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Bishops' Conference launches 'Por tu Matrimonio', a new marriage Web site to help Spanish speaking couples
Bishops Call For Extension Of Trade Preferences For Haiti As Part Of Long-Term Recovery Support
WASHINGTON—As part of an effort to address the long-term needs of the Haitian people, the United States needs to extend trade preferences for Haiti, said Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In a February 19 letter, Bishop Hubbard called on the Senate Foreign Relations and Finance Committees to support the “Renewing Hope for Haitian Trade and Investment Act” (S. 2978) so that it moves quickly through the legislative process.
Catholic Cultural Diversity Network Convocation to Dialogue about Challenges of Unity in Diversity
WASHINGTON—Three hundred church leaders —bishops, priests, religious and laity—from all ethnic and cultural families and walks of life will gather May 6-8, at the University of Notre Dame for the Catholic Cultural Diversity Network Convocation (CCDNC).
SALT LAKE CITY—Catholics and Mormons stand as one in defense of religious liberty, said Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
U.S. Bishops Offer Prayers, Assistance for Victims of Earthquake in Chile
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed prayers for all victims of the recent earthquake in Chile in a March 1 letter to Bishop Alejandro Goić, Karmelić, President of the Chilean bishops’conference.
ADVISORY: Schedule For March 1-3 U.S. Bishops Advisory Group Visit To Haiti
WASHINGTON—The delegation will assess the impact of the earthquake on the local Church and identify ways in which the subcommittee can assist.
Give Hope to Jesus in Disguise is Plea of the Catholic Relief Services Collection
WASHINGTON—The 2010 Catholic Relief Services Collection calls Catholics to Give Hope to Jesus in Disguise. The collection will be taken in most parishes around the country the weekend of March 14.
WASHINGTON—On the eve of the White House Health Care Summit, the U.S. Bishops urged Congressional leaders “to commit themselves to enacting genuine health care reform that will protect the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.” In their February 24 letter to Congressional leadership, the bishops also cited their longtime support of adequate and affordable health care for all, calling health care a basic human right.
USCCB Subcommittee on Church in Latin America Creates Haiti Advisory Group to Visit Haiti March 1-3
WASHINGTON—As part of the ongoing response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Archbishop José H. Gomez of San Antonio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America, has created a Haiti Advisory Group to help assess the impact on the local Church. Haiti was hit by a 7.0 earthquake on January 12.
Pope Names Bishops for Scranton, Pennsylvania; Ogdensburg, New York
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has named Msgr. Joseph C. Bambera, 53, administrator of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, as bishop of Scranton, and Father Terry R. LaValley, 53, administrator of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, New York, as bishop of Ogdensburg.
USCCB Liturgist: Welcoming Catechumens into Church a Job for all Catholics
WASHINGTON—During Lent candidates for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) experience final preparation to become members of the Catholic Church. The "Elect," as they are called, rely on the whole Church to welcome them.Father Richard Hilgartner, assistant director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship at the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops offered ten things Catholics can do to welcome new members into the Church.
Series of Seminars Slated to Introduce Revised Roman Missal
WASHINGTON—A series of workshops slated from April 15-16 to November 4-5 will be offered around the nation to prepare priests and diocesan leaders for implementation of the revised Roman Missal.
Bishops Conference Launches Por Tu Matrimonio, A Spanish Website On Marriage For Couples
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched this week www.PorTuMatrimonio.org, a new Web site in Spanish for couples. The Website, completely in Spanish, is the Hispanic version of the popular www.ForYourMarriage.org, although it is not a translation of it, said Alejandro Aguilera-Titus director for Hispanic Affairs of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church and coordinator of the project. The initiative responds to the bishops’ current priorities on marriage and cultural diversity with special emphasis on Hispanics.
USCCB President Clarifies Status of New Ways Ministry
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I, archbishop of Chicago and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement on the status of the organization "New Ways Ministry":
New Ways Ministry is an organization based in Mount Rainier, Maryland, that describes itself as "a gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities."
WASHINGTON—In a letter to three Cabinet secretaries February 4, the heads of five major Catholic agencies serving Haitian earthquake victims outlined steps that should be taken to ensure the protection of unaccompanied Haitian children in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake.
WASHINGTON— Jesuit Father Allan Figueroa Deck, executive director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, announced February 4 the completion of a report titled National and Regional Hispanic Catholic Ministry Organizational Initiatives: An Assessment.
WASHINGTON—Years after the fall of communism, even though some are now European Union citizens, the Catholics of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union still have great needs. The 2010 Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, slated for February 17, Ash Wednesday, will focus on the theme “Great needs remain. Give faith to the future.”
Archbishop O’Brien Speaks At Summit Aimed At Eliminating Nuclear Weapons
WASHINGTON—Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore said humanity must “build a future free of the nuclear threat” in remarks on February 3 at the Global Zero Summit in Paris. The February 2-4 event brings together 200 international political, military, business and faith leaders for strategy talks on the phased elimination of all nuclear weapons.
WASHINGTON—The 2010 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering will bring together over 400 Catholic leaders from across the country with the theme, “Charity in Truth: Seeking the Common Good,” echoing Pope Benedict XVI’s most recent encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. Sponsored by 19 national Catholic organizations including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the gathering will take place February 7-10 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill.
The mission of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is to support the ministry of bishops with an emphasis on evangelization, by which the bishops exercise in a communal and collegial manner certain pastoral functions entrusted to them by the Lord Jesus of sanctifying, teaching, and governing.
This mission calls the Conference to
