WASHINGTON-A Web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will highlight Catholics and Scripture during the 2008 world Synod of Bishops in October. (www.usccb.org/synod).

The Synod, titled "The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church," will meet at the Vatican October 6-25. It will be led by Pope Benedict XVI and include bishop delegates from around the world. U.S. delegates include Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the USCCB; Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, USCCB Vice-president; Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston; Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington; and Bishop Basil Schott, Archeparch of Pittsburgh for the Byzantines.

Throughout the synod, the Web site will be updated by accounts of synod activities from the Rome Bureau of Catholic News Service, the world's largest English - language news agency specializing in coverage of religion. The site also will include links to the New American Bible texts and podcasts.

The Web site includes reflections by the U.S. delegates as they prepare for the synod and other U.S. natives attending the event as experts or auditors. Among them are Sister Sara Butler, a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity, who is on the faculty of St. Joseph's Seminary in the Archdiocese of New York and will attend as an expert; and Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, who will attend as an auditor.

Other resources on the Web include an interview with Auxiliary Bishop Richard Sklba of Milwaukee, a Scripture scholar; and essays by four Catholic educators: Pauline Viviano, Ph.D., associate professor of theology, Loyola University Chicago; Scott Hahn, Ph.D, founder and director of St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, Pittsburgh; Peter Williamson, STD, assistant professor of New Testament Studies, Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit; and Timothy Michael Milinovich, director of religious education at St. Ann's Church in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and a doctoral candidate in biblical studies at The Catholic University of America.

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