Illinois’ six Catholic bishops today issued a statement on the end-of-session push to consider the so-called "Reproductive Health Act." The extreme legislation goes further than Roe v. Wade in stripping rights from the unborn child, and jeopardizes conscience protections for doctors, nurses and hospitals who refuse to participate in an abortion. The spring legislative session is set to end just days away, on May 31. The statement follows, and can be viewed ...
May 20, 2019 show Greg Schleppenbach, associate director of pro-life activities at the USCCB, joins Bob to talk about conscience protections afforded by new rules recently issued by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Next, Stanley Carlson-Thies, founder and senior director of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, talks about the religious freedom concerns of the Equality Act, which amends the ...
The Catholic Conference of Illinois is urging support of House Bill 2468, which cracks down on exorbitant interest rates for car title loans. The legislation calls for interest rates on loans taken out against the title of a motor vehicle to be capped at 36%. As one of 20 states that currently allow such loans, Illinois does not regulate interest rates, which can often reach ...
Illinois' six Catholic bishops today held a press conference at the Illinois Capitol, warning about extreme abortion legislation under consideration by the General Assembly. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago spoke for all the bishops in attendance, which included Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria; Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville; Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield in Illinois; Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of Joliet; and Bishop David Malloy of Rockford. The Cardinal spoke against House Bill 2495/Senate ...
The Catholic dioceses of Illinois issued the following statements regarding a report issued today by attorneys Jeff Anderson and Marc Pearlman. The report lists the names of clerics and laypeople they say have been accused of the sexual abuse of minors and have served in one or more of the six Illinois dioceses. Archdiocese of Chicago statement may be found here.
It is truly tragic the Senate Public Health Committee today approved Senate Bill 1594, which seeks to repeal the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act. Since this law went into effect, the incidence of abortions among minors has dropped 57 percent in Illinois. Why would anybody vote for legislation that effectively removes parents and guardians of minors from a major decision that is known to have significant physical and mental after effects?
March 18, 2019 show Paul Linton, nationally-known attorney on abortion law, joins Bob to talk about abortion legislation pending before the Illinois legislature. Then, Melissa Hastings of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops discusses potential federal legislation that would help Dreamers and those individuals with Temporary Protected Status. Finally, Don Carlson of Illinois People's Action talks about
CCI, pro-life groups ask lawmakers to deny budget dollars for taxpayer-funded abortions
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 state employees did not include an appropriation. Money for the newly authorized ...
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 a new burden of proof -- "beyond all doubt" -- as opposed to the current "beyond a reasonable doubt" -- for those individuals charged with ...
CCI to join Environmental Lobby Day on April 26 to celebrate Laudato Si'
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 resolution honoring the 2015 encyclical that offers a frank look at what the ...
