Editor’s note: This is the full text of a June 7 letter by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, to Catholics of the Diocese of Peoria. For more information, see related story here.

—–

To the Priests, Deacons, Religious and Laity of the Diocese of Peoria

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with enormous concern that I must alert you to an imminent risk to our mission in the service to God’s “little ones” in Central Illinois.

The tireless and dedicated work of Catholic Charities, which serves as the hands of Christ helping 30,000 of the most vulnerable children, families, and adults from all walks of life each year in our 26 diocesan counties, is now under attack by single issue, special interest groups.

Specifically our longstanding work serving abused and neglected children in our foster care and adoption programs in Illinois -? the most vulnerable of God’s children in our society, is at risk of being terminated through political pressures and the recent ill-conceived Civil Union legislation.

Our right of conscience and religious freedom to hold to our own religious beliefs regarding the sanctity of marriage, while still being able to provide critical services for the poor, the abused, and neglected, is now being undermined by our own state government.

If they are successful in pushing us out of our good work of service, many children will lose our high quality daily care. Over 225 dedicated Catholic Charities employees will also lose their jobs and our agency will be excluded from continuing the good work that our Diocese has done in this area for well over 100 years.

Currently serving over 1,000 children in foster care and facilitating hundreds of adoptions each year, our local Catholic Charities is part of a nationwide network that serves over 9 million people in need each year.
We have to stand up against the secular attack on our mission. Along with the Bishops of Springfield and Joliet, we have filed a Declaratory Judgment action and asked for a legal ruling to confirm that current Illinois law protects the right of a Catholic agency not to place children with unmarried cohabitating individuals. Given that there are 57 other agencies in the state, a religious exemption for us would inconvenience no one.

I am asking you to contact your legislators and tell them to find a fair and reasonable solution to enable Catholic Charities to continue their good work. A full list of legislators and a sample letter is posted on the Diocese of Peoria website click here
and the Catholic Charities website click here.

I thank you in the name of Christ and in the name of the children and families we serve each day.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.
Bishop of Peoria