Proponents of the controversial House Bill 2354, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, failed to bring the bill to a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives before an April 3 deadline.

HB 2354 would have made abortion a fundamental right in Illinois, preventing any regulation such as parental notification and expanding public funding of abortion. If passed, the bill also would have invalidated conscience protections for health care professionals and employers who oppose abortion.

In March, Bishop George J. Lucas and the Catholic bishops of Illinois called on Catholics to oppose HB 2354. They urged Catholics to contact their state legislators and ask them to vote no if the bill came to the House floor.

Zach Wichmann, associate director for education at the Catholic Conference of Illinois, called the elapse of the deadline a “victory” and said the failure to muster the required votes may mean the bill is “dead for the year.”

“Catholics across Illinois participated in e-mail and phone trees, took up petition drives, met with their representatives, and many drove to Springfield to lobby in the halls of the Capitol,” Wichmann said. “We must also note the leadership role assumed by our bishops and their willingness to speak out and rally our people. All of us came together and did a great thing.”

Bishop Lucas said he was gratified by the response to the bishops’ request to oppose the bill.

“I am grateful to Catholics and to all people of good will who opposed this serious threat to the Gospel,” Bishop Lucas said. “It is a significant victory for all who embrace the church’s teaching on the value and dignity of human life.”

Wichmann said follow-up will be important.

“In the weeks to come, we should thank those legislators who stood up for what is right, and begin to think about how to build this network of opposition to HB 2354 into something bigger and more important — a network dedicated to the protection of human life and religious freedom,” he said.

Although unlikely, Wichmann said there is always a slight chance HB 2354 will be reintroduced.

“We must remember that there are many ways to revive legislation, and it will not harm us to remain vigilant,” he said. “But for today, enjoy this well-earned win and take time to thank God. There are certainly more struggles ahead — but not here, not today.”

To find out how to contact state legislators, go to www.ilga.gov or call the Catholic Conference of Illinois at (312) 368-1066.