Republican governors move ahead on health exchanges - Sarah Kliff - POLITICO.com

small but growing number of prominent, Republican governors — including Mitch Daniels and Haley Barbour — are taking the lead to shape a key component of the health care overhaul their party fought so hard to kill.

It’s a delicate balancing act for Republicans who, on the one hand, oppose federal health reform, even challenging its constitutionality in federal court, and, on the other hand, are pragmatically trying to control as much of the implementation process as they can.

The big picture is that, while there’s an ideological divide, many governors see the exchange as an empty vessel they can shape in their own image,” says Ian Morrison, an independent health policy consultant in California. “Republican governors like the idea of more commercial insurance.”

Another crucial factor at play: If states don’t set up their own exchanges by 2014, the federal government will come in and do it for them.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55856.html#ixzz1NzX69FDk

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55856.html#ixzz1NzWpcvqE

Amnesty International Chides Vatican for Abuse - Beliefnet News

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Amnesty International has criticized the Vatican for falling short of its commitments to protect children from sex abuse.

“The Holy See did not sufficiently comply with its international obligations relating to the protection of children,” the human rights group said in its latest annual report, released on Friday (May 13).

“Increasing evidence of widespread child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy over the past decades, and of the enduring failure of the Catholic Church to address these crimes properly, continued to emerge in various countries” during 2010, the report said.

This is first time the group has included the Vatican in its annual report, which assesses the state of human right in 157 countries. That change follows a wave of scandals over sexually abusive Catholic priests in Europe and Latin America last year.

Amnesty said the Vatican had failed in its obligations as a party to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child, by “not removing alleged perpetrators from their posts pending proper investigations, not cooperating with judicial authorities to bring them to justice and not ensuring proper reparation to victims.”

“Canon law does not include an obligation for church authorities to report cases to civil authorities for criminal investigation,” the report noted.

According to a new Vatican directive published on Monday (May 16), Catholic bishops must report sex abuse of children by priests and other church employees to civil authorities, but only when required by local law.

The same Vatican directive gave the world’s Catholic bishops until May 2012 to prepare national policies on sex abuse, in areas including child protection, caring for victims and disciplining abusive priests.

 

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/05/amnesty-international-chides-vatican-for-abuse.php#ixzz1NzV9spGu

Amnesty International Chides Vatican for Abuse - Beliefnet News

Koch brothers wage a war on Americans - Chicago Sun-Times

latest bombshell is from St. Petersburg Times writer Kris Hundley, who exposed a 2008 agreement between the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation and Florida State University for $1.5 million. The money was to fund faculty positions in a new program promoting “political economy and free enterprise.” It came with the unconscionable condition that the foundation’s handpicked advisory committee hold veto power during the hiring process.

University economics departments, like FSU’s, are part of the mercenary army that gives the Koch brothers legitimizing cover. George Mason University, a public university in Virginia, is one of the best examples. The Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation has given more than $30 million to it over the last 20 years. The foundation’s pet project is the school’s Mercatus Center, over which it exerts tremendous control. The institute touts itself as “the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas.” Its scholars helped mold the Bush administration’s anti-regulatory policies.

Kochs may not like taxes but they sure like to leverage public funds to advance and amplify their own ideological agenda. That agenda leaves the middle class without a government protector in the face of laissez-faire capitalism.

Click on the following for more details:  Koch brothers wage a war on Americans - Chicago Sun-Times

Koch brothers under attack by leftwing film-maker | World news | The Observer

Robert Greenwald is taking the fight to billionaires David and Charles Koch, who fund much of the US's rightwing politics

the videos depicted facts and figure showing Koch support for Tea Party groups, global warming sceptics and thinktanks seeking to strip away reg

Koch Industries, one of the largest private businesses in America, it was another attempt by liberal groups to drag it into the public eye over accusations that it is corrupting US politics in pursuit of its business interests

Greenwald is determined to make the fight personal. His activists have found five homes of the brothers in the US and filmed themselves knocking on the doors, from the ski resort of Aspen, Colorado, to Palm Beach in Florida. The homes are profiled in "luxury porn" detail and juxtaposed with the hard times of working-class Americans. In one scene three financially struggling pensioners picnic on the beach outside a Koch mansion and wonder why anyone would need a house so big. In another, a researcher ambushes David Koch at the Economic Club of New York and asks: "How many houses do you really need?" The stone-faced Koch rapidly retreats behind a security guard without a word.

Koch brothers under attack by leftwing film-maker | World news | The Observer

Pentagon to Consider Cyberattacks Acts of War - NYTimes.com

The Pentagon is declaring that any computer attack that threatens widespread civilian casualties — for example, by cutting off power supplies or bringing down hospitals and emergency-responder networks — could be treated as an act of aggression.

