Advocacy for Israeli-Palestinian Peace

The USCCB has an active history of engaging our political leaders to work for a just peace in the Holy Land and to promote the rights of minorities, especially the vulnerable Christian minority.  These letters, action alerts and backgrounders represent the Conference's public actions on the situation in the Holy Land. 

Interreligious Leaders' Statement:  Twilight of Hope for Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Bishop Richard Pates, Bishop Denis Maden, January 2013

Communique of the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, January 10, 2013

Letter to President Obama regarding Israel and Palestine
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Richard Pates, January 9, 2013

Letter to President on Peace in the Middle East
Christian leaders, including Bishop Richard E. Pates, January 7, 2013

Letter to Congress on Palestinian Assistance and UN Vote
Bishop Richard E. Pates, December 3, 2012

Letter to National Security Advisor on Gaza and Southern Israel
Bishop Richard E. Pates, November 20, 2012

Catholic Campaign for Peace in the Holy Land

Website of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East

Letter to Secretary of State Clinton on Israel and Palestine
Bishop Richard E. Pates, November 8, 2012

Letter to Patriarch Twal on Anti-Christian Incident at Monastery
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Richard Pates, September 7, 2012

Statement on Anti-Christian Incident at Monastery Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land
September 4, 2012

Letter to Secretary of State Clinton on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Bishop Richard E. Pates, July 13, 2012

Background on the Holy Land
February 2012

Communiqué of the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy land
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, January 12, 2012

Religious Leaders Urge Strong U.S. Leadership for Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Bishop Howard Hubbard, May 20, 2011

Background on the Holy Land
February 2011

Religious Leaders Urge President to Pursue Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Bishop Howard Hubbard, April 14, 2010

Ecumenical Letter Supporting U.S. Leadership for Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and Ken Hackett, April 5, 2010

Background on Holy Land
February 2010

The Courage to Achieve Peace in the Holy Land
Communiqué of the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land, January 14, 2010

NILI Delegation Trip Report
December 30, 2009

Letter in Support of a Comprehensive Middle East Peace
Bishop Howard Hubbard, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, September 22, 2009

Ecumenical Letter on Sheikh Jarrah Evictions
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, August 7, 2009

Action Alert - Support Bold Action for Peace in the Holy Land
June 9, 2009

Ecumenical Letter to President Obama on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, June 4, 2009

Letter to President Obama on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
May 17, 2009

Backgrounder on Holy Land
February 2009

Action Alert:  Support U.S. Leadership for Israeli-Palestinian Peace
February 13, 2009

Letter to President Obama on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East, January 27, 2009

Stop the Violence, Start Building Peace
Press release and communiqueCoordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy LandJanuary 15, 2009

Action Alert – Call Congress: Urge Statements in Support of Cease Fire
January 8, 2009

Action Alert – Support Peace in Middle East; Letter to President-Elect Obama
January 5, 2009

Action Alert – Urge Negotiation and Humanitarian Assistance in Gaza
January   2, 2009

Letter  to Secretary of State Rice on Gaza Violence
Bishop  Howard J. Hubbard, December 30, 2008

Action Alert –  Urge Negotiation and Humanitarian Assistance in Gaza
December  30, 2008

Window of Hope for the Peace of Jerusalem:
Jewish, Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders Call for Urgent U.S. Leadership
December 4, 2008

Letter to President-elect Obama on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, December 1, 2008

Advent Resource for Peace in the Holy Land
Advent 2008

Background on Holy Land Peace
May 2008

Action Alert - Support Peace in the Holy Land
May 8, 2008

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative Letter to Secretary of State Rice
March 20, 2008

Background on Holy Land Peace
February 2008

Hill Notes on Peace in the Middle East:  Israel-Palestine
February 2008

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative Letter to President Bush
January 30, 2008

Speaking a Word of Hope at a Critical Time for the Holy Land
Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land
January 16, 2008

Call for Prayer on Eve of Peace Conference
Cardinal Francis George, November 21, 2007

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative Letter to Secretary of State Rice
November 1, 2007

Action Alert: Ask Senators to Support Resolution 321 on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
September 28, 2007

