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How to Cover the Catholic Church
Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
This committee oversees a wide range of U.S. and North American dialogues
with other Christian denominations and with partners of other religious faiths.
Ecumenical dialogue partners include the Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox,
Anglican (Episcopalian), Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist and
various other churches. In interreligious dialogue the committee has consul-
tations with several U.S. Jewish organizations, three regional Muslim groups,
Buddhists, Sikhs and other religions. Because of the religious diversity of the
United States and its long history of religious tolerance and dialogue, many of
the U.S. Catholic dialogues with other Christian faiths and with non-Christian
religious groups have set a standard for such dialogues around the world.
Father John Crossin, OSFS, is executive director of the USCCB Secretariat
of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis
This committee, which collaborates closely with the Committee on Catholic
Education, oversees the bishops’ evangelization activities and practices related
to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA—the church’s basic program
for admitting adult converts to Catholicism), the
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
and other catechetical activities. Its Subcommittee on the Use of the
Catechism reviews Catholic school and parish-based religious education texts
for adequacy and accuracy in presenting Christian beliefs and church teach-
ings at various ages.
The Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis, in collaboration with the
Office of Catholic Education, works to ensure that Catholic efforts to spread
the Gospel and teach the Catholic faith are effective, orthodox and pastorally
sound. Peter J. Murphy is executive director of the secretariat.
Committee on International Justice and Peace
Formerly called the Committee on International Policy, it seeks to implement
Catholic teachings on peace and justice in the international field. It collabo-
rates with the Holy See and bishops’ conferences around the world to call
attention to situations of injustice and violations of human rights and dignity,
to promote human solidarity and to advocate for U.S. policies that will con-
tribute to a more just and peaceful world and for sustainable development
among the world’s poor and vulnerable populations. The director of interna-
tional justice and peace is Stephen Colecchi.