Dupage Policy Journal

The Diocese of Joliet is no longer requiring masks at schools as of Feb. 8.

The Diocese of Joliet noted it “heard from many stakeholders over the weekend regarding the temporary restraining order issued on Friday by a Sangamon County judge.”

In the order Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow declared Pritzker's blanket state emergency school rules on masks and tests through the Illinois Department of Public Health "null and void." She said the governor and his agencies have been mandating rules upon students illegally.

“Statutory rights have attempted to be bypassed through the issuance of Executive Orders and Emergency Rules … This type of evil is exactly what the law was intended to constrain," she wrote.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet includes Will, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee and Kendall Counties.

DuPage County schools impacted include All Saints Catholic Academy, St. Raphael and Saints Peter and Paul in Naperville, Holy Trinity in Westmont, Immaculate Conception and Visitation in Elmhurst, Notre Dame in Clarendon Hills, Sacred Heart and St. Pius X in Lombard, St. Petronille and St. James the Apostle in Glen Ellyn, St. Joseph and St. Mary of Gostyn in Downers Grove, St. Michael in Wheaton, St. John the Baptist in Winfield, St. Isidore in Bloomingdale, St. Isaac Jogues in Hinsdale, St. Matthew in Glendale Heights, St. Walter in Roselle and St. Scholastica in Woodridge.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Boyle noted over the weekend he was canceling all basketball games due to the ruling.

On Sunday, Catholic Vote President Brian Burch called upon parents to pull their children from Catholic schools run by the Joliet diocese.

Of the state's six Catholic dioceses, only Chicago, which covers Cook and Lake Counties, and Peoria's  are still requiring masks in schools.

Read the full statement below: 



Dear School Parents and Staff,

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Joliet offer a rigorous curriculum grounded in the tenets of our Catholic faith. Our principals, teachers, staff and volunteers work every day in collaboration with parents to help our students surpass their academic goals while educating them on Catholic social teaching. We are grateful for and humbled by this group effort.

 

We heard from many stakeholders over the weekend regarding the temporary restraining order issued on Friday by a Sangamon County judge against the governor’s executive orders requiring masks in schools and a vaccination-or-test option for all school personnel. None of the Catholic dioceses in Illinois were parties to the lawsuit brought by parents against public school districts across the state, and we opened classes today by continuing to require masks.

 

We value the partnership among our school personnel, students and parents. We took time to survey our principals on the needs of their school community. After prayerful consideration, we are revising our masking guidance from “mask required” to “mask recommended,” effective February 8.

Parents will be required to sign a “mask use” form indicating whether their child will wear a mask in school. These forms must be turned into schools by Friday, February 11. This form is attached.

The “mask recommended” guidance also applies to school personnel.

All other COVID-19 mitigations will remain in place, including weekly testing for school personnel who are not vaccinated, as well as three-foot social distancing.

Principals are instructed to consult with their pastors on the use of masks during school Mass.

The “mask recommended” guidance also applies to our youth religious education programs.

It is important to note the Illinois attorney general on Friday filed an emergency motion to stay the temporary restraining order, and today filed a motion to appeal the judge’s ruling. We will revise our mask-use guidance as needed as this case progresses through the judicial system.

 

We are grateful for your patience, and we pray for a peaceful and quick resolution to this issue.

 

Michael J. Boyle, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet

The Diocese provided the form below for parents to fill out: