November 2014 USCCB General Assembly

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) 2014 Fall General Assembly will take place in Baltimore November 10-13.  You can access links to live video of the public sessions, related USCCB news releases and coverage from Catholic News Service on this page. Links to the agenda, speeches, votes and other material  will be posted in the right hand column of this page.

USCCB News Releases 

 

Catholic NewS service COVERAGE 

Bishops OK Liturgy Items, Endorse Sainthood Cause, Hold Elections  

by Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Though there were no actions on the U.S. bishops' agenda in Baltimore dealing with immigration, poverty and other public policy issues, the president of their conference said Nov. 11 that he hopes to meet with President Barack Obama and House and Senate leaders soon on several topics.

In a brief comment during the annual fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, said he had heard from many of his brother bishops about those issues and hopes to supplement the work that committees and USCCB staff are doing on such issues by conferring with the politicians.

He told Catholic News Service that he intends to pursue a meeting with the president and the congressional leaders as soon as December.

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Bishops reminded of role as pastors to Christ's family -- the church

By Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- The role of Catholic bishops is to accompany their family of the church through their fears and concerns, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Nov. 10.

In his first presidential address since his election last November, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz told his brother bishops gathered in Baltimore for the annual fall general assembly Nov. 10-13 that "as pastors, we accompany so many families who face their own fears and concerns and who yearn to experience the love of Jesus in and through his loving family -- the church."

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Nuncio urges U.S. bishops to provide example of faith for today's youth  

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- The apostolic nuncio to the United States urged U.S. bishops to lead today's young people by example, "not just by doctrinal teaching alone."

"We have to let our young people know that their lives are worth living and that they were born for eternal glory, not for glamour, or guns or sensationalism," said Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano in a Nov. 10 address at the annual fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore.

"They are crying out to us. They desperately need to be inspired, to have the life of Christ breathed back into them," he added.

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'Tale of two synods' emerged from Vatican, says USCCB president

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- October's extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family was just one event, but "a tale of two synods" emerged from it, according to the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Speaking to reporters Nov. 10 after the morning session of the USCCB's annual fall general assembly in Baltimore, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, acknowledged the differences in the synod experienced by the bishops participating in it and news accounts disseminated outside the synod.

Those differences were highlighted by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York in remarks delivered during the assembly's morning session.

"There must have been two synods," he said, and the participating U.S. bishops "happened to be at the wrong one."

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USCCB president emphasizes bishops' role of serving family of church

By Patricia Zapor, Catholic News Service

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Acknowledging that families come with complications, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops reminded his fellow bishops Nov. 10 that their role is to accompany their family of the church through their fears and concerns.

"Evangelizing means witnessing to our hope in Jesus," said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, in opening the USCCB's annual fall general assembly in Baltimore. It was his first address as conference president.

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Liturgical items top agenda at USCCB general meeting in Baltimore

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Liturgical matters will take center stage on the agenda of action items at the fall general meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, to be held Nov. 10-13 in Baltimore.

There will be five liturgical items up for consideration. All are subject to amendments from bishops. All but one require approval of two-thirds of the bishops, followed by final approval from the Vatican.

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, who is president of the USCCB, will deliver his first presidential address. He was elected to a three-year term last November. As is customary, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, also will address the assembly.

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