One week after 4,000 Catholics filled the Capitol Rotunda for the first “Catholics at the Capitol” gathering, the Illinois House’s Human Services Committee voted out a bill Wednesday that should motivate action from Catholic households around the state.

The Reproductive Health and Access Act — dubbed Illinois’ version of the “Freedom of Choice Act” being considered nationally — would eliminate the restrictions on abortion in state law that already exist. The legislation is a “radical departure from current Illinois law regarding abortion, public funding of abortion, health care right of conscience, and comprehensive sex education,” according to the Illinois Catholic Health Association.

Bob Gilligan of the Catholic Conference of Illinois told the crowds in Springfield on March 4 “this is something we cannot allow to happen.”

Last week our politicians in Springfield heard from 4,000 Catholics. This week they should hear from 400,000. Contact your state representatives and urge them to vote “no” on HB 2354. — Thomas J. Dermody, editor-in-chief, The Catholic Post