Then, Sr. JoAnn Persch, a Sister of Mercy, talks about her recent arrest in Washington, D.C., during the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children. Finally, ...
CCI Radio Hour: July 15, 2019
July 15, 2019 show Les Bernal, national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, joins Bob to talk about the deleterious personal and societal effects expected from the massive gaming expansion passed by the legislature this spring – up to six new casinos, including one in Chicago, slot machines at race tracks, legalized ...
CCI Radio Hour: June 17, 2019
June 17, 2019 show Juan Rangel, strategy director for Empower Illinois, the organization that awards Tax Credit Scholarships to most of the Catholic schools in Illinois, joins Bob to talk about the complete funding of the program in the new state budget despite earlier threats to diminish it. Next, Pat Winn, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rockford diocese, talks about ...
2019 legislative session marked by last-minute push on abortion, marijuana, gambling expansion, statewide construction program
Procrastination may be a part of human nature, but the Illinois legislature during the 2019 spring session elevated it to an art form. Illinois lawmakers in February gave newly-elected Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker a quick victory by speedily approving his campaign promise to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2025. But then the pace of legislative action on major proposals slowed to a crawl until the final two weeks of session.
The Illinois Senate late tonight passed the misnamed "Reproductive Health Act" as embodied in Senate Bill 25 on a 34-20 vote, with three lawmakers voting "present." The House previously passed the measure, so the bill now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who previously has said he will sign it into law. Click here to
