2009 Fall General Assembly
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Election Results
Chairman of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocation Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis was elected in a 118-114 vote over Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, N.C.
Chairman of the Committee on Divine Worship Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans was elected in a 126-110 vote over Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit.
Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Calif. was elected in a 120-117 vote over Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Fla.
Chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind. was elected in a 145-93 vote over Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan.
Chairman of the Committee on Migration Archbishop José Gomez of San Antonio was elected in a 132-105 vote over Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, Texas
Agenda General Meeting Agenda
Photo Briefs from 2008
Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Calif., speaks from the floor Nov. 11 at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Diego submits ballots during a vote Nov. 11 at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
U.S. bishops celebrate Mass Nov. 10 at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Bishop Hebert A. Bevard of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands applauds an address by Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago Nov. 10 during the opening session of the U.S. bishops' general fall meeting in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
U.S. bishops' join in prayer Nov. 10 at the opening session of their general fall meeting in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) (Nov. 10, 2008)
Auxiliary Bishop Francis J. Kane of Chicago smiles Nov. 10 during the opening session of the bishops' general fall meeting in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta works on his laptop Nov. 10 before the opening session of the U.S. bishops' general fall meeting in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Fla., gets an early start Nov. 10 as he looks over documents before the opening session of the U.S. bishops' general fall meeting in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
CNS FILE PHOTO: U.S. bishops pray at the opening of their fall meeting in Baltimore in 2007. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Auxiliary Bishop Peter A. Libasci of Rockville Centre, N.Y., prays during the U.S. bishops' general meeting in Baltimore Nov. 17. (CNS/Bob Roller)
Bishops approve translations of final five sections of Roman Missal
BALTIMORE (CNS)—The U.S. bishops approved the English translation and U.S. adaptations of five final sections of the Roman Missal in voting on the second day of their annual fall general assembly in Baltimore. With overwhelming majority votes, the bishops approved translations of the proper of the saints, specific prayers to each saint in the universal liturgical calendar; the commons, general prayers for celebrating saints listed in the "Roman Martyrology"; the Roman Missal supplement; the U.S. propers, a collection of orations and formularies for feasts and memorials particular to the U.S. liturgical calendar; and U.S. adaptations to the Roman Missal.
There was some debate on the floor about a separate piece of the translations -- the antiphons -- which has not come to the bishops for consideration, but instead has advanced through the Vatican's approval procedures without the consultation of the English-language bishops' conferences around the world. MORE
Bishops Approve Items on Marriage, Reproductive Technologies, Medically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration
BALTIMORE—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a pastoral letter on marriage, a document on reproductive technologies, and a proposed revision to the directives that guide Catholic health care services on November 17, the second day of their 2009 Fall General Assembly.
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Bishops Elect Chairs-Elect of Five Committees, Members of CRS and Clinic Boards
BALTIMORE—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop (USCCB), meeting for their Fall General Assembly, elected by simple majority the chairmen-elect of five committees.
John Jay Researchers Offer Update on Causes and Context Study; Early Findings Confirm Steep Decline in Sexual Abuse Cases after 1985, Emphasizethe Importance of Seminary Training
WASHINGTON—Researchers from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice presented an Interim Report on the Causes and Context Study on sexual abuse of minors by clergy at the November assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The bishops called for the Study as part of their response to the sexual abuse crisis when they adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002.
Bishops OK budget for 2010, 3 percent assessment increase for 2011
BALTIMORE (CNS)—The U.S. bishops approved a budget of $144.5 million for 2010, which represents an increase of less than 0.2 percent over the 2009 budget.
Also Nov. 17, the second day of the bishops' annual fall general meeting in Baltimore, they approved a 3 percent increase in the diocesan assessment, to take effect in 2011.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., chairman of the bishops' Committee on Budget and Finance, said the assessment increase would be the first in "several years" for dioceses. The assessment rate, he added, is "at about the same level as it was 11 years ago."
