Pulse: Joliet Diocese continues legal fight with state
October 9, 2011 9:12PM
Updated: November 16, 2011 11:00AM
The Diocese of Joliet is staying in the legal battle with the state over foster care services provided by Catholic Charities, a spokesman said.
The Diocese of Peoria last week pulled out of the appeal. That leaves three Illinois dioceses in the case: Joliet, Springfield and Belleville.
The issue is whether Catholic Charities should be able to continue its past practice of referring gay and unmarried couples to other agencies while providing foster care services for the state.
Joliet diocese spokesman Doug Delaney issued a statement Thursday saying the diocese hopes to prevail on appeal and “remains committed to the principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience.”
The Peoria diocese is taking a course similar to that taken two weeks ago by Guardian Angel Services in Joliet. The diocese will separate itself from its foster care services, which will be restructured under a new organization not affiliated with the Catholic Church.
Mobile budget talks
The Joliet City Council Finance Committee is taking its budget talks on the road.
The next meeting is at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, which is one of three cultural institutions slated for budget cuts. The other two are Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and the Rialto Square Theatre.
Finance Committee Chairman Michael Turk said the November meeting will be at Bicentennial Park, and it’s possible that the December meeting could be at the Rialto.
How much of the budget will be up for discussion on Oct. 18 is not clear yet, but Turk said he expects to hear from the museum staff: “It’s an opportunity for the (museum) staff to be there and ask us any questions they want to ask.”
Dead deer news
A final report on the controversial deer culling program was included in the Will County Forest Preserve District’s fall newsletter. When all was said and done, 134 deer were culled from McKinley Woods, Messenger Woods and Lockport Prairie. The program’s costs broke down to $183 per deer.
About 6,000 pounds of meat was donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
While the state does not allow immuno-contraception to control deer herds, forest preserve district staff are continuing to explore the option as part of a scientific study, according to a newsletter.
Bob Okon and Cindy Wojdyla Cain
contributed to Pulse.