Letter to U.S. Senate Supporting Resolution 224 on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, June 12, 2007

ACTION ALERT: Co-sponsor Senate Resolution 224 on Israeli-Palestinian Peace
June 12, 2007

Letter to Israeli Foreign Minister Regarding the Fundamental Agreement
Bishop William S. Skylstad, April 19, 2007

Peace in the Middle East Hill Note
February 2007

Background on Peace in the Holy Land
February 2007

Ecumenical Letter to President Bush
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, January 23, 2007

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East Statement, Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace: From Crisis to Hope
December 12, 2006

National Interreligious Leadership Initiative Letter to Secretary of State Rice
December 12, 2006

Action Alert on Middle East Crisis: Request U.S. Leadership to Achieve an Immediate Ceasefire, Deliver Humanitarian Aid and Seek Political Solutions
August 1, 2006

Letter to Congress on Cycle of Violence in the Middle East
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski, July 20, 2006

Letter to All Bishops Declaring July 23 to be a Day of Prayer for Peace
Bishop William S. Skylstad, July 20, 2006

Letter of Solidarity to Patriarch Michel Sabbah
July 14, 2006

Statements of the Holy See and Churches in the Holy Land
July 2006

Break the Cycle of Violence in the Holy Land
Bishop Thomas Wenski, July 17, 2006

Letter to Senator Lugar on Palestinian Aid and Engagement Issues
Bishop Thomas Wenski, May 26, 2006

Action Alert: Palestinian Aid and Engagement for Peace Ask Representatives to Oppose HR 4681
May 8, 2006

Letter to Chairman Henry Hyde on the Amendment to the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006
Bishop Thomas Wenski, April 6, 2006

Background on Holy Land
April 2006

Letter to Chairman Henry Hyde on Palestinian Aid
Bishop Thomas Wenski, March 1, 2006

Appeal to the President to Make Israeli-Palestinian Peace a Priority of U.S. Policy
National Interreligious Leadership Institute for Peace in the Middle East, February 28, 2006

Background on Holy Land
February 2006

Catholic Bishops Meeting in Holy Land Issue Call for Justice
January 19, 2006

Campaign for American Leadership in the Middle East
November 23, 2005

Statement Protesting Iranian President's Remarks on Israel
Bishop John H. Ricard, October 31, 2005

Background on Holy Land
October 2005

Urgent Appeal to U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
National Interreligious Leadership Delegation, June 1, 2004

Press Release: Religious Leaders Urge Administration for full Implementation of the Road Map to Peace
June 1, 2004

List of Signatories to Urgent Appeal to U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell

Christian, Jewish and Muslim Leaders Unite To Urge Active U.S. Leadership in Pursuit of Middle East Peace

Letter to President Bush on Commitment to Achieving Arab-Israeli-Palestinian Peace
National Interreligious Leadership Initiative, April 14, 2005

Statement on the Developments in the Middle East
Bishop John H. Ricard, February 10, 2005

Background on Holy Land
February 2005

Letter to Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Designate, on Negotiations Between Israel and the Holy See
Bishop William S. Skylstad, January 18, 2005

Letter to Ambassador Daniel Ayalon on Negotiations Between Israel and the Holy See
Bishop William S. Skylstad, January 18, 2005

Remarks at the National Press Club on Peace for the Middle East
William Cardinal Keeler, January 13, 2005

USCCB President Addresses Israeli, Palestinian Presidents
January 11-13, 2006

Background on Holy Land
October, 2005

Remarks in the Holy Land to Presidents of Israel and the Palestinian Authority
Bishop William S. Skylstad, January 11, 2005

Letter to President Bush on the Death of Yasser Arafat
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, November 11, 2004

A Moment for Peace in the Middle East: A Statement on the Death of Yasser Arafat
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, November 11, 2004

Statement Concerning U.S. Support for Sharon Initiative
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, April 26, 2004

Message from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday
April 11, 2004

U.S. Endorsement of Israeli Plans Deeply Troubling
April 2004

Letter to President George W. Bush on Deteriorating Situation in the Holy Land
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, April 13, 2004

