 
ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 2747
The Access to Religious Ministry Act
State Representative Dan Burke (D-Chicago) is the chief sponsor of House Bill 2747, the Access to Religious Ministry Act.
House Bill 2747 would provide that:
- Clergy and religious workers have reasonable access to immigrants detained in county jails that have contracts with the federal government. This reasonable access will allow clergy or religious workers to visit those in need of spiritual counseling or other religious ministry.
- Time for religious ministry is not to be counted against visitation time to which a person being detained is otherwise entitled.
The Access to Religious Ministry Act protects the religious freedom of these persons who are separated from their families and in very uncertain and vulnerable situations. (A fact sheet on House Bill 2747 can be found on www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org.)
Who to Contact:
House Bill 2747 will soon come up for a vote by the State House of Representatives. Please call your state representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor and vote YES on House Bill 2747.
Also call your state senator and ask him or her to co-sponsor and vote YES on House Bill 2747 when the bill comes before the State Senate.
You can find the name and contact information of your state representative and senator through the Catholic Conference of Illinois’ (CCI) website at www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org under Legislative Update; Find Your Legislator. You can also call CCI at 312-368-1066 or 217-528-9200.
Suggested Message to Send Legislators:
“House Bill 2747 protects the religious freedom of immigrants detained in county jails that contract with the federal government. Under the bill, clergy and religious workers will have reasonable access to provide religious ministry to these persons who are in vulnerable and uncertain situations. Please co-sponsor and vote YES on House Bill 2747.”
BACKGROUND
HOUSE BILL 2747
ACCESS TO RELIGIOUS MINISTRY ACT
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has entered into inter-governmental agreements with some county jails in Illinois (currently McHenry County Jail in Woodstock and Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin) for the detention of immigrants as they wait for hearings or other actions on their cases. These immigrants are detained anywhere from a few weeks to even a few months.
These persons have been separated from their families and their communities. There is much uncertainty about what will happen to them and to their families. Many of these persons are in need of spiritual counseling and religious ministry and services during this time. Although they are being detained, their human dignity must always be respected. They have a right to humane treatment and access to religious ministry.
However, we have seen obstacles to clergy and other religious workers trying to gain access to these persons. Yet, these persons are full members of the Catholic Church and other religious groups and are entitled to exercise their religious freedom and have their spiritual needs met. Pastoral care to these persons who are in such vulnerable situations should be made available and accessible. Furthermore, any denial of sacraments to Catholic persons being detained is a serious matter that must be addressed.
Under House Bill 2747, the Access to Religious Ministry Act:
- Clergy and religious workers are to have reasonable access to immigrants detained in county jails that have contracts with ICE. This reasonable access will allow clergy or religious workers to visit those in need of spiritual counseling or other religious ministry.
- County jails are to allow this reasonable access during regular visitation hours and other hours as appropriate.
- Time for religious ministry is not to be counted against visitation time to which a person being detained is otherwise entitled.
The Access to Religious Ministry Act protects the religious freedom of these persons who are separated from their families and in very uncertain and vulnerable situations.
SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 2747.
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