Illinois

A federal jury in Chicago convicted former Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich on 17 of 20 counts in his corruption trial. The jury deadlocked on two counts and found him not guilty on another.

A jury of 11 women and one man took 10 days to find him guilty of trying to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Obama when he was elected in 2008. According to the Chicago Tribune, he was also found guilty of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy.

Gov. Blagojevich, 54, testified for seven days, maintaining his innocence – claiming prosecutors had twisted his words on secret government wiretapped conversations from his home, office and campaign headquarters. He testified that he was merely brainstorming about who he might appoint to the Senate. more >>

Health officials discovered the first case of West Nile in a batch of birds in northern Illinois on Friday. They believe a hot summer could increase mosquito activity, which could lead to the spread of the disease.

“As ‘alarming’ news of an increasing number of cases of West Nile Virus wild birds, horses, pets, and humans are reported across the country, nearly everyone is concerned about keeping their ‘entire family’ safe,” according to a statement issued by the Illinois Department of Health.

Dr. Damon T. Arnold, state public health director, announced that the birds are the first to test positive for West Nile this year. They were found in Delavan, about 25 miles south of Peoria in Tazewell County in Illinois. more >>

Three Catholic dioceses in Illinois have gone to court over a new law that requires charities to place children with gay or unmarried couples, alleging authorities are harassing Catholic agencies.

The Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act came into effect in Illinois on June 1 granting same-sex couples rights of marriage, including the right to jointly adopt. Catholic leaders complain the law is being used to scrutinize and criticize Catholic Charities for their longstanding position of not placing children eligible for adoption and foster care with unmarried couples, irrespective of their sexual orientation.

In March, the Attorney General’s office sent a letter to Catholic Charities saying they had received complaints concerning their “discriminatory” practices, Christian News Wire reported. Catholic Charities, a non-profit entity, was also asked to produce a wide range of documents. more >>

For more than 100 years, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Rockford, Ill. has been caring for orphaned children. Much of their work came to an end on Wednesday when the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act took effect.

Policymakers did not include a religious exemption, so Catholic Charities halted its state-funded foster care and adoption services because the new law may have forced them to place children with unmarried or cohabitating couples (heterosexual or homosexual). The Heritage Foundation, on its blog, pointed out that, “Faith-based adoption agencies are potentially vulnerable to increased liability if they continue to follow their moral convictions and refuse to place children in homes headed by unmarried couples.”

“As you may know, the Catholic Church does not condone same‐sex unions or unmarried cohabitation between individuals of the opposite sex,” said diocesan communications director Penny Wiegert at a press conference last week. “We believe in the natural order of marriage and the Sacrament of Matrimony between one man and one woman. We also believe and promote the optimal God‐given privilege of every child to be reared in a safe and loving family with a committed and loving male father and female mother whenever possible.” more >>

Same-sex couples will be able to obtain civil union licenses starting Wednesday, the day the Illinois civil unions law goes into effect.

David E. Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute, calls the civil unions law anti-family.

"The government has no reason to provide affirmation or benefits to relationships that do not serve the public good; and relationships based on same-sex attraction and volitional homosexual acts do not per se serve the public good. Lawmakers should be looking at ways to strengthen the natural family, not undermine it," he said in a statement. more >>

With the release of her new worship album I Will Praise You, Grammy Award-winning Christian singer Rebecca St. James is taking her tour to church.

Since the release of her CD, she has been a guest worship artist during worship services at a number of the country’s largest megachurches. This weekend she will be part of an extended worship service at the Willow Creek Community Church South Barrington campus in the Chicago area. As her tour continues, she’s also planning to worship with smaller congregations.

“Every church body and audience has its own personality and culture,” St. James said, “so it’s really interesting to be a part of a new worship experience with unique ‘bodies’ of believers all over the world. I love the fact that worship is so interactive. When a group of believers collectivity sing of their love for Jesus and enjoy His presence together, it’s a taste of heaven.” more >>