Pope John Paul II encourages older people of all languages and cultures to see every season of life as a gift.

The bishops invite older persons, their families, and their faith communities to develop new initiatives that encourage the participation of older persons in society and in the Church.
Other language editions available; for details visit our website at www.usccb.org/laity/blessings.

The Pontifical Council for the Laity offers this document to stimulate reflection and commitment throughout the Church regarding its senior members.

Fosters understanding of the ethical and spiritual dimensions of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

The video demonstrates how individuals can make a difference in healing the physical, emotional, and spiritual scars brought on by the AIDS epidemic.

Offers reflection, assistance, and support to parents, catechists, and teachers as they guide the spiritual development of children.

This comprehensive resource includes practical planning and support materials, clip art, bulletin quotes, liturgical and preaching guides, and models. For religious education programs, schools, family, and community programs.

The bishops stress the need to abolish capital punishment.

Addresses legal/political questions as well as moral and religious issues.

The bishops renew the Church’s call to minister to the needs of the disabled in the United States. The bishops recognize the need to strive for a deeper understanding of both the pain and the potential of our neighbors who are blind, deaf, developmentally disabled, emotionally impaired; who have special learning problems; or who suffer from single or multiple physical disabilities.

This inspiring presentation focuses on Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, the late archbishop of Chicago, and Fr. Henri Nouwen, the late Dutch theologian and author, during the last year of their lives, promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in liturgy and church life.

Create welcoming and accessible parishes using the information and suggestions in this resource from the experts at the National Catholic Partnership on Disability. The guide contains resources to help a parish evaluate its efforts to welcome parishioners with disabilities and gather better information about disabled parishioners. Use “Ideas for Liturgists and Prayer Leaders” and “Suggestions for Homilists” to build more welcoming worshiping communities. Educate children, youth, and adults with “Ideas for Schools, Religious Education, and Youth Programs,” “Bulletin Quotes and Articles,” and “Frequently Asked Questions about Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice to Parishioners with Disabilities.” Other resources included are “Guidelines for Extending Hospitality” and “Resources for Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice.”

Commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the bishop’s pastoral statement on persons with disabilities, this brochure presents a crisp and concise framework of principles designed to foster access and inclusions of persons with disabilities in the life of the Church and in society.

"Concern for persons with disabilities,” wrote the bishops, “was one of the prominent notes of Jesus’ earthly ministry.” This brochure suggests seven ways for parishioners to open wider the doors of concern, and make the parish a more welcoming and inclusive place of worship for all with disabilities. Vital reading for parishioners of every age and level, from youth groups to ministry leaders to parish councils.

These guidelines give concrete expression to the bishops’ long-standing concern for providing access to full sacramental participation for Catholics with disabilities. Drawn from the Church’s ritual books and canonical tradition, the work presents a set of general principles helpful to diocesan staff, pastoral leaders, catechists, parishioners, health care workers, and all who minister to or with Catholics with disabilities.

This tenth anniversary edition of the bishops’ pastoral statement on domestic violence includes a new section addressed to church ministers as first responders to domestic violence and an updated discussion of how religion can be used as a resource or a roadblock for abused women. Strategies for victims, updated statistics, and new resources and websites to which individuals can refer for assistance make this a useful publication for parishes, women’s and social justice groups, church-sponsored charities, and health care facilities.

This palm-size card lists 11 indicators of abuse and includes contact information for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Distribute copies of this card during marriage preparation programs. Make copies available in parish and school counseling centers. Use them as an educational tool with youth and young adults.

The short statement Between Man and Woman expresses the Catholic Church’s core belief and teaching about marriage, which can be applied to the current debate about extending marriage to include the legal recognition of same-sex unions. It gives people, especially the Catholic faithful, a way to think about and articulate what may be their deep, yet unspoken conviction about what is right and true. Both educational and catechetical, it draws upon reason and faith in order to identify the nature and purposes of marriage and thereby to demonstrate why a same-sex union can never be equated with marriage.

The bishops continue their ongoing efforts to broaden the scope of pastoral care to those who might otherwise feel excluded from the Church. Addressed to parents, it offers support, guidance, and recommendations for the Church’s ministry.

Examines the contemporary challenge of building and maintaining a strong marriage through the experiences of four couples in Catholic marriage preparation. Includes a discussion guide.   Closed captioned.

A great resource that provides compelling responses about the significance of marriage while it invites reflection and discussion. From the Catholic Organization for Life and Family in Canada.

Revised edition provides guidelines for diocesan NFP programs to help couples deepen conjugal love and achieve responsible parenthood.

A resource for priests and families entering into interchurch marriages of Roman Catholics and Oriental Orthodox, specifically Syrian and Armenian.

Provides background information about the relationship between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church for Catholics contemplating marriage with an Orthodox Christian.

