Habemus Papam!
The Catholic Conference of Illinois rejoices today in the news that the first American Pope and Chicago native Cardinal Robert Prevost is Pope Leo XIV! Born in Chicago in 1955, after studying at the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in St. Louis he went on to...
Oppose Assisted Suicide Legislation
We are asking you to file witness slips in opposition to both of these pieces of identical legislation. (Instructions for submitting a witness slip can be found HERE.) Witness slip for Senate Bill 9 Witness slip for House Bill 1328 We are also asking that you contact...
U.S. Supreme Court Issues Decision Involving EMTALA
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision involving the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). CCI joins with USCCB in affirming emergency medical care for women and their preborn children. The full statement can be found HERE.
Illinois Bishops Provide Comments to COGFA on Proposed Prison Closures
In comments from the Catholic Conference of Illinois (CCI), the Catholic bishops of Illinois reminded lawmakers who are part of the decision on proposed changes to Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet and Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln to ensure correctional...
Legislative Updates
This update was posted at 5.22.24 at 1:47 p.m. CST HB 581 Amendment 2 - Abortion Emergency Stabilizing Treatment (OPPOSE) House Bill 581 defines abortion as a “stabilizing treatment” for hospital emergency services if a pregnant patient has an “injury or acute medical...
Flawed report conducted for ISBE test scores of Tax Credit Scholarship Students
The Save My Scholarship campaign has issued a press release in response to the flawed study conducted by WestEd for the Illinois State Board of Education comparing test scores of Tax Credit Scholarship students vs. public school students. As stated in the press...
Statement on Parents Matter Coalition
Illinois Bishops Issue Letter on the Invest in Kids Scholarship Program
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We, the Catholic bishops of Illinois, write with a sense of urgency. Unless the General Assembly acts to renew the Invest in Kids scholarship program, more than 9,000 children currently relying on this program to attend a...
Catholic Charities of Illinois’ Crisis Assistance Programs – Alternatives to Predatory Loans
In March 2021, the Predatory Loan Prevention Act became law in Illinois. The Act caps the annual percentage rate (APR) on predatory loans, such as payday and auto title loans, at 36%. Illinois became the 18th state to cap APRs at 36%, along with the District of...
Catholic Conference of Illinois Supports the Defense of Constitutional Rights of Pregnancy Help Centers
Every woman deserves to receive accurate and reliable information about pregnancy and childbirth, and pregnancy help centers often provide this along with comfort and support when, at times, no one else will do so. They are a vital resource in our communities and...