New rules clear the way for Governor Pritzker to opt in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program in Illinois
The Catholic Conference of Illinois urges the Governor to act swiftly to benefit nearly every student in Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 2, 2026
SPRINGFIELD, IL — With U.S. Treasury’s announcement yesterday that it has filed the necessary rules to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) program, the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI) urges Governor JB Pritzker to opt into the program immediately.
By choosing to opt-in, Governor Pritzker’s action will permit Illinois taxpayers to donate funds to benefit Illinois students starting in 2027. If Governor Pritzker does not opt in, Illinois taxpayers can still take advantage of the federal tax credit, but will only be able to direct funds to students in 30 other states that have already opted-in.
Federal law requires each Governor to decide if their respective state will participate in the program. Governor Pritzker has stated that he has been waiting to make his decision until the federal rules were finalized. With yesterday’s announcement, it is now time for Governor Pritzker to opt Illinois into the program to provide new resources to our students in Illinois.
The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program allows funding for both public and non-public school children. Robert Gilligan, Executive Director of CCI said, “This is a win-win for nearly all Illinois children. Eighty percent of Catholic families send their children to public schools, and this program could help fund existing shortfalls in public schools, such as transportation, tutoring assistance, educational supplies, and special education services. In addition, Catholic school students could also benefit with much needed scholarships for tuition.”
A poll conducted in the Spring of this year shows strong support for the program among every demographic in Illinois. Nearly $2 billion could be generated for Illinois school children by poll estimates with an opt-in, while polled participants also stated they would still choose to donate $1 billion to other states even if Governor Pritzker does not opt-in.
The program is effective on January 1, 2027, so CCI urges the Governor to act immediately to provide certainty to Illinois taxpayers and hope for schools and students in the state.
A pdf version of the press release is available HERE.
CCI Statement on Passage of Assisted Suicide – SB 1950
Statement on Passage Assisted Suicide: SB 1950
October 31, 2025
With the passage of legislation to legalize assisted suicide in Illinois, the Illinois General Assembly has put our state on a slippery path that jeopardizes the well-being of the poor and marginalized, especially those in the disability community and have foreseeable tragic consequences. With all the assaults on human dignity and the growing number of vulnerable people we see every day, sadly the leaders and members of the General Assembly who voted for this offer us suicide as its response.
The bill now goes to the Governor, and we ask him not only to veto this bill in totality, but also to address humanely the reasons why some view assisted suicide as their only option and to heed the impact of similar legislation on other states and nations.
Many lawmakers chose to ignore the real advances in palliative medical care as an alternative to assisted suicide. Rather than signing this bill, we ask the Governor to expand and improve on palliative care programs that offer expert assessment and management of pain and other symptoms. These programs support caregivers and help ensure patient care is coordinated with other services. And they represent a compassionate and morally acceptable alternative to assisted suicide.
Today, we face real and immediate threats to human life and dignity, many from the very institutions created to protect them. The government shut down, a growing number of private and government sector layoffs, the terrorizing and deportation of our neighbors, and the loss of food and medical assistance for the poor and vulnerable are immediate problems that need attention, not enacting assisted suicide.
Let us also consider the impact on impressionable young people of legalizing suicide in any form. According to a 2022 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for U.S. teens and young adults 10-34. It is the second-leading cause of death for those 10-14. And, according to the National Institutes of Health, suicide contagion is a real risk to these young people after exposure to suicide. Add to that the ready availability of firearms in the U.S. and this is a tragedy we do not need to compound.
It defies common sense for our state to enact a 9-8-8 suicide hotline, increase funding for suicide prevention programs and then pass a law that, based on the experience of other jurisdictions, results in more suicide.
Join us as we continue to pray for all those who are sick and at the end of life, their caregivers and for all who feel life is no long worth living and need our support.
For media inquiries please email gilligan@ilcatholic.org.
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A pdf version of this statement can be found HERE.
Scholarship Recipients Face Uncertain Future After Legislature Failed to Act
The Catholic Conference of Illinois has issued the following statement on the Illinois General Assembly’s failure to act in order to continue the Invest in Kids scholarship program. A PDF of the statement can also be found HERE.
Scholarship Recipients Face Uncertain Future After Legislature Failed to Act
It is difficult to put into words the level of disappointment so many are experiencing today after learning the Illinois General Assembly failed to renew the Invest in Kids Act.
