In conjunction with the annual Red Mass and luncheon for members of the Catholic Lawyers Guild held on Oct. 14, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki announced that Catholic Charities in the Springfield diocese is initiating a volunteer legal services program to assist those who cannot afford legal representation with civil matters.
The diocese is designating $1.5 million in cash proceeds from the sale of stock donated for the benefit of the poor by the late Arthur Robinson to make the new Caritas Legal Services a reality. With the charitable gifts as seed money, Bishop Paprocki challenged members of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and the legal community at large to match the commitment by donating to the Lex Cordis Endowment Campaign.
"There is an ever widening 'justice gap' in this country between those who can and those who cannot afford legal representation," said Bishop Paprocki, who studied law at DePaul University College of Law and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1981. "It is fundamentally unfair and unjust to deprive the poor of the legal protection for their lives which wealthy persons enjoy."
This legal services undertaking is nothing new to Bishop Paprocki, who co-founded the Chicago Legal Clinic in the early 1980s, after he personally witnessed social devastation caused by high unemployment in his parish on Chicago's south side. That legal clinic started small but has grown greatly, providing assistance to over 250,000 people since its inception.
"I have seen first-hand how civil legal aid can be a lifeline that enables families to save their home from foreclosure or eviction, recover back wages from an employer, secure disability benefits or provide protection in domestic violence situations," said Bishop Paprocki.
"This program goes to the heart of preserving dignity and empowering people to gain control of their lives again," he said. "I am excited to be involved in making the dream of 'justice for all' a reality in the Springfield diocese."
Additionally, Bishop Paprocki announced that the Lex Cordis ("the law of the heart") Endowment will invest donations from campaign contributors. The annual income from the Lex Cordis Endowment will be used to help fund a program coordinator position and to generate operating revenue restricted solely to Caritas Legal Services. Donations are tax deductible and multi-year pledges are appreciated.
"We are seeking firms and individuals who are willing to make a substantial lead gift to help us kick off our campaign with momentum," said Bishop Paprocki. "The impact of this program will depend greatly on our partnerships with the legal communities of the diocese and the generosity of our donors.
"We need people to stand with us in this noble cause of giving a voice to the voiceless and empowering the powerless," he said. "The Lex Cordis Endowment Campaign and Caritas Legal Services will help substantially to give flesh to my episcopal motto Lex Cordis Caritas (The Law of the Heart is Charitable Love)."
Caritas Legal Services will be managed by Catholic Charities and will provide assistance through the eight Catholic Charities regional offices in Alton, Springfield, Decatur, Granite City, Carlinville, Quincy, Mattoon and Effingham. A panel of volunteer lawyers with expertise in various areas of civil law is being recruited to provide pro bono assistance to clients in need.
Bishop Paprocki has requested that members of the Catholic Lawyers Guild assist in the effort. The program coordinator will interview and assess clients and their cases before matching them with the appropriate attorney. The goal of the program is to provide program assistance in a broad range of civil matters, including but not limited to: legal guardianship and custody, child support, disability benefits, domestic violence, foreclosure and eviction, landlord/tenant matters, debt relief, employment, adoption and immigration issues. No criminal cases will be accepted.
Steven Roach, executive director of Catholic Charities, said that these services are of the utmost importance as the National Legal Services Corporation reports that on average there is one legal aid attorney available for every 6,415 low-income people. "This is an astonishing statistic and we witness its real impact on a daily basis through the lives of our clients we serve in our other programs," he said.
Roach believes many cases will center on family law. "To face the legal system alone and unrepresented by counsel is a frightening and disheartening venture," he said. "We hope to liberate people from hopelessness to peace and justice through the law."
In addition, as a program of Catholic Charities many people referred to CLS will be able to benefit from other services provided by the agency such as food relief programs, counseling, MedAssist or financial assistance. "We strive to take a holistic approach in serving people beyond the issues that initially bring them to us," Roach said.
About 60 members of the legal community and their guests were on hand for the Mass, which was concelebrated by Msgr. Carl Kemme, vicar general; Father Dean Probst, judge in the diocesan Tribunal; Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi from the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, Md.; and Father Michael Giesler, a priest of the Opus Dei Prelature in St. Louis. Father Brian Alford was master of ceremonies. Deacon Greg Parquette served as deacon and Sister M. Maximilia Um, FSGM, vice chancellor and defender of the bond, was the reader.
At Bishop Paprocki's invitation, Msgr. Vaghi, who is an attorney, gave the homily and spoke in part of the importance of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which was given almost 150 years ago. "There could be no better place than here in Springfield, Ill., to remember this speech," said Msgr. Vaghi. Lawyers should be vigilant, he said, adding "We dedicate ourselves to ensure that our liberties are never taken for granted."
This year was the second year for the Red Mass, which is for judges, lawyers, politicians and others who work in the legal and justice professions. The Red Mass is traditionally celebrated around the start of the Supreme Court fall session. Bishop Paprocki formed the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois last year, with the help of Father Peter Harman.
People who want to contribute to the Lex Cordis Endowment Campaign or who want to become a volunteer attorney for Caritas Legal Services should contact Catholic Charities development coordinator Meredith Curtin at (217) 523-9201, ext. 304 or e-mail her at .