Bishops’ Statements on Current Issues
Illinois’ six diocesan bishops occasionally make statements on current issues important to the Church, either as a group or as individuals. When the statement is issued as a group, it reflects the view of the Church statewide. Individual bishops may choose to make a statement on issues of specific interest to their dioceses.
Bishops of Belleville, Joliet, Springfield Dioceses drop lawsuit against state
The bishops of the Belleville, Joliet and Springfield dioceses today dropped their lawsuit against the state of Illinois on behalf of Catholic Charities.
The bishops sued on the grounds of religious freedom, stating Catholic Charities was allowed to refrain from placing children with civil union couples in accord with its belief to place children with married couples.
A judge in August ruled Catholic Charities did not have property rights to state contracts.
The bishops sought a stay of the ruling in the appeals court, but were denied.
Read the bishops' joint statement on Catholic Charities Lawsuit
Illinois bishops comment on Gov. Quinn and Personal PAC
Last week, Personal PAC, the Political Action Committee for Planned Parenthood, sent out an email to its supporters that Gov. Pat Quinn would give out an award — the Pro-Choice Leadership Award — at the PAC’s annual luncheon on Nov. 17.
The bishops of Illinois put out a statement on Quinn’s plan to present this award.
Bishop Paprocki calls court denial of stay for Catholic Charities “regrettable”
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield today commented on the 4th District Appellate Court's denial of a stay of the original ruling against Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities in the dioceses of Belleville, Peoria, Springfield and Joliet sued the state to retain their contracts for foster care and adoption. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services cancelled the contracts after the implementation of the new civil union law, claiming Catholic Charities discriminates in its practice of referring same-sex couples seeking to become foster parents back to the state agency.
However, the 4th district Appellate Court has yet to rule on the merits of the case.