This year alone, Invest in Kids is providing more than 9,500 scholarships to qualifying low-income families who want their child to attend a non-public school. Due to the cruelty of the Illinois General Assembly, those 9,500 scholarships will not be available next school year. In addition, the hopes of more than 26,000 students on a waitlist who so desperately want a scholarship have been dashed as has using Invest in Kids scholarships at high school-level trade schools.
Sadly, we expected more from our elected state senators, representatives and Governor. At the very least, we expected them to represent the opinions of their constituents. An Impact Research poll conducted in August 2023 found that a majority of Illinois voters supports the program in all regions of the State; most notably it is supported by parents, voters of color and voters with incomes below $40,000 per year. Support remains high even after voters hear arguments about the program from critics and proponents alike. Who, then, are the members of the Illinois General Assembly who did not support renewal representing?
Six years ago, supporters of Invest in Kids were told that this was a pilot program. We were asked to see how it goes. Here is how it has gone:
- Of the 40,000 families who have received a scholarship, more than 97 percent are satisfied with the program. Children report they feel safe in school, and they are learning.
- The demand for the program is staggering – for every child in the program, three are on a waiting list due to funding constraints.
- The number of Black and Latino children in the program has grown steadily, and Black and Latino students participate in the program at higher rates than in public schools.
Where do we go from here? Despite this setback, we will build on the incredible efforts of the thousands of people who went to Springfield, wrote letters, called their legislators, put up yard signs and attended the many Town Hall meetings. Those efforts resulted in a lot of support to continue the program, and one could argue a majority does support it. We are grateful to those lawmakers who came out publicly to renew the program so more scholarships could be awarded.
The General Assembly reconvenes in January. We must continue our efforts to find a way that allows for more educational opportunities such as Invest in Kids for low-income students and parents who need this program.
This work is not over. The kids are worth the fight.
Illinois Catholic Bishops Share “A Catholic Vision for Restorative Justice in Illinois”
Illinois Catholic Bishops Share “A Catholic Vision for Restorative Justice in Illinois”
Download the .pdf document HERE.
The approaching season of Lent is an opportunity for us to reflect on how our sins have broken our relationship with God and with others and yet also gives us a chance to be accountable for our actions, to both give and receive mercy and forgiveness, to restore those relationships, and to experience our own spiritual renewal. Restorative justice similarly offers this opportunity within our criminal justice system by bringing together those who have harmed and those who have been harmed, including families and communities, to participate in the healing processes of accountability and forgiveness so relationships broken by wrongdoing can be restored.
Therefore, as we prepare for the Lenten season, the Illinois Catholic bishops are pleased to share the document “A Catholic Vision for Restorative Justice in Illinois,” which is inspired by the experiences of our Illinois Catholic Prison and Jail Ministry Network – a statewide network of priests, deacons, religious, and lay people among all six of our dioceses who minister to those incarcerated as well as victims of crime, families, and communities. In this document, we explore how we can renew our criminal justice system, so it is focused not only on punishment but truly recognizes and respects the human dignity of all by being more rehabilitative, restorative, and healing and providing more opportunities for reentry. Transforming our criminal justice system to be more restorative advances the common good by helping to create safer communities and to heal all those affected by wrongdoing so they may have more hopeful futures.
We encourage all to read and reflect on “A Catholic Vision for Restorative Justice in Illinois.” Alongside all people of good faith in our state, the Catholic Church in Illinois is committed to work with the state to bring this vision to fruition.
We offer special thanks to Emily Cortina of Kolbe House of the Archdiocese of Chicago and Brian Hickey (formerly of the Office for Human Dignity of the Diocese of Joliet), and all the members of the Catholic Conference of Illinois’ Prison and Jail Ministry Committee, for their assistance in developing this document.
Statement on Passing of Assault Weapons Bill
The Catholic Conference of Illinois would like to commend the Illinois General Assembly and Governor J.B. Pritzker on banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines with the passage of House Bill 5471.
Too many times our state has witnessed the horror of mass shootings, and we hope this legislation will help to provide some peace in our communities going forward. We are grateful for the ban of these deadly weapons in our state. We also recognize that, as was stated in the debate over the legislation, this will not solve all the challenges associated with mass shootings. There is much more to do. We live in a violent culture, mental health needs are many, and too many families are in crisis. We stand ready to work with the General Assembly to help address these challenges.