U.S. bishops say HHS mandate changes fall short, welcome working with feds on religious freedom concerns
U.S. bishops today responded to changes proposed last week to the federal Health and Human Services mandate, saying the "accommodation" falls short of solving religious freedom concerns but stressed they look forward to working with the federal government on...
HHS mandate changes appear to ease religious freedom assault; U.S. bishops studying modifications
The federal government today announced changes to the Health and Human Services mandate requiring religious organizations to offer insurance coverage of morally objectionable services that appear to recognize religious freedom concerns. However, the U.S. Conference of...
Education Newsletter January 2013
Happy Catholic Schools Week! We want our Catholic schools to continue their fine work, so in this newsletter, we lay out the goals that will guide our education advocacy efforts for the next two years as the lawmakers elected in November take their seats in the 98th...
CCI Radio Hour: Jan. 28, 2013
Jan. 28, 2013 show It's Marriage Monday, as the entire program is devoted to redefinition of marriage efforts currently being pushed in the Illinois legislature. Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, joins host Bob Gilligan to talk about the importance of grassroots...
Temporary licenses for immigrants signed into law, available in late fall 2013
Gov. Pat Quinn today signed into law Senate Bill 957, which extends Temporary Visitor Driver's Licenses TVDL) to undocumented immigrants living in Illinois. The legislation has an effective date of 10 months after it is signed, meaning TVDLs will start being...
Marriage Lobby Day Set for Feb. 20 at State Capitol in Springfield
The Illinois Family Institute is sponsoring a Lobby Day to Preserve Marriage on Wed., Feb. 20, 2013, at the state Capitol in Springfield. Show up at the Capitol rotunda at 10:30 a.m., and look for a table sponsored by IFI in a hallway off the rotunda, where you can...
CCI applauds final passage of temporary licenses for immigrants
The Illinois House today passed Senate Bill 957, paving the way for undocumented immigrants to apply for Temporary Visitor Driver's Licenses. House lawmakers approved the measure on a 65-46 vote. (Read the roll call here.) The Senate previously passed the...
CCI supports Medicaid expansion to more low-income adults
The Catholic Conference of Illinois is backing an expansion of Medicaid to adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The expansion, embodied in House Bill 106 and Senate Bill 26, is part of the federal health care act passed in 2010. The...
Bishop Paprocki of Springfield testifies against redefinition of marriage legislation
Diversity of faith leaders send letter to lawmakers on redefinition of marriage
Pastoral leaders representing more than 1,700 faith communities in Illinois – parishes, congregations, churches and Friday prayer locations and Masjids – have signed a letter sent to Illinois lawmakers, urging them to safeguard both marriage and religious...