• Holy See Grants Extension of 'Essential Norms' (05-079)
  March 31, 2005
  In a letter dated March 14, 2005, Spokane Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), informed the Conference members that the Congregation for Bishops had extended the recognitio (approval) for the "Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies.
  
• Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop Mulvee, Names Bishop Tobin as Bishop of Providence (05-077)
  March 31, 2005
  Pope John Paul II has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert E. Mulvee as Bishop of Providence and named Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Youngstown as his successor.
  
• Cardinal Keeler Mourns Tragic Death of Terri Schiavo (05-075)
  March 31, 2005
  Cardinal William H. Keeler, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, made the following statement today on the death of Terri Schiavo.
  
• Congressional Resolution on Sister Dorothy Stang Commended (05-078)
  March 30, 2005
  The chairman of the bishops' International Policy Committee has commended the author of a congressional resolution honoring the work of Sister Dorothy Stang among the poor farmers of Brazil's Amazon rain forest.
• U.S. Delegates to Fall Synod of Bishops Confirmed By Holy See (05-076)
  March 30, 2005
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been informed that Pope John Paul II has confirmed the election of U.S. bishops as Members of the forthcoming Synod of Bishops.
• Bishops Launch Survey Asking Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse of Minors to Aid Them in Helping Victims, Prevention (05-074)
  March 30, 2005
  The U.S. Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse has launched a survey of survivors of clergy sexual abuse of minors to get input into improving the church's response to the problem and its prevention.
• In Newsday Op-Ed, Bishops' Official Says Terri Schiavo Deserves Nourishment and Care (05-073)
  March 24, 2005
  In an op-ed today in Newsday, Cathy Cleaver Ruse, Esq., Director of Planning and Information for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, argued that, as long as food and water provide nourishment and comfort, we should see them as part of what we owe to all people who are helpless and in our care.
• 25th Anniversary Statement Expresses Hope That Archbishop Romero's Witness Will Guide the Whole Church of America (05-072)
  March 24, 2005
  In a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the assassination of the Archbishop of San Salvador, Bishop John H. Ricard expressed hope that the "prophetic witness of Archbishop Romero continue to guide the whole Church of America, the one America which the Holy Father calls on us to build in justice and solidarity."
• Cardinal Keeler Says Terri Schiavo Deserves Basic Care (05-071)
  March 24, 2005
  Cardinal William H. Keeler, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, made the following statement today regarding the case of Terri Schiavo, a woman at the heart of a controversy over withholding nutrition and hydration from people with cognitive disabilities.
• National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States is Published (05-070)
  March 23, 2005
  The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States is now available from USCCB Publishing.
• USCCB Institute for Bishops On Islam and Catholic-Muslim Relations Met At Georgetown University (05-069)
  March 22, 2005
  Thirteen Catholic bishops attended a specially designed three-day program on Islam and Catholic-Muslim relations, February 28-March 3, 2005.
• Bishops' Conference Approves Legislative Agenda for 109th Congress (05-068)
  March 22, 2005
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has identified more than one hundred issues of major importance in the 109th Congress.
• Bishops' Official Thanks Congress And The President For Giving Terri Schiavo A Chance To Live (05-067)
  March 21, 2005
  Early this morning President Bush signed into law a "private relief" bill passed by Congress over the weekend for the parents of Terri Schiavo, the young woman at the heart of a controversy over withholding food and water from people with cognitive disabilities.
• April 2004 Worth Noting (05-066)
  March 21, 2005
  
• Catholic Bishops Launch Major Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty (05-064)
  March 21, 2005
  Groundbreaking Zogby Poll Demonstrates Dramatic Rise in Catholic Opposition to Use of the Death Penalty
• Bishops' Official Commends Congressional Action on Terri Schiavo (05-065)
  March 18, 2005
  Gail Quinn, Executive Director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, made the following statement today on the recent Congressional action on Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman at the heart of a controversy over withholding nutrition and hydration from people with cognitive disabilities:
• More Than 150,000 People to Join Catholic Church Holy Saturday;
  Among Them Olympic Gold Medalist, Families, Young Adults (05-063)
  March 17, 2005
  More than 150,000 Americans will join the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday, March 26, through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
• USCCB Doctrine Committee Issues Statement Regarding Notification From The Congregation For The Doctrine of The Faith Concerning The Book Jesus, Symbol Of God (05-062)
  March 14, 2005
  The Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement welcoming the recent Notification from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith concerning the book Jesus, Symbol of God by Jesuit Father Roger Haight.
• Lake Charles Bishop Named to Belleville (05-061)
  March 14, 2005
  Pope John Paul II has appointed Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Lake Charles, Louisiana, to be bishop of Belleville.
• Down the Road – April Calendar (05-060)
  March 14, 2005
  