In the case of a cyberattack, the origin of the attack is almost always unclear, as it was in 2010 when a sophisticated attack was made on Google and its computer servers. Eventually Google concluded that the attack came from China

Click on he following for more details:  Pentagon to Consider Cyberattacks Acts of War - NYTimes.com

Sycamore attorney faces prostitution charges | Daily Chronicle

A Sycamore attorney turned herself in to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday after a warrant was issued charging her with prostitution.
Reema N. Bajaj, 25, of the 100 block of Penny Lane in Sycamore, is charged with three counts of prostitution, stemming from two incidents Aug. 13 and another May 10.

Bajaj admitted to engaging in prostitution before she became a licensed attorney last November, but that she denied such activity since then

According to her website, Bajaj practices law out of the Bajaj Law Offices, 1210 E. State Street, in Sycamore. Her website states she is licensed to practice all types of law, and handles cases in DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Ogle, Kane, McHenry and DuPage counties.

Click on the following for more details:  Sycamore attorney faces prostitution charges | Daily Chronicle

Is Ms. Bajaj employed by Boone County? 

The following was obtained by a BING Search on “Reema N. Bajaj”.  The citation indicates that she is listed on the Public Defender’s staff.  However if you go to the current Boone County website underlined below, she is no longer listed.

Staff | Boone County, Illinois

Azhar J. Minhas, Public Defender. Assistant Public Defenders: Carie L. Poirier; Aaron C. Buscemi; Reema N. Bajaj; Office Manager: Susan J.C. Cooper Support Staff

www.boonecountyil.org/content/staff-0

6-3-2011 UPDATE:  Appears that Ms. Bajaj was working as an attorney under a 711 license.

711 License

Rule 711 of the Illinois Supreme Court allows law students to engage in the limited practice of law, under the supervision of a licensed attorney, subject to several conditions.

Students who have successfully completed a minimum of 51.0 credit hours at the law school may apply to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts for a 711 license. The Registrar's Office (of the law school) will sign a student's application form once it verifies that the student has in fact successfully completed the required 51.0 credit hours. Students need not have the signature of a supervisor before submitting the form to the Registrar for certification, although this signature is necessary before the student can submit the form to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. [Loyola Law School]

In Illinois if a student at this moment in time has good reputation, has gained credits that correspond to as a minimum of three-fifths of the compulsory credits for graduation possibly will be entitled for a 711 license (grounded on Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711).
If a student or graduating student acquires the license, he or she is permitted:
(1) Consult the prospects, discuss the regulation of pretensions, and participate in the designing and writing of legal documents.
(2) Come to the court of first instance and executive tribunals dependent on the next requirements:
• Court appearances, advocacy, petitions, and other legal instruments to be register in the court could be worked up by the student or graduating student and he could put his or her name to the documents with the additional description "Senior Law Student" or "Law Graduate" but the superintending experienced attorney has to put his name to the documents as well.

• The student or final-year student is allowed to engage in pretrial, execution of legal process, and posttrial lawsuits as a subordinate of the superintending experienced attorney, who should appear in court and be accounted for the carrying on of the court cases.
• In all other civil and criminal lawsuits the student or final-year student may carry on all pretrial, execution of legal process, and posttrial court cases and the superintending experienced attorney is not required to be in court during the hearing and other public proceedings.
(3) The student or final-year student is permitted to consider and write down appeal briefs, extracts from the documentation, dockets, and other legal instruments registered in courts of analysis of the State, which may propone the name of the student or graduating student with the additional description "Senior Law Student" or "Law Graduate" but should be filed in the name of the superintending experienced attorney.
711 license is obtainable for a J.D. graduating student if he or she:
(1) has not yet had an chance to pass the first bar examination planned after he or she graduates, or
(2) has passed the bar examination but the results and credits are not presented yet
(3) has passed the bar examination but the procedure of putting him or her on oath has not yet been carried out and he or she has not yet become a member of the Illinois bar.
If a student has a position in a company with non-governmental financing he or she is prohibited to have a right for the 711 license. The student is eligible for the license and allowed to have a position in one of the following organizations:
(1) a legal counseling, legal protection program, association or clinic privileged by the State of Illinois or accepted by a law school accepted by the American Bar Association.
(2) the bureau of the Public Defensor, or
(3) chambers of the State or any of its sections.

