The political environment in Illinois has not been favorable in recent years. Fueled by a misunderstanding of recently passed civil unions legislation and the definition of religious freedom, our political leaders canceled contracts to Catholic Charities' foster care programs. Prompted by budget cuts, the state's educational bureaucracy cut programs serving Catholic and public school families. And mired in a collective failure to respect unborn human life, pro-life legislation has been turned away. In each instance, CCI gave voice to the church's members, institutions and teachings, and we remain committed to this task.

We have also seen successes. Last year, CCI helped pass a bill abolishing the death penalty in Illinois, and we supported a new law requiring training for workers at abortion clinics to identify and report child sex abuse cases. CCI also participated in enacting legislation which scaled back overly burdensome cemetery regulations, and over the summer, we worked with the Illinois State Board of Education to redefine the nonpublic school state recognition process and encouraged their hiring new staff to carry it out.

A lot remains to be done, so CCI has set the following priorities for the 2012 legislative session:

• Advocate for the Ultrasound Opportunity Act which requires that a woman seeking an abortion, after 7 weeks gestation, be offered the opportunity to receive and view an ultrasound of her baby.

• Remain committed to maintaining programs serving the most vulnerable in society, even in the face of the governor's call for a $350 million reduction in Human Services' funding next fiscal year.

• Work to ensure the State Health Insurance Exchange, which must be established this year in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, does not allow participating health insurance plans to cover abortion or allow public subsidies for abortion coverage.

• Restore funding for the Textbook Block Grant that was zeroed out in Fiscal Year 2010.

• Continue pursuit of a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

• Safeguard areas of the church's state-supported ministry and protect the conscience rights of religious organizations and individuals.

Obviously, these are difficult tasks. The church's positions on important social and economic issues are often unpopular, but they are always predicated on Gospel values. In order to be successful the church needs your support and active participation. You can track these issues, and other activities of the conference, at our website (www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CatholicConferenceofIllinois). Please commit to being a faithful Catholic engaged in the public square. You will greatly benefit our state and our church.