• Sister of Mercy Named Bishops' Consultant on Health Care (03-023)
  February 4, 2003
  Sister Mary Roch Rocklage, a member of the St. Louis Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, has been named the U.S. bishops' health care consultant.
• Bishops' Spokeswoman Denounces New Bill Authorizing Cloning for Human Experimentation (03-025)
  February 5, 2003
  Today Senators Hatch and Feinstein introduced legislation which authorizes the creation of human clones to become the raw material for medical experiments. The bill, S. 303, is entitled, "Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2003."
• Marist Brother Named Associate Director of National Religious Retirement Office (03-024)
  February 6, 2003
  "Marist Brother Henry Matthew Sammon has been named Associate Director of the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO).
• 10th Anniversary Edition of Stewardship Pastoral Published (03-026)
  February 6, 2003
  "The challenge to embrace stewardship as an expression of discipleship with the "power to change how we understand and live out our lives" is just as powerful now as it was in 1992 when the pastoral Stewardship: A Disciple"s Response was first published.
• Number of Deacons Shows Steady Growth Worldwide (03-027)
  February 7, 2003
  The number of Permanent Deacons continues to experience a strong and steady increase in most parts of the world. From 1998 to 2001, their number increased by 17% worldwide.
• Catholic Leaders in Washington to Oppose War in Iraq, Support Pro-Poor Policies (03-029)
  February 10, 2003
  "Almost 500 Catholic leaders from across the country have come to Washington Feb. 10-12, to urge policymakers to step back from the brink of war in Iraq and to support policies that help poor children and families at home and abroad.
• Vicar General For New Orleans Named Auxiliary Bishop (03-030)
  February 11, 2003
  Msgr. Roger P. Morin, vicar general of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, has been named Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans and Titular Bishop of Aulona by Pope John Paul II.
• USCCB Publishes Booklet on Celebrating the Sacrament Of Penance (03-031)
  February 11, 2003
  Published to coincide with the start of Lent in March 2003, a new booklet Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance: Questions and Answers is now available from USCCB Publishing, the publishing arm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Bishops' Moral Concerns About War In Iraq: Still "Valid And Useful" (03-032)
  February 11, 2003
  Amidst new initiatives by the Holy See to prevent a war in Iraq, the Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' International Policy Committee, Most Reverend John H. Ricard, SSJ, affirmed in a letter to all bishops that while much has transpired since the bishops" November statement on Iraq, "the serious questions and concerns that we raised at that time remain valid and useful as Catholics and others reflect on the morality of a possible war with Iraq."
• Migration Committee Urges Citizenship Recognition for Tohono O'dham Nation (03-036)
  February 21, 2003
  U.S. citizenship for members of the Tohono O'dham Nation, whose ancient lands straddle the U.S.-Mexico border, would remove "insurmountable barriers to celebrating their faith, visiting their family members and practicing their culture," according to the chairman of the bishops' Migration Committee.
• Down the Road - Upcoming Calendar (03-037)
  February 24, 2003
  
• Cardinal Urges Approval of Human Cloning Prohibition Act; Urges Congress to Reject Substitute Measures (03-038)
  February 25, 2003
  "Citing the "growing national and international consensus that human cloning has no place in our society," Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua urged Congress to approve the Weldon/Stupak Human Cloning Prohibition Act (H.R. 534) and to reject "deceptive substitute measures."
• Bishops' President Reaffirms Concerns about Possible War; New Resources for Prayer and Reflection on Iraq Released (03-039)
  February 26, 2003
  Echoing Pope John Paul II's words that war with Iraq is "not inevitable," the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops today said "serious ethical questions and concerns" about a possible war remain unresolved since they were initially raised last autumn.
• Bishops' Spokeswoman Applauds Supreme Court Decision In Favor of Pro-Life Protestors (03-040)
  February 26, 2003
  Today the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in Scheidler v. NOW that the federal racketeering statute did not reach the activities of pro-life protestors.
• Directory of Lay Groups Published by U.S. Bishops' Secretariat (03-041)
  February 26, 2003
  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth has just released its 2002-2003 Directory of Lay Movements, Organizations, and Professional Associations.
• Media Alert – Worth Noting in March 2003 (03-042)
  February 27, 2003
  Catholics Repent and Bear Witness on Ash Wednesday; Week to Focus on Universal Health Insurance; Educational Equity is Goal of March Advocacy Days.
• Training Held on 'Essential Norms'; Vatican Official Took Part (03-035
  February 27, 2003
  Two hundred ten priest canon lawyers received training in the canonical procedures for implementing the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), in conjunction with The Catholic University of America (CUA), provided the training.
• Plans for 'Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A.' Move From Vision Toward Reality (03-043
  February 28, 2003
  A vision for the most inclusive Christian organization ever in the United States advanced dramatically when a diverse group of 46 national church leaders agreed January 29 on a concrete proposal to take back to their church bodies for consideration.
• Bishops" Official Hails Passage of Bill to Ban Human Cloning (03-044)
  February 28, 2003
  The House of Representatives passed the Human Cloning Prohibition Act (H.R. 534) by an overwhelming vote of 244 to 151, Feb. 27. The Act, sponsored by Congressmen Dave Weldon (R-FL) and Bart Stupak (D-MI), prohibits human cloning for any purpose, but explicitly allows biomedical research involving the cloning of DNA, genes, tissues, organs, plants, animals, and cells other than human embryos.
• Media Advisory - Forum on Trafficking in Persons (03-045)
  February 28, 2003
  According to a 2000 CIA report, 50,000 women and children are trafficked into the United States each year for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.

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