[http://www.allattorneysweb.com/education-training/711-license.htm]

Update:  6-7-2011 The story makes the big time.  Jay Leno uses the story in his opening monologue on the Tonight Show

Belvidere Park District outsources concessions - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

the stand won’t be run by the Park District after it “lost about $9,000 last year…”

Jonathan Jones-Tobin, 23, will operate and manage concessions at the Belvidere Park District for the summer. He’s calling the stand High Dive Snacks. Jones-Tobin has seven years of experience working at the Brick Cafe & Gallery, owned by his in-laws Gary Simon and Sherry Knott-Simon. He will offer pizza, pretzels, chili dogs, nachos and other snacks on his concessions menu.

5 percent of what High Dive Snacks generates will go to the district to cover utility fees. The district isn’t looking to make money, just break even this season

Belvidere Park District outsources concessions - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

St. James Church’s zoning requests: Reasonable? Or unreasonable?

On May 10, 2011 St. James’ Finance Committee submitted the following application and narrative for zoning changes to build a 1,000 capacity church at 525 Caswell Street in the City of Belvidere.

Highlighted are some of the issues which may make this request controversial.  The tentative dates of the public hearings/decision are:  June 14 Belvidere Planning Commission, June 20 Committee of the Whole and July 5 for Belvidere City Council.  Not all of these meetings allow for public comment. Contact city hall or your alderman  for updates regarding the proper dates.

The application appears to misstate the required parking needs.  Page 2 from St. James’ narrative: 

p. 2 “The new church will seat a projected attendance of 850 and will be contracted to the existing school building”….

Code Section 150.204.C.3.B: Parking ration of 1 for every seats

Code Requirements: 170 spaces required for a church capacity of 850

Proposed Parking: A total of 115 on-site parking stalls are proposed

However, Code Section 150.204.C.3.B of the Belvidere City Code states:

B.   Parking requirements.  Generally, one space per three expected patrons at maximum capacity. However, see additional specific requirements below: 

Church:  One space per five seats at the maximum capacity. 

The application should have stated the code requirement as 200.

Another area of concern is on page 4 of the narrative—“one ten foot length of the building, which is the bapitstry area, is proposed at 4 inches setback off of the property line”

 

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

 

Comments from a parishioner:

The following cartoon depicting the possible future of the St. James School and Church complex because of the large building project.

 

Fired Australian bishop calls church authoritarian - World news - msnbc.com

 

The Vatican confirmed in a statement Monday that Morris had been "removed from pastoral care," an unusually strong move by Vatican standards. Generally, church leaders who are being ousted are asked to resign, with the Vatican later announcing the pope has accepted their resignations.

Morris said he was removed because of a letter he wrote to his parish in 2006 in which he suggested that the church could help solve the problem of priest shortages by considering ordaining women and married men.

Benedict, as did his just-beatified predecessor, John Paul II, has staunchly upheld Vatican teaching that only celibate men can be ordained in the Roman Catholic church, although married men in the Latin rite church loyal to the pontiff can become priests.

On Tuesday, Morris said he hadn't meant to advocate the idea that women and married men should be priests, but simply wanted the church to keep an open mind on the matter. In an open letter to his parish this weekend, Morris said a handful of people unhappy with his leadership used his 2006 comments as a basis for complaint to the Vatican, which then launched an investigation.

Although not angry over his removal, Morris said he was "sad" the Vatican had not given him or his parishioners a voice in the matter.

"There's a creeping centralism in the church at the moment that everything is going to centralization and there's a creeping authoritarianism

Click on the following for more details:  Fired Australian bishop calls church authoritarian - World news - msnbc.com

Police seeking information on armed robbery of Aldi

 

Police seeking information on armed robbery of Aldi

Wednesday, 25 May 2011 14:32 Editor

Rob Carroll photo. Belvidere Police are seeking information on an alleged armed robbery that occurred at Aldi, 1021 North State St., on May 21.

BELVIDERE - The Belvidere Police Department is seeking information on an alleged armed robbery that occurred May 21.

At approximately 8 p.m., Belvidere Police officers responded to an armed robbery call at the Aldi grocery store, 1021 North State St.

According to witnesses, a subject entered the store at closing time, approximately 7 p.m., and displayed a handgun. The subject tied up two employees and demanded money. The subject then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. Neither employee was injured during the incident.

The suspect is described as a black male, 5’8”, 180 pounds, short black hair and wore a black cap. 

Belvidere police detectives responded to the scene and are investigating the case.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Belvidere Police Department 815-544-2135 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-544-2135 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Crime Stoppers 815-547-7867 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-547-7867 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Police seeking information on armed robbery of Aldi

Wisconsin Judge Voids Walker’s Public-Employee Union Law - Businessweek

 

A Wisconsin judge voided a law that would limit public employees’ collective-bargaining rights because the legislation was passed in violation of state open- meetings requirements.

