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Washington—The U.S. bishops sent an urgent message to the U.S. House of Representatives November 6, as House members steeped themselves in debate over procedures related to abortion and the health care reform bill.
WASHINGTON—The Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced the allocation of over $7.8 million to struggling U.S. dioceses in 2010. A total of 388 projects were approved for funding in 87 dioceses in the United States and its territories or former territories.
U.S. Bishops To Vote On Revision Of Ethical Directive On Nutrition And Hydration At November Meeting
WASHINGTON—The full body of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will take into account the most recent Catholic teaching on care for the chronically ill and dying when they vote on a proposed revision of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services at their November 16-19 general assembly in Baltimore. The proposed revision states more definitively the moral obligation to provide medically assisted nutrition and hydration to patients in a “persistent vegetative state.”
Orthodox-Catholic Consultation Responds To ‘Ravenna Document’
WASHINGTON—The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation finalized a joint response to the international dialogue’s 2007 “Ravenna Document” at their 77th meeting, held at Saint Paul’s College in Washington, October 22-24. Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh and Roman Catholic Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans presided over it.
Bishops Applaud Maine Vote Defending Marriage
WASHINGTONThe U.S. bishops applauded the decision of voters in Maine to repeal a state law allowing same-sex marriage. The position of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was stated by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, chairman of the Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage.
Anglican-Catholic Theological Consultation Looks at Immigration, New Vatican Statement
WASHINGTON—The sixty-sixth meeting of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Theological Consultation in the United States (ARC-USA) took place at the Washington Retreat House in Washington, October 26 and 27. Bishop Thomas Breidenthal of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio and Bishop Ronald P. Herzog of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana, co-chaired the meeting. It marked the third round of the dialogue focusing the theme, “Ecclesiology and Moral Discernment: Common Ground and Divergences."
Bishops to Hear Report about Defense of Marriage
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops will hear a report highlighting U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) efforts to promote and protect marriage as the exclusive and permanent union between a man and a woman at their November 16-19 meeting in Baltimore.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, who chairs the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, will deliver the report. Report items include an update on the Committee’s work in catechesis/education and public policy. A key effort includes development of five seven-nine minute videos, to be rolled out with accompanying pamphlets and a related Web site in 2010.
Document on Married Love and Reproductive Technology on Agenda for U.S. Bishops November Meeting
WASHINGTON—A proposed document from the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities looks at the relationship between sex and procreation and the moral issues surrounding various technologies for treating infertility, including in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption and surrogacy. The document,"Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology," will be debated and voted on by the full body of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at their November 16-19 meeting in Baltimore.
WASHINGTON—In an extraordinary call to Catholics to prevent health care reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby, the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent bulletin inserts to almost 19,000 parishes across the country.
"Health care reform should be about saving lives, not destroying them," the insert states. It urges readers to contact Senate leaders so they support efforts to "incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights" in health reform legislation.
Pope Names Pastor to be Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Father Joseph M. Siegel, 46, Pastor of Visitation Parish in Elmhurst, Illinois, as Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois and titular Bishop of Pupiana.
Publication of the appointment was announced in Washington, October 28, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishops To Vote On USCCB Chairs-Elect Of Five Committees
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops will vote on five United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) chairs-elect of five committees at their November 16-19 General Assembly in Baltimore.
Vatican Announces Worldwide Telecasts Information for Christmas, Day of Peace Ceremonies
WASHINGTON—The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has released information for broadcasters regarding worldwide telecasts of the ceremonies presided over by Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas and New Year's Day. All times are UTC/GMT (Coordinated Universal Time/Greenwich Mean Time).
WASHINGTON—Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York has been named Moderator of Jewish Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), succeeding Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop-emeritus of Baltimore, in that role.
Cardinal Francis George, USCCB president, made the appointment, which is effective November 11, and is for five years.
Pope Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, Bishop Francis X. Irwin
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation Bishop Francis X. Irwin from the office of auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston. In January, Bishop Irwin reached the canonical age for retirement of bishops, 75. The acceptance of the resignation was made public by the Vatican October 20.
Cardinal George Responds to Vatican Announcement on Anglican Groups Entering Catholic Church
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued the following statement, October 20, following a Vatican announcement of a new provision concerning Anglican groups coming into the Catholic Church. His statement follows:
"Today the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has received word of the new Provision in the form of an apostolic constitution issued by the Holy See for the reception into full communion with the Catholic Church of groups from the Anglican tradition. The USCCB stands ready to collaborate in the implementation of that Provision in our country.
Dialogue Statement, Vocations Topic Of Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Church Meeting
WASHINGTON—The new agreed statement of the international dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the fostering of vocations were the main topics of discussion at the 2009 meeting of the national dialogue between the two communions.
The meeting took place September 30-October 1 at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale, New York, and was co-chaired by Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, New York , and The Right Reverend Chor-Episcopos John Meno of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch.
Pope Names Indianapolis Pastor Bishop Of Cheyenne, Wyoming
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Father Paul D. Etienne, 50, pastor of St. Paul Church in Tell City, Indiana, as Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Publication of the appointment was announced in Washington, October 19, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop-elect Etienne succeeds Bishop David L. Ricken, who was named Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin, July 9, 2008.
WASHINGTON—Six years of intense work on the English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal are drawing to an end with five action items set to be voted on by the U.S. Catholic Bishops at their meeting in Baltimore, November 16-19.
WASHINGTONPope Benedict XVI has named Father Paul Sirba, of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as bishop of Duluth, Minnesota; Father Fernando Isern of the Archdiocese of Miami, 51, as Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado; and Msgr. Robert C. Evans, 62, of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, as Auxiliary Bishop of Providence. The pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Arthur Tafoya, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Pueblo Diocese.
Bishops To Debate, Vote On Pastoral Letter On Marriage At November Meeting
WASHINGTONThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will vote on the approval of a pastoral letter on marriage at their November 16-19 fall general assembly in Baltimore. The letter, Love and Life in the Divine Plan, is an important component of the Bishops National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage that began in 2004 (see www.usccb.org/laity/marriage/npim.shtml).
Bishops' Conference Officials Voice Disappointment In Senate Finance Committee Health Care Vote
WASHINGTON—Spokespersons for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voiced disappointment in the Senate Finance Committee vote to approve its health care reform bill without first fixing problematic provisions.
The mission of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is to support the ministry of bishops with an emphasis on evangelization, by which the bishops exercise in a communal and collegial manner certain pastoral functions entrusted to them by the Lord Jesus of sanctifying, teaching, and governing.
This mission calls the Conference to
