CCI 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.
read moreCCI Radio Hour: Jan. 21, 2019
Host and Executive Director Bob Gilligan welcomes Alex Berenson, author of “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence;" Anthony Holder of Empower Illinois on Year 2 of the Tax Credit Scholarship program; Kevin Appleby of the Center for Migration Studies on the status of immigrants and refugees at the Mexican border; and recently retired state Rep. Jeanne ives on her tenure in the Illinois Legislature.
read moreMore than 30,000 students apply for second year of Tax Credit Scholarship program
More than 30,000 students across Illinois last night applied for the second year of the new Tax Credit Scholarship program, according to the largest scholarship-granting organization in the state.
read moreTax Credit Scholarship program celebrated in Speaker Michael Madigan's district
Snow didn't dampen the spirit of a Tax Credit Scholarship celebration today at St. Mary Star of the Sea School in Chicago, as more than 250 parents, students, faculty and community members -- including Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan -- showed up for the...
Illinois dioceses respond to state attorney general's preliminary report on clergy sex abuse
Illinois Catholic dioceses today issued statements in response to state Attorney General Lisa Madigan's preliminary report of her investigation into clergy sexual abuse against minors. The report and accompanying press release may be read here. The report finds that...