Click on the following for more details:  Wisconsin Judge Voids Walker’s Public-Employee Union Law - Businessweek

Change in County Redistricting Map

By Bob Balgemann

The face of Boone County Board District #2 will change
somewhat to reflect its population growth since 2000. But
beyond that few if any revisions are expected as the county
ponders redistricting, which happens after each census.

District #2 now has 19,378 residents, compared
with 18,474 in District #1 and 16,313 in District #3. A
preliminary revision calls for District #2 to be reduced to
18,036 residents, while District #1 would increase to 18,064
and District 3 to 18,065.

To make that happen there would be shifts in voting
precincts as follows:

Every voter north of Illinois Route 173 would vote in
District #1. This change would move 141 voters out of
District #2.

The area east of Caledonia Road would become part
of District #2, moving 551 voters out of District #1. Both
of those proposed revisions would affect Precinct #1 in
Caledonia.
Precinct #13 in Belvidere would become part of District
#3, taking 829 voters out of District #2.
And Precinct #14 in Belvidere would become part of
District #3, moving 923 voters out of District #2.
Number of Board Members to Stay the Same
District #1 County Board Chairman Bob Walberg at the
board’s May 18 meeting polled his colleagues on a number
of issues relating to redistricting. “I’m just trying to get
consensus from the commission,’’ he said.
Seven of the 11 in attendance favored keeping board
membership at 12 members, four from each district. District
#3 board member Terri Glass preferred the number to be
reduced to nine, saying, “There would never be any tie
votes and it would save money.’’
The number of member districts will remain at three, with
seven voting in favor of continuing to appoint the chairman,
rather than having county voters make that decision.
Members will continue to be paid $75 for each meeting
they attend. District #3 member Ken Freeman asked if the
per diem would remain in effect for another 10 years.
“No,” Walberg replied, “that (change) can happen
anytime.’’
Now that there is consensus on those issues, redistricting
will continue to be discussed at the committee level, before
returning to the board for final action.

EPA Raises Questions about Leachate System

County Administrator Ken Terrinoni said the leachate
in reducing the elevation of the leachate in the landfill.’’
Leachate is water that percolates through a landfill and
helps with the decomposition of waste. It may contain
toxics and if not collected properly could contaminate
groundwater.
RMT, Inc., out of Madison, Wis., will “perform the
landfill gas sampling, analysis and reporting as required
by IEPA,’’ according to a proposal letter submitted by the
company. “Emissions testing last was conducted in 1998
and more recent data is needed to complete the IEPA annual
emissions report.’’
Cost of the work would be approximately $10,700, but
that figure could increase because of potential health risks to
RMT employees, the letter stated. Workers will be provided
with coveralls, safety shoes, hard hats and eye protection.
“If additional protection is required … RMT will advise the
county/city (of Belvidere) of the needed protection and any
associated increase in compensation before proceeding with
the work.’’
Terrinoni said purpose of the testing is to see if the system
is working properly “and then convince EPA that it is working
properly. We need the help of these professionals.’’

Catholic Charities of Rockford ends foster care, adoption services - chicagotribune.com

Appears Bishop of Rockford is making a bigger deal of the law than anyone else.

In addition to Catholic Charities in five regions, Lutheran Child and Family Services and the Evangelical Child and Family Agency have policies that exclude prospective parents who are not married.

There is no word on whether Catholic Charities in Peoria, Joliet, Springfield or Belleville will make a decision similar to Rockford's. Ken Withrow, executive director of the Evangelical agency, said it was too early to make a decision. Gene Svebakken, president and chief executive officer of Lutheran Child and Family Services, said the agency may change parts of its policy if required to by the state.

Right now, lawyers for the agency believe state laws already exempt religious agencies and any amendment would be irrelevant, Svebakken said.

"It's our Christian vocation and calling to serve children," he said. "It's sad to see organizations give up."

Benjamin Wolf, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois who represents juvenile state wards as part of a court-monitored consent decree with DCFS, said the decision was troubling, especially in Rockford where there is a high turnover of child welfare workers and racial and economic tensions.

"Rockford would not be the place I would've chosen to start these transitions," Wolf said. "I am very sorry that they would give a greater priority to their commitment to continue discriminating than the health and welfare of Illinois children."

Wolf said that when Catholic Charities in Chicago ended its foster care services in 2007 because the agency's insurer dropped its coverage, many caseworkers and foster care homes agreed to transfer to other agencies without disrupting the children's placements. He hopes families in the 11 counties served by Rockford Catholic Charities will be similarly amenable.

