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<p class=""><b>Press Release
For Media Inquires:</b></p>
<p class=""><i>For Immediate Release Megan
Flowers, Communication Director </i></p><p class="">November 7, 2013 <a href="mailto:megan@universityymca.org"><i><span style="color:blue">megan@universityymca.org</span></i></a></p>
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<p class=""> office: 217-337-1500, cell: 251-209-2615 </p>
<p class=""><i><br></i></p><p class=""><i>Bishops Cite Gay Marriage
Controversy</i></p><p class=""></p>
<p class=""><b><span style="font-size:16pt;line-height:115%">Catholic Church Withdraws
Funding for Immigration Work</span></b></p>
<p class="" style="margin:12pt 0in"><b>(Champaign-Urbana, IL,
November 7) </b>For the past three years, the University YMCA has played a
prominent role in mobilizing the community around issues affecting immigrants
in Champaign County. But those efforts
received a significant setback when the Catholic Church withdrew its financial
support because of the controversy surrounding marriage equality. Committed to
continuing its work on immigration, the University Y will be seeking support
from the community to replace the lost funds.</p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><b>Why: </b>The University YMCA was one of eleven organizations in
Illinois that received support from the Catholic Church to work on immigration and
were members of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
(ICIRR). All were told they had to
revoke their ICIRR membership before they could receive further funding. The Catholic Bishops added this condition to
the funding when ICIRR endorsed marriage equality in Illinois. </p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt">“We were initially notified by the
Church that our funding would be increasing from $37,500 last year to $60,000
this year – a reflection of what we have been able to accomplish and the impact
we have in our community,” explained Y Executive Director Mike Doyle.
“Unfortunately, this year’s grant had an additional caveat. Before we could receive funding, we had to
revoke our membership in the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee
Rights (ICIRR). The news was devastating
and threatens to undermine the work we have been doing.”</p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><b>How:</b> At its September Board meeting, the University YMCA Board
stood its ground and voted to notify the church that the Y would continue to
work with the Coalition. The Y’s Board
also vowed to begin an aggressive community outreach effort to help replace the
funds locally. </p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt">“Our Board thought the request was
inappropriate from a funder but more importantly counter productive to our
efforts to address the problems facing one of the most vulnerable populations
in our community,“ commented Doyle. “ICIRR does incredible work and plays a
critical role in helping us be more effective advocates in our community -
their support is essential to what we do.
We were surprised the Bishops felt compelled to cut off funding for a
worthy project just because one of the groups we work with disagrees with the
church. It is unfortunate but we are
determined to move forward. This work is too important.” </p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><b>Additional Information:</b> On October 19, <i>Chicago Tribune</i> published an article, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-met-catholic-immigration-funding-2-20131019,0,4212650.story">“Who stayed, who left the coalition.”</a> The
article lists each group’s reaction and the grant amount. </p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><i><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%">More links to coverage
on CCHD funding:</span></i></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%">Sun-Times:</span><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/20664816-418/brown-catholic-church-playing-hardball-with-groups-that-supported-legalizing-same-sex-marriages.html"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%">http://www.suntimes.com/news/20664816-418/brown-catholic-church-playing-hardball-with-groups-that-supported-legalizing-same-sex-marriages.html</span></a><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%"><br>
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<p class="" align="center" style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center">###</p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana">The
University Y is a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging people in
service, reflection, and action. We
develop cause-driven student leaders, partner with community members and bring
them together to get down with issues we care about: working for social
justice, protecting our environment, encouraging faith in action, and promoting
global engagement.</span><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/22775226-452/progressive-charities-to-help-groups-catholics-penalized-over-gay-marriage-brown.html"></a></p>
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<div><br></div>-- <br>Best,<br>Megan Flowers <br><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102)">Communications Director<br>University YMCA<br>Office: 217-337-1500<br>Fax: 217-337-1533<br>Email:</span> <a href="mailto:megan@universityymca.org" target="_blank">megan@universityymca.org</a><br>
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