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October 2009 News Release Archives
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Document on Married Love and Reproductive Technology on Agenda for U.S. Bishops’ November Meeting
(09-219)
October 30, 2009
WASHINGTON—A proposed document from the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities looks at the relationship between sex and procreation and the moral issues surrounding various technologies for treating infertility, including in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption and surrogacy. The document,"Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology," will be debated and voted on by the full body of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at their November 16-19 meeting in Baltimore.
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Bishops’ Conference Blankets Parishes with Inserts Against Expansion of Abortion Through Health Care Reform
(09-218)
October 30, 2009
WASHINGTON—In an extraordinary call to Catholics to prevent health care reform from being derailed by the abortion lobby, the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops has sent bulletin inserts to almost 19,000 parishes across the country.
"Health care reform should be about saving lives, not destroying them," the insert states. It urges readers to contact Senate leaders so they support efforts to "incorporate longstanding policies against abortion funding and in favor of conscience rights" in health reform legislation.
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Pope Names Pastor to be Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois
(09-216E)
October 28, 2009
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Father Joseph M. Siegel, 46, Pastor of Visitation Parish in Elmhurst, Illinois, as Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet in Illinois and titular Bishop of Pupiana.
Publication of the appointment was announced in Washington, October 28, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
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Bishops To Vote On USCCB Chairs-Elect Of Five Committees
(09-217)
October 27, 2009
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops will vote on five United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) chairs-elect of five committees at their November 16-19 General Assembly in Baltimore.
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Vatican Announces Worldwide Telecasts Information for Christmas, Day of Peace Ceremonies
(09-215)
October 26, 2009
WASHINGTON—The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has released information for broadcasters regarding worldwide telecasts of the ceremonies presided over by Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas and New Year's Day. All times are UTC/GMT (Coordinated Universal Time/Greenwich Mean Time).
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Archbishop Dolan Named Bishops’ Moderator of Jewish Affairs, Succeeds Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop-Emeritus of Baltimore
(09-214)
October 23, 2009
WASHINGTON—Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York has been named Moderator of Jewish Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), succeeding Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop-emeritus of Baltimore, in that role.
Cardinal Francis George, USCCB president, made the appointment, which is effective November 11, and is for five years.
- Pope Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, Bishop Francis X. Irwin
(09-213)
October 21, 2009
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation Bishop Francis X. Irwin from the office of auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston. In January, Bishop Irwin reached the canonical age for retirement of bishops, 75. The acceptance of the resignation was made public by the Vatican October 20.
- Latinos and education, U.S. future at stake
(09-212)
October 20, 2009
My grandfather pulled my mother out of school when she was fourteen. The reason: she clunked a geography test. The fact that the teacher went to my grandfather to explain many kids in her class had failed that test and to beg grandpa not to make the biggest mistake of his life did not make a difference. Unfortunately, my mother did not have her mother—who died four years earlier—around anymore to help persuade the old man.
- Upcoming CCHD Collection Focuses On Aiding Struggling Families Amidst Economic Downturn
(09-211)
October 20, 2009
WASHINGTON—"Families are struggling. Faith is calling" is the theme of the 2009 Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), which will be held in most Catholic parishes the weekend of November 21-22.
- Cardinal George Responds to Vatican Announcement on Anglican Groups Entering Catholic Church
(09-210)
October 20, 2009
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued the following statement, October 20, following a Vatican announcement of a new provision concerning Anglican groups coming into the Catholic Church. His statement follows:
"Today the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has received word of the new Provision in the form of an apostolic constitution issued by the Holy See for the reception into full communion with the Catholic Church of groups from the Anglican tradition. The USCCB stands ready to collaborate in the implementation of that Provision in our country.
- Dialogue Statement, Vocations Topic Of Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Church Meeting
(09-209)
October 19, 2009
WASHINGTON—The new agreed statement of the international dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the fostering of vocations were the main topics of discussion at the 2009 meeting of the national dialogue between the two communions.
The meeting took place September 30-October 1 at the Passionist Spiritual Center in Riverdale, New York, and was co-chaired by Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, New York , and The Right Reverend Chor-Episcopos John Meno of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch.
In the first session, Paulist Father Ronald G. Roberson, Associate Director of the USCCB’s Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and a member of the international Oriental Orthodox-Roman Catholic dialogue, presented the new international agreed text, entitled “Nature, Constitution and Mission of the Church.” The document outlines broad areas of consensus on such topics as the Church as communion, the attributes of the Church, the bishops and apostolic succession, the relationship between synodality and primacy, the nature of councils, and the mission of the Church. It also identifies points that need further study. Members welcomed this step forward in our relationship and commented on the contents and significance of the document.
- Pope Names Indianapolis Pastor Bishop Of Cheyenne, Wyoming
(09-208E)
October 19, 2009
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI named Father Paul D. Etienne, 50, pastor of St. Paul Church in Tell City, Indiana, as Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Publication of the appointment was announced in Washington, October 19, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Bishop-elect Etienne succeeds Bishop David L. Ricken, who was named Bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin, July 9, 2008.
- Liturgical Items At November Meeting Will Conclude U.S. Bishops’ Work On English Translation Of Roman Missal
(09-207)
October 15, 2009
WASHINGTON—Six years of intense work on the English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal are drawing to an end with five action items set to be voted on by the U.S. Catholic Bishops at their meeting in Baltimore, November 16-19.