Officials from Catholic Charities and DCFS will meet next week to begin the transition process.

Click on the following for more details:  Catholic Charities of Rockford ends foster care, adoption services - chicagotribune.com

Ill. diocese ends adoptions over gay rights law - Forbes.com

Is this a case of the arch-conservatism of Bishop Doran or a consensus of catholic dioceses across the state and country?

Catholic diocese in northern Illinois said Thursday that it will end its state-funded adoption and foster-care program rather than comply with a new law that would require it to place children with gay or unmarried couples, and officials said other dioceses would decide quickly whether to follow suit.

Officials from the Rockford Diocese said they were forced to terminate state contracts worth $7.5 million after lawmakers failed to pass an amendment exempting religious groups from provisions of the state's new civil unions law, which will let gay and lesbian couples form civil unions, a rough equivalent to marriage. The law takes effect June 1.

Catholic Charities wanted to be allowed to refer unmarried or gay couples to other agencies, as it has for years.

Click on the following for more details:  Ill. diocese ends adoptions over gay rights law - Forbes.com

Boone, Winnebago see lowest unemployment rate since 2008 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

unemployment rate in Boone and Winnebago counties was 11.9 percent in April, or 20,094 people, according to data released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Unemployment Security. That’s down 1.4 percentage points from March and 3.8 percentage points from April 2010.

Companies added 1,500 jobs from March to April and 1,800 jobs from April 2010 to April 2011. The biggest gains over the past year were in manufacturing, where 900 employees were added, professional and business services (up 700 employees) and trade, transportation and utilities (up 600).

Click on the following for more details:  Boone, Winnebago see lowest unemployment rate since 2008 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

I.R.S. Begins Enforcing Rule on Gifts to Political Nonprofits - NYTimes.com

Big donors like David H. Koch and George Soros may owe taxes on their millions of dollars in contributions to nonprofit advocacy groups that are playing an increasing role in American politics.

The organizations in question were established as nonprofit corporations under a section of the tax law, 501(c)(4), and the rules governing them say their primary purpose cannot be political. Unlike contributions to charities, however, donations to these groups have always been subject to a gift tax. But tax experts and campaign finance experts say the I.R.S. had not enforced that rule, until now.

extent of the agency’s inquiries was not known, nor was it known whether Obama administration officials were involved in initiating the I.R.S. actions. The White House would not comment, nor would the I.R.S.

  If the I.R.S. enforces the tax rule broadly, experts are sensing that it could act as a counterweight to tamp down donations on one side, as another anticipated set of big corporate, union and like-minded political contributions flood campaigns through the barriers lifted by last year’s Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case.

I.R.S. Begins Enforcing Rule on Gifts to Political Nonprofits - NYTimes.com

Holy See faces civil suit by famed lawyer, Jeff Anderson

The civil complaint was file May 11, 2011 in Chicago federal court.  To view the document go to:  http://andersonadvocates.com/Files/424/Complaint-John-Doe-100-V-Holy-Seepdf

Vatican to issue new sex abuse guidelines for bishops - World News, 207284

 

Vatican's disciplinary watchdog the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Levada, had announced in November 2010 that the document was being prepared.
The letter would include "directives" relating to the "reception of victims", working with civil authorities, protecting children and the training of future priests, Levada said.
The Vatican is under pressure to produce the guidelines at the request of a US civil court which is examining the Holy See's role as "employer" in the case of a priest accused of child sex abuse.

Click on the following for more details:  Vatican to issue new sex abuse guidelines for bishops - World News, 207284

The Rejected Windfall by Florida - NYTimes.com

 

Gov. Rick Scott of Florida thoughtlessly rejected $2.4 billion in federal aid for a high-speed rail line, he claimed last month that he was doing a huge favor for the national Treasury, which he expected would give away the money in tax cuts. That was nonsense, of course; Mr. Scott was really doing a favor for train passengers in the Northeast, Midwest and California, which were given $2 billion of his money on Monday for better service.

Republican governors so rigidly opposed to the Obama administration that they are willing to harm their states to score points. The result is a crazy quilt of state relationships with Washington, stitched more with ideology than reason.

Instead… a sliver of the Acela line and the Empire line through upstate New York. The Chicago-St. Louis corridor will be improved, and $300 million will be invested in the high-speed project between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Texas is accepting $15 million to start work on a fast line between Dallas and Houston.

Read the rest of this opinion piece by clicking on the following:    The Rejected Windfall by Florida - NYTimes.com

FirstElectricNewspaper: Complaints Already Growing Over 2010 Tax Bills

Boone County taxpayers be ready—the tax bills are in the mail--lower assessments do not mean lower rates or lower taxes for many of us.

