Illinois bishops offer guidance for Election Day 2020
The general election set for Nov. 3 offers voters the opportunity to make their voices heard about representation for federal, state and local elected offices. Illinois residents will also consider an amendment to the state Constitution that will change the income tax from a flat rate to a graduated rate. The bishops of Illinois offer voting guidance during presidential election years and have approved the following reflection points for Catholics to consider before casting their ballot.
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Pope Francis releases new encyclical, “Fratelli tutti”
Pope Francis today called for a renewed spirit of global community with the release of his new encyclical, 'Fratelli tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship." The eight-chapter encyclical examines contemporary social and economic problems against a backdrop of the current coronavirus pandemic, which "unexpectedly erupted" during its composition. Yet Pope Francis notes the global health crisis only underscores that “no one can face life in isolation” and that the time has truly come to “dream, then, as a single human family” in which we are “brothers and sisters all."
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Illinois bishops offer thoughts on clean energy in Illinois
State lawmakers are expected to craft clean energy legislation during the spring 2021 legislative session. After celebrating the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis's Laudato Si' encyclical on the environment this past June, our Illinois bishops have looked to the groundbreaking document for specific points that would do well to be included in any legislation. The result is the following statement.
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CCI Radio Hour: Sept. 21, 2020
Gloria Purvis, co-host of EWTN Radio’s "Morning Glory" show, talks about her call for Catholics to confront the sin of racism in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Then, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, discusses the efforts of the Illinois Legislature’s Black Caucus to craft comprehensive legislation targeting systemic racism slated to be unveiled during the fall veto session. Next, Sr. Stephanie Baliga, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist of Chicago who ministers from the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in Chicago, last month ran a marathon on a treadmill after learning the Chicago Marathon was cancelled because of the ongoing pandemic. Finally, Molly Perry, board member of Aid for Women, talks about the crisis pregnancy center's virtual benefit dinner on Oct. 7 featuring retired Super-Bowl winning tight end Benjamin Watson as the keynote speaker.
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Chicago, Joliet Catholic ministry leaders urge funding of Cook County immigrant legal services
Leaders of immigration ministry and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Joliet diocese today sent a letter to Cook County officials asking that legal services for noncitizen immigrants be funded in the county's fiscal year 2021 budget set to begin Dec. 1.
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Pope Francis names three new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago
Pope Francis today announced that he has appointed three new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Chicago: Bishops-elect Kevin M. Birmingham, Jeffrey S. Grob and Robert J. Lombardo, CFR. The episcopal ordination of the bishops-elect will take place on the feast of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, November 13, 2020.
“We are grateful to the Holy Father for the gift of these new auxiliary bishops,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “Each of these fine priests has made a unique contribution to the life of the church and society, yet they share in common a solid record of pastoral service, fidelity to the Gospel and inspiring personal witness.”
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CCI Radio Hour: Aug. 17, 2020
Dr. Michael Boyle, the new superintendent for the Diocese of Joliet Catholic Schools, joins Bob to talk about his new job. Next, Matt Dietrich, spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections, joins the show to discuss the state's expanded vote-by-mail program for the Nov. 3 general election amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Then, Tony Cube of USCCB's Justice for Immigrants Campaign talks about the federal government's recent changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Finally, Alex Jones, co-founder and CEO of the Hallow Catholic meditation and prayer app, discusses how the app was developed and how it just attained the status of the No. 1 Catholic app.
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CCI Radio Hour: July 20, 2020
Ashley Feasley of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops joins host Bob Gilligan to talk about a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled an effort to rescind the DACA program was "arbitrary and capricious." Chicago attorney Jim Geoly discusses a different U.S. Supreme Court decision that safeguards religious freedom in employment at Catholic schools. Finally, Dr. Jim Rigg, superintendent of the Archdiocese of Catholic Schools, talks about the safeguards put in place for the reopening of schools this fall amid the ongoing pandemic.
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Pope Francis names Auxiliary Bishop Ronald Hicks, vicar general of Archdiocese of Chicago, as Bishop of Diocese of Joliet
Pope Francis today announced that he has named Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as the sixth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Ill. Pope Francis had previously accepted the resignation of Bishop Emeritus R. Daniel Conlon and had named Bishop Richard E. Pates as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese until a new bishop could be appointed. Bishop Hicks, 52, will be installed at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet, Ill. on September 29, 2020.
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Little Sisters of the Poor score top court win on contraceptive mandate; legal saga could continue
The Little Sisters of the Poor today notched a big win in their fight for religious freedom, as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 against a challenge by two states that argued an exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to provide employee health insurance coverage of contraceptives violated federal law. But the victory may be short-lived, since the court left open the possibility for opponents to challenge in lower courts the exemption as arbitrary and capricious. Any further litigation will most assuredly continue past the 2020 election, which could bring a new U.S. president and his perspective on the issue.
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