Bishop Thomas John Paprocki opened his testimony, by noting that he was one of 1,700 faith leaders in Illinois that on Jan. 2 released a letter opposing the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. That bill, Bishop Paprocki said, "would redefine marriage."
"I ask that you vote against this bill, because the legislation fails to recognize certain truths: neither two men, nor two women can possibly form a marriage," he said. "Our law would be wrong if it said it could."
That day, the Senate committee voted in favor of the bill, but Senate President John Cullerton cancelled its schedule until after new lawmakers were sworn into office on Jan. 9.
In his Jan. 13 column in Catholic Times, the bishop pointed out that despite the bill's title, religious freedom would place religious liberties at risk.
"This 'religious freedom' law does nothing at all to protect the consciences of people in business, or who work for the government," Bishop Paprocki said. "We saw the harmful consequences of deceptive titles all too painfully (in 2011) when the so-called Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act forced Catholic Charities out of foster care and adoption services in Illinois."
The bishop urged Catholics in the diocese to contact legislators. "Please make sure our elected representatives ... know they will be held to account," he wrote.
In February, the state Senate passed the bill by a vote of 34-21. On Feb. 26, the Illinois House executive committee approved the bill, but supporters were unable to muster the votes needed for passing. The deadline for approval was extended until Aug. 31 and again through the fall veto session.
On Nov. 5, the House of Representatives finally passed the bill by a narrow margin, and Gov. Pat Quinn announced he would sign the bill into law on Nov. 20.
On Nov. 14, Bishop Paprocki announced that, almost simultaneously with the governor's signing ceremony in Chicago, he would conduct Prayers of Supplication and Exorcism for the Sin of Same-sex Marriage at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.
On Nov. 20, in front of a nearly-full Cathedral, Bishop Paprocki said that "most people don't know what the church teaches about exorcism, since they get their misleading information and sensational ideas ... mainly from Hollywood."
He said that the "minor exorcism" was meant to combat the influence of the devil in the world. "Our prayer service today and my words are not meant to demonize anyone, but are intended to call attention to the diabolical influences of the devil that have penetrated our culture, both in the state and in the church. These demonic influences are not readily apparent to the undiscerning eye, which is why they are so deceptive," he said.
The text of the bishop's homily is available on the diocesan website at: http://tinyurl.com/diohomily112013.
Although the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act is scheduled to take effect June 1, Bishop Paprocki says the struggle to support natural marriage and families is not over.
"The pro-life movement did not die when abortion was legalized nationwide with Roe v. Wade 40 years ago. In fact, it became more energized," Bishop Paprocki said. "So too, defenders of natural marriage should not be discouraged by the recent redefinition of civil marriage in Illinois and some other states, but should actually be stirred to intensify their efforts to change minds and hearts and laws to respect the divine plan for marriage as the lawful union of one man and one woman."