CCI takes aim at predatory car title lending rates
The Catholic Conference of Illinois is urging support of House Bill 2468, which cracks down on exorbitant interest rates for car title loans. The legislation calls for interest rates on loans taken out against the title of a motor vehicle to be capped at 36%. As one of 20 states that currently allow such loans, Illinois does not regulate interest rates, which can often reach 300%.
read moreIllinois' 6 Catholic bishops hold press conference on abortion legislation
Illinois' six Catholic bishops today held a press conference at the Illinois Capitol, warning about extreme abortion legislation under consideration by the General Assembly. They were joined by a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse, an obstetrician/gynecologist, and a community outreach specialist with Catholic Charities.
read moreIllinois Catholic dioceses respond to report issued today
The Catholic dioceses of Illinois issued the following statements regarding a report issued today by attorneys Jeff Anderson and Marc Pearlman. The report lists the names of clerics and laypeople they say have been accused of the sexual abuse of minors and have served in one or more of the six Illinois dioceses.
read moreCCI issues statement on Senate committee passage of SB 1594
The Catholic Conference today issued a statement in response to an Illinois Senate committee giving approval to legislation that would repeal current law allowing parents to be notified when a minor seeks an abortion.
read moreCCI Radio Hour: March 18, 2019
Host and Executive Director Bob Gilligan welcomes nationally-known abortion attorney Paul Linton on radical abortion legislation pending in the Illinois Legislature; Melissa Hastings of USCCB on potential federal legislation that would help Dreamers; and Don Carlson of Illinois People's Action on a bill that would cap high rates on car title loans.
read moreIllinois bishops warn against extreme abortion legislation
Illinois’ six Catholic bishops today issued a statement against recently-introduced abortion legislation. This package of legislation would repeal the state's Parental Notice of Abortion Act, which requires a parent or guardian be notified when a minor seeks an abortion. The legislation would also repeal the state's current ban on partial-birth abortions, define abortion as a fundamental right, eliminate legal protections for hospitals and health care personnel who refuse to participate in an abortion, and dramatically change the current landscape of abortion law in Illinois.
read moreCCI Radio Hour: Feb. 18, 2019
Host and Executive Director Bob Gilligan welcomes Peter Steinfels on the essay he wrote for Commonweal about the recent Pennsylvania grand jury report on sex abuse in the Church; attorney Clarke Forsythe on abortion legislation; state Sen. Check Weaver, R-Peoria, on his bill allowing Illinois prison inmates access to online job sites; and Aid for Women board member Kris Cortes on the organization's new location in Flossmoor.
read moreAbortion appears on the agenda of the Illinois Legislature
Abortion legislation has cropped up in the Illinois Legislature, as four bills were filed this week. House Bill 2467 and Senate Bill 1594 are identical pieces of legislation that would repeal the current parental notification of abortion law. Meanwhile, House Bill 2495 and Senate Bill 1942 -- also identical to one another -- are both dubbed the Reproductive Health Act and make several changes to current abortion law, including defining abortion as a fundamental right.
read moreIllinois bishops issue statement against legalization of marijuana
Illinois’ six Catholic bishops today issued a statement urging state lawmakers to vote “no” on upcoming legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
read moreOn Roe v. Wade anniversary, Gov. Pritzker signs executive order ensuring taxpayer-funded abortions
Gov. JB Pritzker today marked the 46th anniversary of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion across the country by signing an executive order ensuring that all state worker health insurance plans cover the procedure as called for by a controversial Illinois law.
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