Bishop Doran: “The Church in Illinois is under attack…”

Posted by John-Paul (March 18, 2009 at 5:05 pm)

Thank you to Bishop Thomas G. Doran of the Diocese of Rockford! He has released a letter [PDF] urging Catholics to act boldly to defeat HB 2354.

Here are some highlights from his letter:

I
 take
 this,
 for
 me,
 unusual 
manner 
of
 communicating
 with 
you
 this 
weekend
 because the
 Church
 in
 Illinois
 is
 under
 attack
 by
 a
 piece
 of
 legislation,
 House
 Bill
 2354,
 in
 the
 State General
 Assembly.

As 
your 
Bishop, 
I
 feel
 that
 you
 should 
be 
aware 
of
 this
 matter;
 first 
of 
all 
so 
that 
we 
all
 understand
 the 
immoral 
attack 
made
 upon 
the 
consciences 
of 
us 
all 
as 
Catholics 
by 
this 
Bill. 

It
 is 
not 
extreme
 to 
say 
that 
the 
Bill 
is 
a 
threat 
to 
our 
freedom
 of 
religion 
and 
conscience, 
not 
only in 
Illinois, 
but 
in 
our 
nation.

I 
urge 
you,
 with
 all
 that
 is
 in
 me,
 to
 work
 for
 the
 defeat 
of
 House 
Bill
 2354,
 and
 I
 urge
 you
 to
 contact 
your
 state
 representative
 and 
let
 him 
or 
her
 know 
of 
your
 strong 
opposition.

I 
ask
 you 
all
 to 
pray 
for 
the
 defeat 
of
 this
 disturbing
 Bill 
and
 the 
ultimate 
defeat 
of 
those
 who 
support 
it. 

At 
the 
same 
time, 
do
 not 
forget 
to 
thank 
those 
legislators
 who, 
respecting 
our freedom
 of 
conscience
 and 
religion, 
oppose
 it.

All 
of
 you 
are
 always
 in
 my 
prayers.
 
Remember 
that
 in 
defending
 innocent
 human
 life,
 the 
life
 you
 save
 may 
be
 your 
own.

We thank Bishop Doran for his encouragement in this fight to protect religious freedom and the unborn.  Again, please ask your pastor to preach on Illinois FOCA - HB 2354 - this weekend!  This letter can serve as a useful guide!

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