USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - January 1997 Press Release Archives

January 1997 Press Release Archives

Support Urged for Demonstration by Persons with Disabilities (97-001)
January 3, 1997
On January 8 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the most fundamental question it has confronted in over two decades--whether the Constitution confers on seriously ill persons a "right" to receive suicide assistance from physicians.
USCC Movie Review Airing on Catholic Digest Web Page, Heaven (97-002)
January 5, 1997
Movie reviews produced by the U.S. Catholic Conference's (USCC) Office for Film and Broadcasting are available through Heaven, the World Wide Web page of Catholic Digest magazine.
USCC to Push for U.S. Support of Guatemalan Peace Plan (97-004)
January 6, 1997
The U.S. Catholic Conference will press the U.S. government for increased economic support for Guatemala to ensure the success of recently signed peace agreements, according to several representatives of the USCC.
Catholics Nationwide Mark Stand Against Violence Week (97-005)
January 7, 1997
Catholics throughout the United States have been called to celebrate Stand Against Violence Week, January 12-22. The week is designated by the U.S. Bishops to urge people to work for peace and to remind them of the prevalence of violence in contemporary society. This is the third year the Bishops have designated a time to mark anti-violence activities.
U.S. Bishops Urge Parishes to Highlight Vocations February 2 (97-006)
January 8, 1997
Parishes nationwide should emphasize the role of religious vocations February 2, the chairmen of the Bishops' Committees on Religious Life and Ministry and Vocations said in a January 3 memo to Bishops nationwide.
Study of What Leads Youth to Pursue Priesthood, Religious Life Commissioned by Bishops' Vocations Committee (97-009)
January 14, 1997
A survey of what leads young people to study for the priesthood or religious life has been commissioned by the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Vocations. The study, which will be conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), will look at four questions.
Convincing U.S. Leadership Necessary Now for Global Landmine Ban, NCCB/USCC President Tells Clinton (97-010)
January 14, 1997
The U.S. must exert "unambiguous and convincing" leadership now to secure a global ban on anti-personnel landmine, the president of the U.S. Catholic Bishops has urged President Clinton as he decides how to proceed toward a ban.
Cardinal Law Denounces Sony's Pro-abortion 'Christmas Album' (97-008)
January 15, 1997
Cardinal Bernard Law, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, sent a letter to the president of Sony Music, Inc., denouncing Sony's release of a "Christmas Album" to raise money to promote legal abortion.
Speaking for Bishops, Cardinal Law Denounces Bombing (97-011)
January 16, 1997
Cardinal Bernard Law, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, expressed sadness upon learning today that a building in Atlanta housing an abortion clinic was the target of explosives. "Our bishops' conference and all its members have repeatedly, exhaustively and publicly denounced violence as a growing cancer in our society," Cardinal Law said.
Nine New Members Are Announced for Bishops' Advisory Council (97-012)
January 17, 1997
Nine new members have been added to the Catholic Bishops' Advisory Council, a 63- member body which semi-annually reviews and offers recommendations concerning matters before the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic Conference (USCC).
Catholic Church General Counsel Lauds Supreme Court Decision to Review Aguilar V. Felton Decision (96-015)
January 17, 1997
Mark Chopko, General Counsel of the U.S. Catholic Conference, in a January 17 statement, lauded the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Aguilar V. Felton decision of 1985 and expressed hope the justices would "do justice to the children most in need..."
Bishop Matthiesen Resigns; Bishops Named for Amarillo, Pensacola (97-013)
January 20, 1997
Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Bishop Leroy T. Matthiesen of Amarillo and named Auxiliary Bishop John W. Yanta of San Antonio as his successor.
Cardinal Invites President to Meet on Partial-birth Abortion Ban (97-018)
January 22, 1997
Cardinal Bernard Law, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, urged President Clinton to reconsider his position on the Partial -Birth Abortion Ban Act. In a letter, the Cardinal invited President Clinton to meet with him and with a knowledgeable physician to discuss the partial-birth procedure, about which the President has made several controversial statements.
California Educator Named to Head USCC Office for Catholic School Parent Associations (97-020)
January 23, 1997
Raymond Burnell, a California educator, has been named to head the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Catholic School Parent Associations. He assumes his new position in February, succeeding Kenneth John Dupre, who left the position on permanent disability, after suffering a heart attack last year.
National Convocation to Prepare for Jubilee Year 2000 Planned for Chicago (97-019)
January 24, 1997
A National convocation to prepare for the Jubilee Year 2000 is planned for Feb. 27-March 1 in Chicago, by the U.S. Bishops' Secretariat for the Millennium and Jubilee Year 2000. Convocation 1997: Preparing for the Jubilee Year will convene Church leaders from across the country to discuss the preparation for and celebration of the jubilee year.
Catholic Official Hails Ruling in Confession Taping Case (97-022)
January 30, 1997
Mark E. Chopko, General Counsel of the United States Catholic Conference (USCC), expressed satisfaction with the decision of the United States Court of Appeals in a case involving the taping of a prisoner's confession. The Court found the taping to be both illegal and unconstitutional.
Archbishop Fears Landmine Decision by U.S. Misses Opportunity (97-023)
January 30, 1997
"The United States continues to miss opportunities" in achieving an international ban on anti-personnel landmine, according to the Bishops' chief spokesman on international affairs. Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick of Newark, who chairs the U.S. Catholic Conferences International Policy Committee, expressed his concerns this week in a letter to Samuel Berger, President Clinton's acting National Security Advisor.
Cardinal's Letter to Congress Cites Abortion, Suicide Concerns (97-025)
January 31, 1997
Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston called on Congress to put a stop to partial birth abortions and to defeat the Administration's proposal to spend an additional $123 million during the current fiscal year for organizations that promote abortion in developing nations.