Kane County residents, many of whom saw big increases in the tax bills they just received.  They may get more when McHenry County taxpayers get their bills due to hit the mail Thursday.  "It's just a massive tax burden shift,"

the tax bill crunch comes is in taxing district levies, how much money the districts asked to receive.  Mostly that went up 2.7 the officially certified measure of inflation.

 

Click on the following for more details:  http://www.firstelectricnewspaper.com/2011/05/complaints-already-growing-over-2010.html

Did Bishop Doran speak on behalf of the “Catholic community” in opposing President Obama’s speech at Notre Dame ?

March 31, 2009

Reverend John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Dear President Jenkins:

I wish to express in my own name and on behalf of the Catholic community of this Diocese, my dismay and outrage at your decision to invite the current President of the United States to address the 2009 graduates of the University of Notre Dame and to receive an honorary degree.

This decision of your flies in the face of the expressed directive of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in the year 2004, that Catholic institutions not so honor those who profess opposition to the Church’s doctrine on abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

I would ask that you rescind this unfortunate decision and so avoid dishonoring the practicing Catholics of the United States, including those of this Diocese. Failing that, please have the decency to change the name of the University to something like, “The Fighting Irish College” or “Northwestern Indiana Humanist University.” Though promotion of the obscene is not foreign to you, I would point out that it is truly obscene for you to take such decisions as you have done in a university named for our Blessed Lady, whom the Second Vatican Council called the Mother of the Church.

I sign myself

Very truly yours,
The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Rockford

Printed from:  http://catholicism.about.com/b/2009/04/02/bishop-doran-to-notre-dame-change-the-name-of-the-university.htm

John Doe #172 sues Archbishop of Philadelphia

Former and current archbishop among the defendants  in another case of sexual abuse involving parish priest, Fr. Robert Brennan, and the failure of the archdiocese to act appropriately.

The case was filed today in Philadelphia.  The court papers are available at:  http://andersonadvocates.com/Files/412/Complaint-John-Doe-172-V-Archdiocese-of-Philadelphiapdf

Bishop Doran (RC, Diocese of Rockford, IL) blasts Democrats and urges "extirpation from our society" for some sinners | The Agonist

Bishop Doran’s outspoken words not favorably received by some.

Is true that you have to be a Republican to be be a “good Catholic’? Is this what the Bishop of Rockford preaches?

 

Bishop Doran, of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, Illinois, last week posted a column on his diocesan web site. His article is causing conservative and Republican Catholics to jump for joy.

Here's the link to the entire column:

http://www.rockforddiocese.org/observer/observer.asp?a=0

Doran begins by blaming American decadence on the Democrats, and invoking the specter of national suicide:

"Many of the issues that confront us are serious, and we know by now that the political parties in our country are at loggerheads as to how to solve them. We know, for instance, that adherents of one political party would place us squarely on the road to suicide as a people.

The seven “sacraments” of their secular culture are abortion, buggery, contraception, divorce, euthanasia, feminism of the radical type, and genetic experimentation and mutilation. These things they unabashedly espouse, profess and promote. Their continuance in public office is a clear and present danger to our survival as a nation."

and toward the end of the column, Doran calls for the "extirpation from our society" of those who promote these activities:

"It is the duty of every Catholic to support the work of the parish Pro-Life directors and commissions and to work for the extirpation from our society of all those who in any way foster or promote these things. I wholeheartedly endorse the activities of our Pro-Life Office in the sure and certain knowledge that divine justice will not allow those who act against human life to prosper.

These unholy sacraments of our secular culture are the seeds of the destruction of our nation."

It's one thing to say that Catholics ought to "support the work of the parish Pro-Life directors and commissions." Those bodies are innocuous lobbyists, and their activities are covered by the First Amendment.

But it's something else to say that "it is the duty of every Catholic" to "work for the extirpation from our society of all those who in any way foster or promote these things." I looked up "extirpate" in an on-line dictionary, and the word means what I thought it did: "to pull up by the roots," or "to destroy totally; exterminate," or to "remove by surgery."

If this program were implemented, millions of Americans would be "resettled in the East".

Bishop Doran is an integral part of the Vatican bureaucracy, and is not a "lone wolf" in the hierarchy.

