Catholic bishop: No communion for Democratic leaders for supporting 'abominable' Illinois abortion rights bill

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have been banned from receiving communion in Springfield-area churches because of their support for legislation that expands abortion access.

The decree barring Illinois' two highest-ranking lawmakers - both Catholic Democrats from Chicago - from taking the sacrament was issued by Thomas Paprocki, bishop of the Springfield Diocese, less than a week after an abortion rights bill won final approval in the legislature and sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Paprocki said in the decree that he imposed the sanction on Madigan and Cullerton because of their role in facilitating the passage of the proposed law, known