SB 1381, if approved this week by the House would make Illinois the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana. PCG supports this bill as an act of mercy and compassion on behalf of individuals suffering from chronic or acute pain who can be helped on no other way. more
The Rev. Alexander Sharp
Executive Director
A constitutional amendment to limit spending is under consideration in the current “lame duck” session of the IL General Assembly. Some legislators say that we must have spending limits in order to approve a tax increase. We’re talking about political cover here, not good policy. But with Illinois acknowledged as the worst state when it comes to unpaid bills, and second-worst (behind California) in pension liability, do our legislators need this kind of political self-protection just to do the right thing? more
“Do you love me?” Jesus asked Peter. “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16–17) Jesus wasn’t asking Peter to be charitable. He was telling him to give the sheep what they need. Put in the language of democracy, Jesus was speaking not of benevolence but of justice. more
Some of the patients supporting the legalization of medical marijuana were weeping openly in the hallways of the Capitol yesterday when the SB 1381 did not pass the Illinois House. Our hope for victory was high. more
In the next two or three weeks, Illinois could become the fifteenth state to pass legislation permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes. We are hoping that SB 1381 will be approved in the veto session of the Illinois General Assembly which begins on November 16th. more
As we head for the polls in just seven days, two things seem clear: the role of government in serving the needs of society is being called into question to a degree not seen since the New Deal; and our national debate about social policy has turned less civil, more angry, than anything we have experienced since the Great Depression. more
It’s time for Twenty Questions! But, this isn’t a game. Given our state’s sorry history of government corruption, we believe that candidates must tell voters—now—what they promise to do to change politics and government in Illinois. more
According to author Edna Ferber, “Some people make the world, the rest just come along and live in it.” It is clear to which group the Gospel calls us. Please join the Advocacy Network now. more
Increasingly the distance between the “rich man” (Dives) and Lazarus represents the state of Illinois in microcosm. more
“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.”
—Reinhold Niebuhr
