the Illinois missions shifted there. In 1827, the new bishop of the Diocese of St. Louis assumed jurisdiction over the new state of Illinois. In 1834, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Vincennes, which included both Indiana and Illinois. When the Diocese of Chicago was erected in 1843, it included the entire state of Illinois. in 1857, Pope Pius IX erected the new Diocese of Alton in Alton Illinois, transferring all of southern Illinois from the Diocese of Chicago. Diocese of Belleville The Diocese of Belleville was created on January 7, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII. Its territory was taken from the Diocese of Alton. The first bishop of the new diocese was Reverend John Janssen of the Diocese of Alton, appointed by the pope in 1888. By 1902, the diocese contained 104 churches, 94 priests, 64 parochial schools and 50,000 Catholics.In 1903, at Janssen's request, the Poor Handmaids of Christ religious order set up a hospital in East St. Louis, Illinois. The hospital was open to all patients, regardless of race or religion. Janssen died in 1913. Pope Pius X appointed Reverend Henry J. Althoff as bishop of Belleville in 1913 to replace Janssen. In July 1927. Atholl banned female parishioners from receiving communion if they were wearing makeup, sleeveless tops or low-cut tops. In 1937, Althoff forbade church-sponsored gambling in the diocese, encouraging Catholics to support their parishes by direct contribution rather than parish parties and festivals. Later that year, he banned dancing the night before a holy day. Since New Years Day was a holy day, that meant no dancing on New Years Eve. Althoff died in 1947 after a 20 year tenure as bishop. Pope Pius XII named Reverend Albert Zuroweste as the next bishop of Belleville. In 1969, Zuroweste became embroiled in a racial dispute in Cairo, Illinois. He had sent the Reverend Gerald Montroy to Cairo in 1968 to minister to the poor and to African-Americans. After meeting with the local pastor, Montroy became convinced that the pastor had no desire to welcome African-Americans to his parish. In response, Montroy reopened St. Columba, a shuttered mission in Cairo, and started holding masses there for African-American Catholics. He also provided facilities for Black Power activists looking to challenge racial discrimination in that city. Zuroweste came under pressure from Cairo to recall Montroy, but gave him qualified support after demands from progressive Catholic organizations. After several