USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - November 2003 Press Release Archives

November 2003 Press Release Archives

Their Churches' Relationship with Islam is Main Theme of the Meeting of the Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops (03-209)
November 4, 2003
The Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops met for the twentieth time from October 7 to 9, 2003. The meeting took place at the Center for Continuing Formation at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore and was hosted by the Baltimore Archdiocese. The Committee is co-chaired by Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb of Mobile and Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada, who was serving in that capacity for the first time.
Bishops' Agenda to Include Reflections on Agricultural Issues (03-211)
November 5, 2003
U.S. bishops will consider passage of "'For I was hungry and you gave me food' (Mt. 25:35): Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers, and Farmworkers" at the semi-annual meeting here of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops next week. The pastoral document and overview of the Church's social teachings on food and agriculture also contains a suggested "Catholic agenda for action."
Catholic Bishops' Pro-Life Committee Chairman Issues Statement on Signing of Partial-Birth Abortion Ban (03-210)
November 5, 2003
President George W. Bush today signed into law the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. The Chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Charles Chaput, issued the following statement on this historic event.
Catholic Communication Campaign Marks 22nd Annual Proclaim Awards in St. Louis (03-212)
November 6, 2003
The Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced winners of its 2003 Proclaim Awards honoring excellence in diocesan communications.
Bishops' Conference Chairmen Support Farm Worker Proposal (03-214)
November 7, 2003
Federal legislation that would grant important legal protections to many undocumented migrant farm workers is an improvement over their "current deplorable situation," according to chairmen of two United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees who offered their support for the pending bill.
Bishops To Vote On Revised Church Investment Guidelines (03-215)
November 7, 2003
The U.S. bishops will vote to revise their guidelines governing investments of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at their annual November meeting in Washington, Nov. 10-13.
Bishops To Consider Pastoral Statement Popular Devotional Practices: Basic Questions And Answers (03-217)
November 7, 2003
"Popular devotions are not a matter in which 'one size fits all.' We must be aware that in our Church today in the U.S. there are various ethnic groups who are living in different cultural contexts and be sensitive to the fact that these groups often find that different devotional practices correspond better with their spiritual needs than others."
College Student Connects Catholic Faith With Justice, Works To Change The System So Others Can Prosper (03-218)
November 11, 2003
A college freshman who helped change Illinois law so that undocumented teens can qualify for in-state college tuition rates is the 2003 recipient of the Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. The Award honors young Catholics who take strong leadership roles in fighting poverty and injustice. Eight other young Catholics were finalists for the Award.
Bishops' Approve Statement On Agricultural Issues (03-219)
November 12, 2003
Today the United States bishops overwhelmingly approved a statement raising concerns about the ethical dimensions of agriculture and trade policy.
Catholic Officials Back Senate Funding Levels as Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill Proceeds to Conference (03-220)
November 13, 2003
As the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill proceeds to conference, Catholic officials wrote to Senator Ted Stevens, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, to urge retention of Senate-approved amounts for HIV/AIDS and for the Millennium Challenge Account.
Streaming Video of Bishops' Meeting to Continue Through the End of the Year (03-221)
November 14, 2003
The Department of Communications of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that streaming video of portions of the proceedings from the USCCB's recently completed Fall General Meeting in Washington, DC, will continue to be available on the Conference website through January 5, 2004.
Media Alert – Worth Noting in December (03-222)
November 18, 2003
World AIDS Day Theme is "Live and Let Live"; Two CCC-Funded Programs to Air on Christmas Day; O Antiphons and the Coming of Christmas.
Cardinal Keeler Urges Congress to Prevent Marketing of Human Beings (03-223)
November 18, 2003
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and other congressional leaders, Cardinal William Keeler has urged inclusion of the Weldon amendment to prevent the patenting of human organisms in the omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2004.
Down the Road – December 2003 Calendar (03-224)
November 18, 2003
Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act Supported by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (03-225)
November 19, 2003
Speaking for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Cardinal Theodore McCarrick expressed support for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003. He said the legislation would be a good start towards ensuring that mentally ill offenders receive the treatment they need.
Msgr. Felipe de Jesus Estevez named Auxiliary Bishop of Miami (03-227)
November 21, 2003
Pope John Paul II has named Monsignor Felipe de Jesus Estevez, director of spiritual formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida, as Titular Bishop of Kearney and Auxiliary Bishop of Miami.
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Wichita Appointed Bishop Of Phoenix (03-228)
November 25, 2003
Bishop Olmsted succeeds Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien who resigned in June. Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe has been serving as Apostolic Administrator of Phoenix.
"Church-Dividing" Issues of Eucharist and Baptism Are Topics As 7th Round of Official Catholic-Reformed Consultation Begins (03-229)
November 25, 2003
An in-depth look at two major "church-dividing" issues in the 16th century that lay at the heart of the Protestant Reformation, the sacramental understanding of Eucharist and Baptist, formed the agenda as the Seventh Round of the official Catholic-Reformed consultation began.
Dialogue Between Roman Catholic Church And Polish National Catholic Church Holds Fall Session (03-230)
November 25, 2003
The dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Polish National Catholic Church held its fall session in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on October 29 and 30, 2003.
Information for Broadcasters on Worldwide Telecasts of Pope's 2003 Christmas Ceremonies (03-232)
November 26, 2003
The Holy See's Pontifical Council for Social Communications has released information for broadcasters regarding the coordination of worldwide telecasts of the Christmas ceremonies of the Holy Father.