Letter to Ambassador Ayalon on Visas for Church Personnel in the Holy Land
Bishop John H. Ricard and William Cardinal Keeler, April 7, 2004

Background on the Middle East
February 2004

Urgent Need for Peace Highlighted by Catholic Bishops' Meeting
January 15, 2004

Interfaith Initiative for Peace in the Middle East
December 2, 2003

Urgent Steps for Peace
December 2, 2003

List of Signatories to These Two Documents
December 2, 2003

Cardinal McCarrick's Remarks at the Press Conference
December 2, 2003

Congressional "Dear Colleague" letter in support of this initiative
December 3, 2003

List of Signatories to the Colleague Letter

Letter to President Bush on Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East
November 25, 2003

Statement on the Separation Wall
Jerusalem, August 26, 2003

Letter to President Bush on the Road Map for Peace in the Middle East
Most Reverend Bishop Wilton Gregory, May 30, 2003

Letter to Ambassador Daniel Ayalon on Extension of the Security Wall
Most Reverend John H. Ricard, March 14, 2003

Holy Land Update
February 2003

Letter to Ambassador Daniel Ayalon on Difficulties Obtaining Visas and Work Permits
Bishop John H. Ricard, January 15, 2003

Religious Leaders Urge National Security Advisor to Take New Steps for Peace in the Middle East
September 17, 2002

Letter to Latin Patriarch Sabbah on Special Observance on Mount Zion
Bishop Wilton Gregory, May 16, 2002

Statement on the Church of the Nativity
Bishop Wilton Gregory, May 10, 2002

Letter to President Bush on Escalating Violence in the Holy Land
Bishop Wilton Gregory, April 10, 2002

President's Statement on the Middle East
Bishop Wilton Gregory, April 2, 2002

Statement on Israeli-Palestinian Violence
Administrative Committee, March 13, 2002

Statement on Nazareth Mosque
March 6, 2002

Letter to Ambassador Ivry About Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth
March 5, 2002

Press Release on Nazareth Mosque
February 6, 2002

Background on the Holy Land
February 2002

Message of International Catholic Bishops Calls for Greater Solidarity with the Christians of the Holy Land
January 24, 2002

A Message to the Christian of the Holy Land from the Visiting Bishops of Europe and North America
January 24, 2002

Letter to Ariel Sharon regarding Nazareth Mosque
January 23, 2002, 2002

Statement on Nazareth Mosque
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, January 9, 2002

Letter to Ambassador David Ivry
Bernard Cardinal Law, December 4, 2001

Letter to Abdel Raham
Bernard Cardinal Law, December 4, 2001

Statement at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Cardinal Bernard Law, December 2, 2001

Statement on Bethlehem
Bernard Cardinal Law, October 24, 2001

Resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis
A Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, June 15, 2001

Backgrounder
February 2001

Letter to Ambassador David Ivry
Cardinal Bernard Law, December 18, 2000

Letter to Ambassador of Israel David Ivry
Cardinal Bernard Law, November 22, 2000

Letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Cardinal Bernard Law, November 22, 2000

Returning to the Path of Peace in the Middle East
United States Catholic Conference, November 15, 2000

Letter to Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, November 13, 2000

Statement: Wounded Peace: Conflict in the Holy Land
Cardinal Bernard Law, October 16, 2000

Address to the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, October 21, 2000

Background on Holy Land Christians and the Great Jubilee
February 2000

Backgrounder on the Nazareth Mosque
February 2000

Address on the Question of Jerusalem
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, March 10, 1999

Report on the Symposium of Bishops Conferences on Jerusalem
Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, November 17, 1998

The Future of Jerusalem: Some Clarifications
Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, November 17, 1998

Backgrounder on the Crisis in Nazareth
November 1999

Summary Timeline on the Crisis in Nazareth
November 1999

Letter to President Clinton on the Crisis in Nazareth
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, October 29, 1999

Letter to Ambassador of Israel Zalman Shoval on the Nazareth Mosque
Bishop Joseph Fiorenza, October 21, 1999

Toward Peace in the Middle East: Perspectives, Principles, and Hopes
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 9, 1989