• March 2005 Worth Noting (05-046)
  February 24, 2005
  Encountering "Jesus in Disguise" among the World's Needy; Campaigning for Peace in the Holy Land; Oscar Worthy?
  
• Catholic Organizations Urge Senate To Uphold Conscience Protection On Abortion (05-044)
  February 23, 2005
  In a letter to the U.S. Senate, leaders of three Catholic organizations have urged an overwhelming vote against rescinding the Hyde/Weldon Conscience Protection Amendment. This amendment protects the rights of health care providers from governmental discrimination because they decline to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.
  
• Bishops' Spokeswoman Applauds Supreme Court Decision To Review Oregon Assisted Suicide Ruling (05-043)
  February 22, 2005
  Today the Supreme Court agreed to review a decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allowing the use of federally controlled drugs for assisted suicide in the state of Oregon. The question before the Supreme Court is whether Oregon doctors may "opt out" of federal standards governing the safe use of controlled substances and prescribe them with the intent to assist in suicides. The case is Gonzales v. Oregon.
  
• Bishop Expresses Solidarity With Christian Community Attacked In Israeli Village (05-042)
  February 22, 2005
  A recent attack on Christians in Israel appears to exhibit "deep prejudice against Christians," said the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' International Policy Committee, and could make it "difficult for the Christian community to maintain its historical place within Israeli society.
  
• CARA Report on 2004 Allegations Released (05-040)
  February 18, 2005
  Over 600 diocesan priests and deacons were accused in 2004 of sexual abuse of minors, with the majority of allegations of abuse occurring between 1970 and 1974.
  
• Lebanese Assassination 'Morally Repugnant' (05-041)
  February 17, 2005
  The assassination of the former prime minister of Lebanon on Monday is a "morally repugnant" crime, according to the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' International Policy Committee.
• Second 'Charter' Implementation Report Issued By Catholic Bishops Conference (05-039)
  February 18, 2005
  By December 31, 2004, 187, or 96.3 percent, of all dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Churches) were compliant with all articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the Catholic bishops of the United States at their meeting in Dallas in June 2002.
  
• Catholic Campaign For Human Development Honors New York Priest For His Tireless Efforts To Organize For Justice (05-038)
  February 17, 2005
  Msgr. Neil A. Connolly will receive the Year 2005 Sister Margaret Cafferty Development of People Award for his decades of work to empower the people of New York City's impoverished neighborhoods.
• ADVISORY: NEWS CONFERENCE (05-037)
  February 16, 2005
  The 2nd REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 'CHARTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE' will be made public at noon, Friday, February 18, at a news conference at the National Press Club, Washington, DC.
• Down the Road – March Calendar (05-036)
  February 15, 2005
  
• Catholic Bishops Urge Congress To Decide Budget On How It Enhances Lives, Dignity Of Needy Here, Abroad (05-033)
  February 15, 2005
  The U.S. bishops have urged Congress to think of the needy here and abroad when they consider the national budget.
• Bishop Expresses 'Revulsion' At Murder of U.S. Missionary in Brazil (05-035)
  February 15, 2005
  In a letter to the Brazilian ambassador to the United States released today, the chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' International Policy Committee expressed "deep concern and revulsion" at the murder of U.S. missionary Sister Dorothy Stang.
• Vote for Best Movie, Urges Bishops Communications Committee (05-034)
  February 15, 2005
  The U.S. Bishops' Communications Committee is urging people to cast their own vote for the Academy Awards.
• ADVISORY: NEWS CONFERENCE (05-025)
  February 11, 2005
  The 2nd REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 'CHARTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE' issued by the Office of Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will be released at noon, Friday, February 18, at a news conference at the National Press Club, Washington, DC.
• West Coast Regional Dialogue Of Catholics And Muslims: Rancho Palos Verdes, California, January 31- February 2, 2005 (05-031)
  February 10, 2005
  The West Coast Regional Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims resumed its activities at a transitional planning session at the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on January 31 to February 2, 2005.
• Northern California Zen/Ch'an – Catholic Dialogue January 20-23, 2005 At San Francisco Zen Center (05-030)
  February 10, 2005
  The third meeting of the Northern California Zen/Ch'an-Catholic Dialogue took place at San Francisco Zen Center from Thursday January 20 to Sunday January 23, 2005. Set in a framework of meditative stillness and liturgical prayer, the dialogue engaged the theme of "Practice: Means towards Transformation."
• New Catholics Featured In Easter Television Special (05-029)
  February 10, 2005
  More than 150,000 Americans joined the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) last spring.
• Catholic News Service Launches New Logo, Visual Identity (05-028)
  February 10, 2005
  Catholic News Service (CNS) is launching a new logo and visual identity to brand the several products of the international news service.
• Online Press Materials Available Now For The Catholic Relief Services Collection (05-027)
  February 10, 2005
  The Catholic Relief Services Collection (formerly the American Bishops Overseas Appeal) now offers resources for Catholic media and diocesan communications directors online at www.usccb.org/crscollection.
• Legislation Undermines Commitment To Refugees, Makes Nation Less Safe (05-026)
  February 7, 2005
  Traditional U.S. commitments to protecting victims of foreign persecution are undermined by legislation debated by the U. S. House of Representatives today, according to the chairman of the bishops' migration committee, and the nation will be less secure despite the claims of the measure's proponents.
• Andean Bishops To Discuss Trade Agreement With U.S. Officials (05-024)
  February 7, 2005
  Six Catholic bishops from the Andean countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia will be in Washington February 7-9 to share their views about the United States-Andean Free Trade Agreement, which is currently under negotiation and likely to be concluded in the spring.
• Information Released On Worldwide Telecasts Of Holy Father's Good Friday And Easter Sunday Liturgies (05-023)
  February 9, 2005
  The Holy See's Pontifical Council for Social Communications has released information for broadcasters regarding the coordination of worldwide telecasts of the 2005 Good Friday and Easter Sunday ceremonies of the Holy Father.
• USCCB Distributes 2005 Source Book (05-022)
  February 3, 2005
  The United State's Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has distributed to media the 2005 Source Book, a media research tool produced annually by the USCCB media relations staff.
• Advisory (05-021)
  February 2, 2005
  Attached are Web page addresses from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for background information on Pope John Paul II.
• Bishop Skylstad Calls For Prayer For Hospitalized Pope (05-020)
  February 2, 2005
  Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for prayers for Pope John Paul II, on February 1, shortly after the pope was hospitalized in Rome with breathing difficulties and the flu.

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