Coverage of Bishops' Meeting Available Via Satellite, Internet
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will work in conjunction with Telecare, the television station of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, to provide live coverage of the U.S. Bishops’ Fall General Assembly, November 16-19, in Baltimore. This coverage will be “free to air” via satellite. Telecare will cover the public sessions of the U.S. Bishops’ meeting, airing coverage Monday, November 16, from 1-6 p.m., Tuesday, November 17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday, November 18, 9-11 a.m.
Florida Young Adult Receives National Award for Efforts to Support Farmworkers
WASHINGTON—Brigitte Gynther, 27, coordinator of Interfaith Action (IA) of Southwest Florida, is the recipient of the 2009 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award for her role in supporting and empowering farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), as they pursue fair wages, improved working conditions, and an end to modern day slavery in the fields.
U.S. Bishops to Vote on Revision of Ethical Directive on Nutrition and Hydration at November Meeting
WASHINGTON—The full body of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will take into account the most recent Catholic teaching on care for the chronically ill and dying when they vote on a proposed revision of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services at their November 16-19 general assembly in Baltimore. The proposed revision states more definitively the moral obligation to provide medically assisted nutrition and hydration to patients in a “persistent vegetative state.” The revision draws from Pope John Paul II’s March 2004 Address to the Participants in the International Congress on "Life- Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas" and the Congregationfor the Doctrine of the Faith's August 2007 Responses to Certain Questions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration. The current Ethical and Religious Directives, which predate both documents,reference only the conclusions of "some state Catholic conferences, individualbishops, and the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities."
Bishops to Hear Report about Defense of Marriage
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops will hear a report highlighting U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) efforts to promote and protect marriage as the exclusive and permanent union between a man and a woman at their November 16-19 meeting in Baltimore. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, who chairs the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, will deliver the report. Report items include an update on the Committee’s work in catechesis/education and public policy. A key effort includes development of five seven-nine minute videos, to be rolled out with accompanying pamphlets and a related Web site in 2010.
Document on Married Love and Reproductive Technology on Agenda for U.S. Bishops' November Meeting
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. “The Church has compassion for couples suffering from infertility and wants to be of real help to them," explains the draft document."At the same time, some ‘reproductive technologies’ are not legitimate ways to solve those problems. We bishops of the United States offer this reflection to explain why. We also offer it to provide hope—real hope that couples can fulfill their procreative potential and build a family while fully respecting God’s design for their marriage and for the gift of children."
Bishops to Vote On USCCB Chairs-Elect of Five Committees
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. The following bishops were nominated for these positions.
CNS FILE PHOTO: Auxiliary Bishop Peter A. Rosazza of Hartford, Conn., signals to speak on the floor Nov. 11 during the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
Liturgical Items at November Meeting Will Conclude U.S. Bishops’ Work on English Translation of Roman Missal
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. Divine Worship items include votes on ICEL (International Committee for English in the Liturgy) Gray Book (final draft) translations, of the Proper of Saints, the Commons and the Roman Missal Supplement as well as the U.S. Propers and the U.S. adaptations to the Roman Missal. Approval of these items requires the positive vote of two-thirds of the Latin Church members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and subsequent confirmation by the Holy See.
Bishops to Debate, Vote on Pastoral Letter on Marriage at November Meeting
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). The pastoral letter is written with a broad and diverse audience in mind – ranging from young unmarried adults to married couples to those who offer pastoral ministries to those whose work informs and shapes opinion and public policy about marriage. The bishops write, “We address this pastoral letter first and foremost to the Catholic faithful in the United States. In a spirit of witness and service we also offer our message to all men and women in the hope of inspiring them to embrace this teaching.”
CNS FILE PHOTO: Retired Auxiliary Bishop David Arias of Newark, N.J., left, cast ballots during a vote at the 2008 annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)
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
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. At the assembly, the bishops will hear an address by the president of the USCCB, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago; and elect the USCCB chairs-elect of the Committees on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations; Divine Worship; Domestic Justice and Human Development; Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; and Migration.