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- U.S. Bishops Offer Support to Mormons Targeted for Defending Marriage,
Backing California's Proposition Eight
(08-187)
November 25, 2008WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops offered "prayerful support and steadfast solidarity" to the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in the face of attacks on the church and its members for working to pass California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage.
The support was offered in a November 21 letter from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, chairman of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, to Thomas S. Monson, president of the Mormon Church. The letter follows.
- Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop William Weigand of Sacramento;
Co-Adjutor Bishop Jaime Soto Succeeds Him
(08-186)
November 29, 2008WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop William K. Weigand, 71, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Sacramento, California. Bishop Jaime Soto, 52, who has been co-adjutor bishop of Sacramento since October 11, 2007, succeeds him. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, made the announcement in Washington.
A co-adjutor bishop enjoys the right of succession upon the death or retirement of the incumbent bishop.
- Orthodox Jewish-Catholic Consultation Looks at Faith in Public Life in Election Season
(08-185)
November 25, 2008WASHINGTON—Ethical issues that arose in the recent presidential election drew the attention of the Orthodox Jewish-Catholic Consultation, October 27, in New York City. The priests and rabbis at the consultation noted that Jews and Christians share a sacred responsibility to protect and care for one’s neighbor. The consultation includes representatives of the Orthodox Union (OU), the Rabbinical Council of America and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Co-chaired by Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, and Rabbi Fabian Schoenfeld of Young Israel Synagogue in Kew Gardens Hills, New York, the meeting addressed the challenges facing people of faith in a religiously pluralistic and democratic society. Presentations representing the Catholic and Orthodox Jewish perspectives highlighted the role of faith traditions in forming consciences that allow people to exercise responsible citizenship.
- Polish Bishops Meet with USCCB's Cultural Diversity Secretariat
(08-184)
November 20, 2008WASHINGTON—A delegation of the Polish Conference of Bishops met recently in Washington with representatives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Cultural Diversity.
Participating in the dialogue were Cardinal Adam Maida, the bishops’ liaison for the Polish Apostolate; Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki, national coordinator of the Polish Apostolate; Msgr. Peter Zendzian, consultant to the Polish Conference of Bishops; Jesuit Father Allan Deck, executive director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and representatives of USCCB offices involved in work with migrant communities.
- Polish National Catholic-Roman Catholic Dialogue Explores
Transfer of Clergy, Doctrinal Statement
(08-183)
November 24, 2008WASHINGTON—The Polish National Catholic (PNCC)-Roman Catholic Dialogue explored the transfer of clergy and a doctrinal statement at their fall meeting, that took place in Baltimore, November 6-7. Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo and Bishop Anthony Mikovsky of the PNCC Central Diocese in Scranton, Pennsylvania, presided.
The meeting began with a progress report from the Roman Catholic members on a proposal to ask the Holy See if the PNCC could be considered to be in the same position as the Orthodox on two matters.
- National Migration Week to be Celebrated January 4-10
(08-182)
November 24, 2008WASHINGTON—The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Migration Week on January 4-10, 2009.
This year’s theme, Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice, "reminds us of our obligation to bring hope to the hopeless and to seek justice for those who are easily exploited," said Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration, in a letter sent every parish and Catholic school across the country.
- Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Immigration Reform among Catholics
(08-181)
November 18, 2008WASHINGTON—A recent Zogby poll of Catholics nationwide showed overwhelming support for reform of our nation’s immigration laws, with Catholics supporting a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million undocumented persons in the country.
The poll conducted October 17-20, included a sample of 1,000 people who self-identified as Roman Catholics and was commissioned by Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (MRS/USCCB). It had a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points.
- Catholic Bishops Support CCHD Collection as a Response to Current Economic Crisis
(08-180)
November 18, 2008WASHINGTON—The 2008 collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development will take place on November 22-23, the weekend before Thanksgiving, in most dioceses of the United States. In his announcement of the annual appeal and collection, Bishop Roger Morin, Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans and chairman of the Bishops' Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, urged Catholics to participate.
- Bishops Elect Archbishop Broglio, Bishop Flores, Bishop Holley to Three-Year Terms on Catholic Relief Services Board
(08-179)
November 17, 2008BALTIMORE—Three bishops have been elected to the Board of Directors of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Military Services, USA, Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Detroit and Auxiliary Bishop Martin D. Holley of Washington were elected by the full body of the USCCB at their general meeting, November 10–13, in Baltimore.
- Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue Studies Meaning of Christ's Atonement, Redemption
(08-178)
November 17, 2008WASHINGTON—The Evangelical–Catholic Dialogue issued a statement on the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus at the conclusion of its October 17-19 round of discussions. The dialogue has included as many as seven Catholic scholars and 15 theologians from Evangelical and Pentecostal traditions and has met annually since 2002, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- Pope Names Msgr. Barry Knestout Auxiliary Bishop of Washington
(08-177)
November 18, 2008WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Msgr. Barry C. Knestout, 46, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. Bishop-elect Knestout has been Moderator of the Curia and Vicar for Administration for the Archdiocese of Washington since 2007.
