Illinois bishops approve statement on a 'living wage'”
Recent news has focused on the hardships of individuals who work at minimum wage jobs. The current minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25 per hour, $1 more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Proposals in the state legislature call for increasing the minimum wage to...
Education Newsletter: November 2014
The fall legislative veto session begins Nov. 19, but CCI is expecting little action on education-related issues. So, we jump ahead to the upcoming spring legislative session and review the just -approved goals for the new, two-year General Assembly that will be...
Candidate Conundrum: What if both candidates support issues contrary to Catholic Social Teaching?
Sometimes we are confronted with an election in which the candidates for both major political parties support issues contrary to Catholic Social Teaching. What do we do? Not vote? That's when we look for guidance in "Forming Consciences for Faithful...
CCI Radio Hour: Oct. 20, 2014
Oct. 20, 2014 show CCI Executive Director and host Bob Gilligan welcomes Kim Daniels, former spokeswoman for the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and now a senior adviser at Catholic Voices USA. Daniels attended the just-completed Synod in Rome and...
Illinois bishops offer guidance on 2014 election
As we approach the Nov. 4 general election, our Illinois bishops offer a few words of guidance for voters before they cast their ballots. Read the bishops' message below, or click here for a PDF version. Read the Spanish translation here. Read the Polish...
Advisory questions seek voter input -- sort of
The following is an op-ed by CCI Executive Director Robert Gilligan. It was published in the State Journal-Register in Springfield, and several other media outlets. The link to the SJ-R can be found here. Illinois residents can expect to spend extra time in the...
U.S. bishops submit comments on revised HHS mandate accommodation
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops today submitted comments on the revised HHS mandate accommodation issued on Aug. 22, noting the interim final rules do not change the mandate itself, or its extremely narrow exemption offered to churches but not service and...
Education Newsletter: October 2014
This is the first newsletter since the end-of-session report was issued in early June. We review the major pieces of education legislation that were passed during the spring session, and remind you of some important administrative deadlines coming up this fall. Read...
Archbishop-designate Cupich shares thoughts on Church's mission
Pope Francis names Spokane Bishop Blase Cupich as Archbishop of Chicago
Pope Francis today named Bishop Blase J. Cupich of the Diocese of Spokane as the Archbishop of Chicago and successor to Cardinal Francis George. Cupich, 65, will be installed as archbishop on Nov. 18. Cardinal George will retain the office until then....