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.
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.
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.
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.
Several organizations in Illinois have united in an informal association to fight the legalization of assisted suicide in Illinois, using the name of Stop Assisted Suicide Illinois. The loose coalition includes representatives of the following communities: disability rights, patients’ rights, health care, civil rights and various faith-based advocacy organizations.
Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, gives an overview of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, which the Illinois Legislature is expected to consider in the spring session. Then Chris Ross, an attorney with Catholic Charities USA, discusses the historically-low refugee cap of 15,000 proposed by the federal government for the new fiscal year. Next, Pat Winn of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockford reminisces about his nine years at the helm of the agency as he prepares to retire. Wrapping up the show, Fr. Mike Bradley of Chicago shares the "neighborhood version" of the cancelled Chicago Marathon that he ran to raise money for the Heart to Heart ministry at St. Gertrude parish in the city's Edgewater neighborhood.