From his biography page:

http://www.rockforddiocese.org/bishop/

Quote:

"He served on the Roman Rota until his appointment as Bishop of Rockford in April of 1994. Bishop Doran was ordained and installed as the Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockford on June 24, 1994. On September 2, 2000 the Holy Father recognized the Diocese of Rockford and Bishop Doran by naming him a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. On March 2, 2001, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Doran a bishop member of the Congregation for the Clergy.
Bishop Doran currently serves on the following Committees and Boards:

Chairman of the USCCB Canonical Affairs Committee

Administrative Committee of the USCCB

Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse of Minors

President of the Institute on Religious Life

Board of Catholics United for the Faith

Trustee for The Catholic University of America"

Bishop Doran is promoting a type of religion that Jesus would not recognize as his own.

Lee

Above taken from:  Bishop Doran (RC, Diocese of Rockford, IL) blasts Democrats and urges "extirpation from our society" for some sinners | The Agonist

As it turns out the Bishop use the same theme way back in 2006.  This is from: http://episcopalspinealert.blogspot.com/2006/08/bishop-thomas-doran-diocese-of.html

Monday, August 21, 2006

Bishop Thomas Doran - Diocese of Rockford, IL

The United States, with its vast abortion industry, will soon rival the Nazis, who were responsible for about 50 million deaths during the Second World War, said Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford, last week.

Americans are appalled by the Nazi regime, “and yet in our country we have, for the most part, allowed the party of death and the court system it has produced to eliminate, since 1973, upwards of 40 million of our fellow citizens without allowing them to see the light of day,” the bishop wrote in the diocesan newspaper.

“No doubt, we shall soon outstrip the Nazis in doing human beings to death,” he stated.

In his Aug. 10 column, the bishop said the “seven sacraments” of secular culture—abortion, buggery, contraception, divorce, euthanasia, feminism of the radical type, and genetic experimentation and mutilation—are “a clear and present danger to our survival as a nation.”

Source: Americans to ‘outstrip’ Nazis in taking human life, says bishop Catholic News Agency. August 21, 2006.

Meet Bishop Doran [Diocese Website].

Labels: Thomas Doran

From Diocese of Rockford website:

Big Dollar Public Retirees

 

Boone County Real estate tax bills to be mailed May 10

 

Friday, 06 May 2011 14:48 Editor

BOONE COUNTY – The Boone County Treasurer’s Office recently announced that real estate tax bills will be mailed May 10.

The due date for the first installment is June 10, and the due date for the second installment is Sept. 1.

Boone County taxpayers have the following options for payment of real estate taxes:

At your bank:All of the banks in Boone County accept property tax payments on our behalf. Bring your entire bill to the bank if you want it stamped to show proof of payment.

By mail:Send your check with the payment stub to the Boone County Treasurer at 1212 Logan Avenue, Suite 104, Belvidere, IL 61008. Your payment must be postmarked on or before the due date.

Online bill pay:If your bank offers online bill payment, enter your property number as the vendor account number your payment can be properly recorded. The office is not responsible for payments received with no property number reference.

Online by credit or debit cardthrough Illinois E-Pay: Go to http://illinoisepay.comand type “Boone County Treasurer” in the search box. This service is offered through the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office and they charge a convenience fee that varies according to the type of card and dollar amount. The treasurer’s office accept credit/debit cars.

The Boone County Treasurer’s Office, 1212 Logan Ave. in Belvidere, accepts cash, check, cashier’s check or money order. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office will be closed May 30.

Drop box: Those who can’t make it to the Treasurer's Office by closing time may drop their payments in the envelope depository by the side door after hours. Use an envelope and include the payment stub.

Mortgage escrow: Property owners are responsible for forwarding their bill to their mortgage company if the taxes are to be paid from an escrow account. The treasurer’s office recommends that you send them a copy, and keep the original.

Note: When paying in person at your bank or treasurer’s office, bring your entire bill if you want it stamped to show proof of payment.

Contact the following offices with questions:

Assessments, exemptions or address changes – Supervisor of Assessments Office 815-544-2958 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-544-2958 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Tax rates – County Clerk’s Office 815-544-3103 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-544-3103 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Collection and distribution of taxes – County Treasurer’s Office 815-544-2666 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 815-544-2666 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Boone County Real estate tax bills to be mailed May 10

Powerful new legal tool for clergy sex abuse victims | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

For the first time ever, a civilian court judge has ordered the Vatican to produce documents and answer questions under oath about its role in supervising a priest accused of a long pattern of child sex abuse.

The Vatican has argued that while it may have spiritual authority over priests, temporal issues such as employment are the purview of local dioceses and religious orders.

