Catholics at the Capitol is an opportunity for constituents to visit the seat of government in Illinois, and make arrangements to meet face to face with their elected state officers and representatives to discuss areas of mutual interest and concern.
“I certainly want to encourage all our Catholics in the Diocese of Springfield to participate, if they can, in the Catholics at the Capitol rally,” Msgr. Carl Kemme, diocesan administrator, said. “This is a unique opportunity for our community of faith to show our presence and to express the message of our teachings on some very important issues that affect not only the State of Illinois, but also our whole society and world.
“We should all be proud to join other Catholics in union with our bishops from around the state at this day for Catholics at our Capitol,” he said.
At last year’s first Catholics at the Capitol in March, Catholic school students from parish schools throughout the state swelled the crowd at their rally in the Capitol rotunda, but the sheer number of participants cut down on the mobility of concerned adult citizens, to get through the crowd and make it to their appointments with legislators.
This year the day will begin with Mass at 10 a.m. in the newly restored Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a briefing on legislative issues identified as being of particular concern for Catholics. At noon, participants will leave for the Capitol to meet with legislators.
Legislative issues of particular concern which the CCI lists are:
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Funding of programs that help Catholic schools purchase textbooks and meet other mandates.
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Maintain funding for and support teaching English and adult education for immigrants.
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Opposing efforts to prevent parental notification for minors seeking abortion and support legislation to provide sonograms of unborn children to women seeking abortion.
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Protect traditional marriage; oppose same-sex marriage or civil unions.
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Oppose funding cuts to human services.
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Support abolition of the death penalty in Illinois.
For further information, contact the Catholic Conference of Illinois at (312) 368-1066 or (217) 528-9200 or go to www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org.