An old joke goes like this: Two things you don’t want to watch being made are sausage and law.
The sausage connection is rooted in the meatpacking industry of a century ago when cleanliness wasn’t even close to godliness. Law … well, legislative bodies of all stripes are notoriously messy.
Nevertheless, in a democracy voices can be heard—and legislation often springs out of the loudest or most persistent voices.
The debate over Iraq shouldn’t obscure other issues being juggled by the Illinois legislature—issues people of faith ought to be aware of. There also are some that may not be worth the effort.
It’s a busy year, said Catholic Conference of Illinois executive director Bob Gilligan. The conference represents the Archdiocese of Chicago and the five other Illinois dioceses in the church’s efforts to have its voice heard in Springfield.
There are lots of challenges and some opportunities, Gilligan said. Catholics concerned with legislation that challenges basic church teaching shouldn’t take comfort in the fact that while several thousand laws are proposed, only a few hundred make it through the process.
- Here are a few of the issues on the table. For more information, contact the conference’s Web site at www.CatholicConferenceofIllinois.org. Make your voice heard.
u Senate Bill 113 and House Bill 1120 would gut or end the successful Education Expense Tax Credit law passed by the legislature in 1999. Parents of children in non-public schools can now take a tax credit against education costs. The law has enabled more than 350,000 families to save more than $125 million.
- Senate Bill 101 would amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to specifically prohibit discrimination as a result of gender orientation. While the Catholic Church opposes all discrimination, CCI says this measure does not differentiate between homosexual orientation and activities. The church position is that homosexual orientation is not sinful, but activities are.
- Senate Bill 99, CCI fears, would replace what little encouragement for abstinence now exists in public schools with a lot more about use of condoms.
- House Bill 211 would require insurance plans to provide coverage for contraceptive procedures and contraceptives, regardless of religious belief. CCI is concerned that a provision would require coverage for abortions.
- All the news isn’t bad. The Illinois House is poised to consider the abolition of the death penalty for the first time since its re-imposition in 1977. The House judiciary committee voted March 6 to move House Bill 213, calling for an end to the death penalty, for debate. Death penalty opponents cheered the vote, but acknowledged that the bill faces a stiff uphill battle.
- Not all legislative concerns are over “life issues.” Gilligan said Senate Bill 73 would seriously erode the state’s ability to contract with voluntary social service agencies, such as Catholic Charities, for such services as foster care and senior programs. The bill, as written, requires yearly bidding, he said, which would hamper vital continuity of service.
- Finally, there is a great concern by some about a House joint resolution which would, in theory, finally pass the 1970s-era Equal Rights Amendment that failed decades ago. The ERA supposedly would provide “equality” between men and women in all things. The church did not favor the Equal Rights Amendment 30 years ago because of concern it would further abortion. However, said Gilligan, the ERA vote in the Illinois House likely has no force of law since the time for passage of the amendment expired 20 years ago. Proponents hope that block can be overcome, and opponents fear the same.
—Tom Sheridan
Editor and General Manager
[email protected]
—Tom Sheridan
Editor and General Manager
[email protected]