• Bishops' Committee Launches Roe V. Wade "Reality Checks" (05-059)
  March 14, 2005
  The Committee for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has launched a new effort to dispel myths about Roe v. Wade.
• Bishop DiMarzio Applauds Taco Bell Agreement (05-058)
  March 14, 2005
  Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Domestic Policy Committee, hailed the agreement between Taco Bell and Coalition of Immokalee Workers as "a step toward justice for farmworkers!" in a March 14 statement.
  
• Bishops Publish Compendium of Church's Social Teaching (05-057)
  March 14, 2005
  The much-awaited synthesis of Catholic social doctrine is now available to U.S. readers. Published by the Vatican in October of last year, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church has now been issued in an exclusive American edition by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
  
• Chairman Requests Information on Arrested Chinese Bishops (05-056)
  March 14, 2005
  The chairman of the bishops' International Policy Committee has requested information from the Chinese government on the condition and status of 18 bishops and 19 priests "either imprisoned, under house arrest, under surveillance or otherwise prevented from exercising their ministry" in China.
  
• Press Conference Advisory (05-055)
  March 14, 2005
  Changing Catholic Attitudes on Death Penalty: Zogby Poll
  
• Bishops' Pro-Life Spokeswoman Heartened By Harris Poll Showing Strongest Opposition to Roe V. Wade In Years (05-054)
  March 10, 2005
  A Harris Interactive Poll on abortion released March 3 shows the strongest opposition to Roe v. Wade in years.
  
• 'Scourge' Of Human Trafficking Must Be Eliminated, USCCB Expert Testifies (05-053)
  March 9, 2005
  Human trafficking is a "modern-day form of slavery," according to an advocate for child victims of trafficking at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who offered recommendations to members of Congress today on ways to improve upon the significant steps taken in recent years to identify and assist victims.
  
• Cardinal Keeler Issues Statement on Florida Schiavo Case; Stresses Church Teaching on Feeding, Hydration (05-052)
  March 9, 2005
  Cardinal William H. Keeler, chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, stressed Church teaching on nutrition and hydration in a March 9 statement.
  
• Bishops' Pro-Life Spokeswoman Hails U.N. Declaration Against All Forms of Human Cloning (05-050)
  March 8, 2005
  After years of debate, the United Nations has passed a declaration urging member nations to adopt laws banning all forms of human cloning.
  
• Bishops' Spokeswoman Applauds Hearing on Law Requiring Parents To Be Notified Before A Teen's Abortion (05-050)
  March 3, 2005
  Today the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee holds the first hearing on The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, H.R. 748.
  
• Catholic Relief Services Collection Slated For March 5-6 (05-049)
  March 3, 2005
  The Catholic Relief Services Collection, which supports emergency relief, human development, and peace initiatives in 99 countries around the world, will be taken up in most U.S. dioceses this weekend, March 5 and 6.
  
• Msgr. Salvatore Matano Named Coadjutor Bishop of Burlington (05-048)
  March 3, 2005
  Pope John Paul II has named Monsignor Salvatore R. Matano, a priest of the Diocese of Providence who is currently assigned to the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, as Coadjutor Bishop of Burlington.
  
• Bishops' Conference Applauds Supreme Court Decision On Death Penalty For Juvenile Offenders, Spokesman Says (05-047)
  March 1, 2005
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which for 25 years has been calling for an end to the use of the death penalty, "is very encouraged that the United States Supreme Court has recognized that executing juvenile offenders is indeed cruel and unusual," said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
  

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