[Judge] Mosman gave the Vatican until June 20 to respond to the order to produce documents and answer a number of questions about Ronan [the alleged abuser] and the Church's general policies on the laicization of priests

The order embraces that the core issue -- in fact the sole issue in the case -- is whether he[Ronan] was an employee of the Holy See at the time of the events. That, he was not," Lena [Vatican attorney] said in a recent telephone interview

"If they were able to establish that there were an employment relationship it would be devastating to the Vatican, because obviously they have many more resources than any one diocese would," Zech said.

Eight US dioceses have been bankrupted by clergy sex abuse lawsuits, including the diocese of Portland, Oregon where the Ronan case is being tried.

But even if the plaintiffs fail to hold the Vatican liable in this case, the ruling has created a legal precedent which will make it easier to draw the Holy See further into clergy sex abuse cases.

Click on the following for more details:  Powerful new legal tool for clergy sex abuse victims | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

Governor Walker’s Orders Layoff Notices for Prosecutors Canceled - WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News

 

Governor Scott Walker is rescinding the layoff notices sent to prosecutors' offices around the state.

As Action 2 News reported this week, the Association of State Prosecutors rejected the state's request for six furlough days for assistant district attorneys. As a result, the State said it was going to cut state their time and benefits 20 percent, effective Monday.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Governor Walker said prosecutors' offices will receive their personnel funding for the rest of the fiscal year and said his administration will work to "ensure that prosecutors are not furloughed and receive the funding necessary to pursue justice."

The move came after D.A.'s offices statewide raised major concerns.

Governor Orders Layoff Notices for Prosecutors Canceled - WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News

Illinois will pull out of a controversial federal program:::Pantagraph.com | News from Associated Press

 

Illinois will pull out of a controversial federal program that automatically checks the immigration status of arrestees, Gov. Pat Quinn announced Wednesday, making Illinois one of the first states to take a stance against the so-called "Secure Communities" program.

Quinn argued that statistics from ICE show that many of those deported have never been convicted of any crime, let alone a serious crime. …..29 percent of the 102,000 immigrants deported under the program since it began in 2008 have no criminal conviction, according to federal government statistics

Click on the following for more details:  Pantagraph.com | News from Associated Press

Budget talks: Republicans offer to seek common ground with Democrats - The Washington Post

 

Senior Republicans conceded Wednesday that a deal is unlikely on a contentious plan to overhaul Medicare and offered to open budget talks with the White House by focusing on areas where both parties can agree, such as cutting farm subsidies.

GOP proposals that would save $715 billion over the next decade by ending payments to wealthy farmers, limiting lawsuits against doctors, and expanding government auctions of broadcast spectrum to telecommunications companies, among other items.

Democrats said they were encouraged by the move, which could smooth the way to a compromise allowing Congress to raise the legal limit on government borrowing and avoid a national default.

Click on the following for more details:  Budget talks: Republicans offer to seek common ground with Democrats - The Washington Post

Bin Laden Raid Revives Debate on Value of Torture - NYTimes.com

 

a chorus of Bush administration officials claimed vindication for their policy of “enhanced interrogation techniques” like waterboarding.

See: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/266271/bin-laden-no-more-nro-symposium?page=6

John Yoo
The majority of the credit for the operation that killed Osama bin Laden goes to the Obama administration. But it is also a vindication of the Bush administration’s terrorism policies and shows that success comes from continuing those policies, not rejecting them (as Obama has tried to do for the last two years). According to anonymous government sources quoted in the press today, it was the interrogation of al-Qaeda leaders that led to the identification of the courier, who led us to bin Laden’s hiding place. Reports suggest that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed himself may have given up the identity of the courier.

Bin Laden Raid Revives Debate on Value of Torture - NYTimes.com

Belvidere School District Meet and Greet

Press Release****
The League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford to hold Meet and Greets
for School Board Members in the Harlem and Belvidere Districts  The League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford will hold open house Meet and Greets for the new and continuing school board members of the Harlem and Belvidere School Districts.

All parents, district staff, and community members in the districts are invited to hear the school board members’ plans to meet the challenges as they participate in guiding their school districts. This will be followed by a social hour where the public can mingle with the school board to ask questions and get to know their new school boards.

 
Belvidere  School District Meet and Greet:

May 9th, 2011 6:00-7:30 PM
Ida Public Library
330 N. State St., Belvidere

For more information, contact Ann Powell at 815-633-4247x13. Hosted by
The League of Women Voters Greater Rockford, 4990 East State Street,
Rockford, Il 61108. The LWVGR is a nonpartisan political organization,
dedicated to Making Democracy Work, through voter education, issue
advocacy, and citizen participation.
Claire Flynn McIntyre
815-623-9004

 

Click on the following for more details:  WIFR Community Events