State's Attorney race offers Church a chance to weigh in on matters of justice and mercy

The And Campaign is organizing a candidate forum for the upcoming Cook County State's Attorney race. We need your help.

Jan 19, 2024

We are still in the early days of 2024. There are myriad challenges and opportunities before us in our ministries, in our homes and in our public life together. But there is an increasingly urgent matter that beckons our attention and discernment: the Cook County State's Attorney's race. This election, poised to be a defining moment for our community, calls for the Church to engage actively, to understand the implications, and to contribute our voice to this critical discourse.

Democrats Eileen O'Neill Burke and Clayton Harris, and Republican Bob Fioretti, are all vying for Cook County State’s Attorney

Cook County, our home, stands at a crossroads. The State's Attorney's office, the second-largest prosecutor's office in the nation, is pivotal in shaping the justice system that deeply impacts the lives of our congregants and neighbors. The candidates vying for this position, Democrats Clayton Harris and Eileen O'Neill Burke, and Republican Bob Fioretti, represent divergent approaches to law enforcement and justice, each with profound implications for our community.

The issues at stake are not just political; they are deeply spiritual and moral. The State's Attorney's role touches upon fundamental Christian concerns: justice, mercy, the protection of the vulnerable, and the pursuit of peace and order in our society. As shepherds and leaders, we have a responsibility to guide our congregations in understanding these issues from a Biblical perspective.

Our faith compels us to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). In this spirit, we must scrutinize the policies and track records of the candidates. Clayton Harris, backed by Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Democratic Party, brings a blend of legal experience and public policy acumen. Eileen O'Neill Burke, a former appellate court judge, offers a distinct perspective, shaped by her extensive experience in the judiciary.

Their stances on critical issues such as retail theft prosecution, community-police relations, and staffing levels in the State's Attorney's office are not just administrative decisions. They reflect deeper values about human dignity, community safety, and the role of law in society. These are matters that resonate with the core of our Christian faith.

The decision made in this election will ripple through our communities, affecting issues like criminal justice reform, the treatment of the marginalized, and the overall safety and wellbeing of our neighborhoods. As leaders in the Body of Christ, we cannot stand on the sidelines. Our voice, informed by our faith and commitment to justice, must be part of this crucial conversation.

In response to this pressing need, the AND Campaign is organizing a candidate forum. This event will not only provide a platform for the candidates to present their vision but will also allow us as Church leaders and concerned Christian citizens to ask pressing questions and express our values. We believe that this forum is an essential step in fostering informed, faith-based engagement in this critical election.

This is where we need your active participation. The success of this forum hinges on our collective effort – in planning, hosting, and mobilizing our congregations to attend. We are calling upon you, our fellow leaders, to join hands with us in this endeavor. Your involvement could range from logistical support to spreading the word in your churches and communities.

As we embark on this journey, we must remember that our engagement in civic matters is not merely a social responsibility; it is a manifestation of our faith in action. It is about bringing the light of Christ into the public square, advocating for justice and righteousness, and being the salt of the earth that influences and preserves our society.

If you feel called to participate in the planning, hosting, or mobilization for this forum, please respond to this call. Your contribution, whether large or small, can make a significant difference. Together, we can ensure that the voice of the Church is heard in this critical election, influencing it for the good of our community and the glory of God.

Let us not underestimate the power of our collective voice and action. As we unite in this endeavor, let us pray for wisdom, discernment, and courage. May our efforts be guided by the Holy Spirit, and may our involvement bear fruit that glorifies God and serves the common good.

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The Round Up

Here are the stories that caught our eyes this week and what they mean for the weeks ahead.

Illinois announces additional funding for migrants, but there's a catch

As arctic temperatures sweep the region, Chicago’s migrant situation is intensifying. City officials are working to keep new arrivals safe through shelter and warming buses at its landing zone.

Now, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is offering millions of dollars to suburbs that agree to house migrants. On Tuesday, the state announced $17 million in additional funding to address the crisis. According to Pritzker, the funding will be used for welcome centers, work permit applications, housing, and healthcare.

Included in the allocation, $11 million will go toward Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services. Those funds will specifically be given to municipalities outside of Chicago to support new arrivals living there. However, there’s a stipulation. The money cannot be used to transport migrants to other communities.

Blankets, gloves, a tent and some propane protect some of Chicago’s homeless during ‘brutal’ cold snap

As temperatures plummeted to their lowest this season, the homeless outreach program of Thresholds, a North Side-based mental health provider, worked overtime Sunday and Monday — days they’d normally have off — to canvass the city handing out warm clothes and meals and offering shelter.

The group had 17 volunteers working over the weekend, and helped get eight people into warming centers and five into motels, he said.

The organization doesn’t normally offer a motel option, but the leadership of Thresholds decided the dire circumstances of the cold snap warranted it.

Black parents are caught in the middle of Chicago’s school choice debate

Black parents are in the middle of an intensifying debate about school choice, the system that allows Chicago parents to send their children to charters, magnets and selective enrollment schools, rather than be tethered to the school in their attendance boundary.

The Chicago Board of Education wants to undo that system. Leaders said it is built on a foundation of structural racism and makes inequality worse.

But changing a system that some parents see as creating the only viable options for their children will be difficult and complicated. This is especially true in the Black community. CPS data shows that a third of Black students go to charter, selective enrollment or magnet schools — more than any other racial or ethnic group in the district.