- Catholic Campaign for Human Development Names Winner in Eighth Annual Multi-Media Youth Arts Contest
(08-176)
November 14, 2008WASHINGTON—Stacy Plummer, a recent graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy, New York, is the winner of the grand prize in the 2008 Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Multi-Media Youth Arts contest. CCHD is the national anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Ms. Plummer submitted a drawing entitled, "Game Over." It shows a boy playing a video game in which he has completed Level One, which involved feeding the poor.
- Catholic Campaign for Human Development Ends All Funding to ACORN
(08-175)
November 13, 2008BALTIMORE—Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the national anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has ended all funding to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), Bishop Roger Morin, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Catholic Campaign for Human Development, announced in a November 11 report at the USCCB Fall General Assembly.
- Cardinal George Voices Hope for Obama Administration,
Points to Possible Obstacles to Our Desired Unity
(08-174)
November 12, 2008BALTIMORE—Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), voiced hope for the Obama Administration but pointed to possible obstacles to our desired unity, in a Nov. 12 statement at the end of the annual fall assembly of the USCCB.
"The bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all," he said.
- Bishops Approve Icel Gray Book Translation of the Proper of Seasons
and Revised Grail Psalter
(08-173)
November 12, 2008BALTIMORE—The U.S. bishops approved the ICEL Gray Book Translation of the Proper of Seasons November 11, at their General Assembly in Baltimore, in a 189-30 vote. The bishops also approved the Revised Grail Psalter by the Monks of Conception Abbey for liturgical use in the United States in a 203-5 vote.
- Bishops Vote on USCCB Secretary-Elect, Chairs of Five Committees
(08-172)
November 11, 2008BALTIMORE—The U.S. bishops voted on the secretary-elect of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and chairs-elect of five committees November 11, at their General Assembly in Baltimore.
- Bishops Approve Blessing for Child in the Womb
(08-171)
November 11, 2008BALTIMORE—The U.S. bishops approved the Order for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb for use in the dioceses of the United States with a 223-1 vote November 11, at their General Assembly in Baltimore. The bishops also approved a Spanish version of the blessing with a 224-0 vote.
- Chicago Young Adult Receives National Award For Empowerment Of Immigrants
(08-170)
November 9, 2008WASHINGTON—Stephanie Garza, 25, was chosen as this year's recipient of the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award for her remarkable work with immigrant parents through the Southwest Organizing Project in Chicago. Bishop Roger P. Morin, Chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, praised the choice.
- TO: Members of the News Media
(08-169)
November 9, 2008The following changes have been made to the agenda of the annual Fall Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
- USCCB Announces Winner of Faithful Citizenship Ipod Drawing
(08-168)
November 7, 2008WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced today that the winner of the Faithful Citizenship iPod drawing is Kathleen Robinson from St. Petersburg, Fla. The winner was randomly selected from 2,625 persons who entered in the contest between September 17 and November 4.
- Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue Studies Eucharist
as Part of its 'Hope of Eternal Life' Theme
(08-167)
November 7, 2008WASHINGTON—The U.S. Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue added a study of the Eucharist to its discussions on the theme "Hope of Eternal Life." The dialogue took place at St. Paul’s College, Washington, and was the sixth meeting of Round XI in the historic relationship that began 43 years ago at the end of the Second Vatican Council.
- Catholics, Orthodox Examine 'Ravenna Document'
Related to Authority, Sacramental Nature of the Church
(08-166)
November 7, 2008WASHINGTON—The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation examined the international dialogue’s "Ravenna Document" and continued its study of primacies and synodality in the Church at its 75th meeting, October 23-25, at the Manoir d’Youville in Chateauguay, Quebec. The meeting was chaired jointly by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati and Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh.
- ADVISORY
(08-164)
November 7, 2008TO: Members of the News Media
FROM: USCCB Department of Communications
The annual Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will be November 10 through 13, at:
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel
700 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 385-3000
- Bishops Congratulate Barack Obama on Historic Election;
Urge Him to Defend the Weak, Heal Divisions
(08-163)
November 5, 2008WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops congratulated President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American elected President of the United States, and called the event "historic" and coming at a difficult time.
"Our country is confronting many uncertainties," the bishops said. "We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person."
- Midwest Muslim-Catholic Dialogue Explores Religious Freedom
(08-162)
November 4, 2008WASHINGTON—The Midwest Muslim-Catholic Dialogue met in Northwest Indiana, October 26-28, at Calumet College of St. Joseph, the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Gary, Indiana and the Northwest Indiana Islamic Center. Participants discussed "In the Public Square: Muslims and Catholics on Religious Freedom."
- Catholic Campaign for Human Development 2008 Collection
Slated for November 23
(08-161)
November 3, 2008WASHINGTON—The Catholic Campaign for Human Development 2008 Collection will occur November 22-23, the weekend before Thanksgiving, in most dioceses of the United States. As he announced the annual appeal and collection, Bishop Roger Morin, Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans and chairman of the Bishops' Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, urged Catholics to participate.