Catholic Conference Radio Hour on Chicagoland Catholic Radio
CCI Executive Director Robert Gilligan hosts the Catholic Conference Radio Hour on the third Monday of the month on WNDZ Chicago 750 AM. Gilligan discusses current public policy issues affecting the Church with experts and newsmakers.
CCI Radio Hour April 18, 2022
The April Catholic Conference of Illinois Radio Hour is now available. This month’s show features the Second Chance State Education Act, an update on the recent events in Florida, and an introduction to the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems...
CCI Radio Hour: March 21, 2022
The March edition of the Catholic Conference Radio Hour on Chicagoland Catholic Radio is now available. This month’s show features a discussion with Dr. Anthony Holter of Empower Illinois on the Scholarship Tax Credit Bill, an update on the mask mandates in the...
CCI Radio Hour: March 15, 2021
Bill Woolf, a human trafficking expert who has done trainings for USCCB, talks about the link between parental notice of abortion and raising a red flag about trafficking victims. Next, Rabbi Shlomo Soroka of Aguduth-Israel discusses the importance of the Tax Credit Scholarship program to Jewish schools as the scholarship program for nonpublic schools faces a cut proposed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Then, Tony Cube of USCCB’s Justice for Immigrants initiative talks about the actions President Joe Biden has taken in favor of immigrants since assuming office in late January, and what’s ahead on the political horizon, including the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. Finally, Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, talks about sponsoring Senate Bill 133, the Ultrasound Opportunity Act.
CCI Radio Hour: Feb. 15, 2021
Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, talks about the potential for ending the federal death penalty under President Joe Biden. Next, Anthony Holter, president of Empower Illinois, discusses the organization’s recently released annual report on the Tax Credit Scholarship program. Then, Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Teutopolis, talks about House Bill 697, which calls for a 50% income tax credit on contributions to pregnancy resource centers. Finally, Geno Fernandez, president of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s school board, talks about the Archdiocese’s $1.4 million Gratitude Fund, which distributed bonuses to school employees as a thank-you for their efforts toward in-person learning during the pandemic.
CCI Radio Hour: Jan. 18, 2021
Jennifer Daniels of USCCB talks about aid for Catholic schools in the recent stimulus package. Then, Justin Lombardo of the Archdiocese of Chicago discusses the documented success of Archdiocesan schools with in-person learning during the pandemic as outlined in a study published in an academic journal. Finally, Abe Scarr of Illinois PIRG discusses passage of the Predatory Loan Prevention Act during the recent lame-duck session.
CCI Radio Hour: Dec. 21, 2020
Greg Schleppenbach of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops discusses the moral guidance on COVID-19 vaccines issued by the organization. Then, Kevin Grillot of weDignify talks about next month's March for Life Chicago. Then, Louis Jones of the Diocese of Belleville discusses the anti-poverty work that garnered him the 2020 USCCB Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. Closing out the show, Glenn Van Cura of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet talks about his 10 years at the helm of the agency as he gets ready to start a teaching position in the Republic of Korea.
CCI Radio Hour: Nov. 16, 2020
Ryan Burge, assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, talks about the Catholic vote in the Nov. 3 presidential election. Kent Redfield, retired professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, discusses the dizzying amount of money spent in the Nov. 3 election on the "fair tax" ballot initiative, the retention bid of an Illinois Supreme Court justice, and targeted legislative races. Then, David Spotanski, COO of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, talks about the upcoming Nov. 28 elevation to cardinal of Archbishop Gregory of Washington, D.C. Finally, Fr. Mike Meany of St. John Brebeuf parish in Niles talks about the Archdiocese's online photo exhibit honoring his late uncle, WWII chaplain Fr. John Beyenka.
CCI Radio Hour: Oct. 19, 2020
Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, gives an overview of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, which the Illinois Legislature is expected to consider in the spring session. Then Chris Ross, an attorney with Catholic Charities USA, discusses the historically-low refugee cap of 15,000 proposed by the federal government for the new fiscal year. Next, Pat Winn of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockford reminisces about his nine years at the helm of the agency as he prepares to retire. Wrapping up the show, Fr. Mike Bradley of Chicago shares the "neighborhood version" of the cancelled Chicago Marathon that he ran to raise money for the Heart to Heart ministry at St. Gertrude parish in the city's Edgewater neighborhood.
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.
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.