Illinois bishops have written letters to parishioners, asking them to contact their state representatives to urge a "no" vote on House Bill 40.
HB 40 allows taxpayer money to be used to pay for elective abortions for Medicaid recipients and state employees. It also allows tax money to go to grants to organizations that refer, counsel for, or perform abortions. Current law calls for those grants to go to organizations that assist women experiencing problem pregnancies.
All three of these uses of taxpayer money are currently prohibited by Illinois law. In fact, only 15 states currently pay for elective abortions for Medicaid participants, and 11 of those states do so through a court order, not legislative action.
Additionally, HB 40 also deletes so-called "trigger" language in current Illinois law that states that if the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade is ever overturned, the "former policy of this State to prohibit abortions unless necessary for the preservation of the mother's life shall be reinstated."
Our Illinois bishops are calling attention to HB 40 by writing letters to their parishioners, asking them to take action. Read the letters as listed below.
YOU can take action against House Bill 40 by clicking here.
Letter from Cardinal Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago (Spanish) (Polish)
Letter from Bishop Edward Braxton of the Diocese of Belleville
Letter from Bishop R. Daniel Conlon of the Diocese of Joliet
Letter from Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Diocese of Peoria
Letter from Bishop David Malloy of the Diocese of Rockford (Spanish)
Letter from Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield-in-Illinois