Designed to assist Catholic priests, deacons, and lay leaders involved in preparing Catholic-Orthodox couples for marriage.

The loss of a child, before birth or in infancy, can unleash overwhelming emotions, of sorrow and despair. For parishes, The Book of Innocents assures grieving parents and parishioners that the coming emotions, of sorrow and despair. For parishes, The Book of Innocents assures grieving parents and parishioners that the consolation and love of God will heal their wounded hearts—and joy in the knowledge their child is now “living in the Lord.” Blank pages, embellished with inspirational quotes, provide space to record their child’s name, along with thoughts and longings. When placed near the altar of Mary, this beautiful hardbound book allows the entire parish community to join in mourning the loss—and celebrating the child’s life here and in eternity. Of special interest on commemorative days, including the Feast of Holy Innocents, during Respect Life Month or in connection with Project Rachel.

Provides moral reflections and stresses the mission to respect human life.

From Pope Paul VI.

Applies church teaching as it relates to biomedical technology.

Presents issues and information for the protection of human life.

Message of Pope John Paul II.

A call to individual Catholics, institutions, and organizations to become involved in a comprehensive four-prong effort—education, service, advocacy, prayer—to restore respect and legal protection for every human life.

An informational brochure on how individuals can join the nationwide effort to protect, nurture, and sustain human life. Ideal for diocesan and parish distribution.

Stresses the need to work earnestly to bring about a true renewal in our public life and institutions.

With this publication, the bishops lay the foundation for a pastoral outreach to repair the breach with those who have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of clergy. Including the full text of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the work sets forth policies for dioceses and eparchies to adopt to promote healing, guarantee responsiveness, ensure accountability, and protect the faithful in the future.

The bishops speak out against the tragedy of child sexual abuse. The statement reaches out to the people who have been sexually abused, to abusers, and to pastors, pastoral staff, and other church workers who can assist those who are abused and abusers.

An excellent resource for bishops and pastors to give to parishioners and other interested people. It provides an overview of the key points covered in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and outlines the new services and administrative structures required of all dioceses and the oversight that will ensure compliance with the new regulations.

This report, prepared by the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People, presents a summary of a detailed examination of the “causes and context” of the crises that beset the Church in the as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by members of the Catholic clergy. The report contains the results of more than 60 interviews with victims, attorneys, priests, Church officials, medical professionals, and researchers.

Provides practical guidelines on the application of the canonical, judicial process of dismissal from the clerical state of a cleric who has sexually abused a minor.

This pastoral guide for parish coordinators of youth ministry, high school campus ministers, scout leaders, and coaches provides awareness of and education on sexual abuse issues, identifies program guidelines, and describes ministerial boundaries. Published by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

Conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part one of this study compiles the number of incidents, offenders, and victims of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy in the United States between 1950 and 2002. It includes anonymous descriptive information regarding victims, offenders, incidents of abuse, and the cost of therapies, treatment, and attorneys’ fees. Religious order priests were also included in this study. Part two is a literature review.

Section I of this report presents a summary of a nationwide audit of nearly every diocese and eparchy, conducted to assess the progress made in integrating the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People fully into the life of the Church. Also contained in Section I are recommendations for further strengthening the Church’s response to the sexual abuse crises in all its dimensions. Section II contains individual summary reports for each of the 191 dioceses and eparchies audited.

Provides educational and informational guidance on the difficult questions and problems involved with human sexuality.

The Pontifical Council for the Family provides guidelines to assist parents in the sexual education of their children. The Council urges parents to have confidence in their rights and duties regarding the education of their children, so as to go forward with wisdom and knowledge, knowing that they are sustained by God’s gift.

Examines the teaching of sex education as it affects the integral formation of a Christian.

Addresses the need for a moral revolution and a renewed ethic of justice, responsibility, and community. Recognizes impressive examples in dioceses, parishes, and schools across the country and calls for a major effort to mobilize the Catholic community to confront the growing culture of violence.

This video presents three communities where action is being taken to stop violence. Two of the featured communities receive grant support from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Church’s anti-poverty program.

Designed to build on the pastoral reflection Strengthening the Bonds of Peace, this document provides three objectives—too appreciate and incorporate the gifts of women in the Church; to appoint women to church leadership positions; and to promote collaboration between women and men in the Church. Also includes accompanying suggestions for engaging the gifts of women in the Church.

This compendium includes major statements from Pope John Paul II to and about women. A bibliography is included.

Examines leadership in the Church, equality of women and men, and diversity of gifts, and urges the inclusion of women in church governance through consultation and cooperation in their exercise of authority.

Pope John Paul II extols the “genius of women” and applauds the valuable contributions of all women as they “enrich the world’s understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic.”

This comprehensive kit is a practical, hands-on resource intended to assist parishes and organizations in encouraging and fostering the participation of women in the Church and in society.