- Bishops To Debate, Vote On Pastoral Letter On Marriage At November Meeting
(09-205)
October 14, 2009
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will vote on the approval of a pastoral letter on marriage at their November 16-19 fall general assembly in Baltimore. The letter, “Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” is an important component of the Bishops’ National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage that began in 2004 (see www.usccb.org/laity/marriage/npim.shtml).
- Bishops' Conference Officials Voice Disappointment In Senate Finance Committee Health Care Vote
(09-204)
October 14, 2009
WASHINGTON—Spokespersons for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voiced disappointment in the Senate Finance Committee vote to approve its health care reform bill without first fixing problematic provisions.
- President Of U. S. Bishops’ Conference Congratulates President Obama For Nobel Peace Prize
(09-203)
October 12, 2009
WASHINGTON--Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued the following statement, congratulating President Barack Obama on being honored with the Nobel Peace Prize:
- Bishop Hubbard Offers Administration Catholic Teaching, Experience For Policy In Afghanistan
(09-202)
October 9, 2009
WASHINGTON—Recognizing the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan is at a “critical juncture,” Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y. shared Catholic teaching and experience in a letter to the National Security Advisor. The goal of the letter is to help inform the policy choices under consideration by the Obama Administration regarding Afghanistan.
- U.S. Bishops: Current Health Care Bills Violate Essential Principles; Will Seek Changes Or Have To Oppose
(09-201)
October 8, 2009
WASHINGTON—Three chairmen of the bishops’ committees working on health care reform urged the U.S. Congress to improve current health care reform legislation, expressing their “disappointment that progress has not been made on the three priority criteria for health care reform” cited in their previous letters.
- USCCB Commends Advance Of Community Radio Act
(09-200)
October 8, 2009
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) commends the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet for marking up H.R. 1147, the Community Radio Act of 2009, and moving this important bill forward.
- Cardinal McCarrick Brings Catholic Bishops’ Perspective To Senate Hearing On Comprehensive Immigration Reform
(09-199)
October 8, 2009
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, testified today in Congress before the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The hearing sought faith-based perspectives on immigration reform.
- Pope Accepts Resignation Of Bishop Patrick Cooney Of Gaylord, Michigan, Names Pittsburgh Priest His Successor
(09-198)
October 7, 2009
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Patrick R. Cooney of Gaylord, Michigan, and named as his successor, Msgr. Bernard A. Hebda, 50, a Pittsburgh priest and Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
- USCCB Web Page Follows Special Assembly For Africa Of The Synod Of Bishops
(09-197)
October 6, 2009
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a Web page on the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, which can be found at www.usccb.org/africasynod. The Synod, which began October 4 at the Vatican and will continue through October 25, will address issues facing the Church in Africa, including conflict and the promotion of peace and reconciliation, dialogue with Muslims, economic justice and the family.
- Bishops Clarify Statement On Dialogue With Jewish Community, Plan To Excise Two Lines From Earlier Statement On ‘Doctrinal Ambiguities’
(09-196)
October 6, 2009
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and four other bishops issued on October 5, a "Statement of Principles for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue."
The cardinal and bishops also said in a letter that the June 18 document titled, "A Note on Ambiguities Contained in ‘Reflections on Covenant and Mission’” would be amended by removing two sentences that might lead to misunderstanding about the purpose of interreligious dialogue.
- Bishops Express Support For Bridgeport Bishop Lori In His Diocese’s Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court
(09-195)
October 5, 2009
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has made public a statement in support of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., and its bishop, William E. Lori, in the Diocese's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding legal proceedings initiated by the New York Times and other newspapers in 2002.
The statement was issued at the request of the Administrative Committee of the USCCB.
- Bishops' Committee Heralds Leadership Conference Of Women Religious Exhibit On Sisters
(09-194)
October 2, 2009
WASHINGTON—A Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) traveling exhibit, “Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in the United States,” drew praise from Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., of Boston, chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Cardinal O’Malley hailed the exhibit in an October 1 letter on behalf of the bishops’ committee that asked to be distributed to all LCWR members.
- Senate Committee Addresses Some Issues On Affordability, Fails To Correct Abortion Problems And Immigration Concerns, Say Usccb Officials
(09-193)
October 2, 2009
WASHINGTON— Officials of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) saw mixed results when the Senate Finance Committee completed voting on amendment to its proposed health care reform bill this week.
In a recent letter to the Senate, the USCCB had called for improvements in the bill to meet the bishops’ key criteria for genuine health care reform: protecting life and dignity, affordability, and inclusion of immigrants. For the text of this letter see www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/2009-09-30-healthcare-letter-senate.pdf.
- Bishops To Meet Nov. 16-19, In Baltimore; Agenda Includes Votes On Liturgical Texts, Letter On Marriage, Document On Reproductive Technologies, Revision Of Item In Ethical And Religious Directives
(09-191)
October 1, 2009
WASHINGTON—The annual Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will be November 16-19, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.
In a change from the usual schedule, the meeting will begin with Mass on Monday morning, followed by regional meetings. The public plenary session will not open until early Monday afternoon.
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