SYNOD OF BISHOPS 2008 The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church
Photo Briefs
Pope Benedict XVI is shown reading the bible in a live television feed projected inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome Oct. 5. The pope kicked off a Bible-reading marathon on Italian television. The pope read for several minutes from the Book of Genesis from his apartment at the Vatican, while other speakers read in the basilica. (CNS photo/Alessandro De Meo, Reuters)
Israeli Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen is interviewed by a television crew at his hotel in Rome Oct. 6, the day he became the first Jew to address a worldwide Synod of Bishops. Rabbi Cohen asked synod members to speak out against anti-Semitism and attacks on the state of Israel. (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters)
The image of Pope Benedict XVI reading the Bible on a live television feed is projected inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome Oct. 5. Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a Bible-reading marathon Oct. 5 on Italian television. The pope read for several minutes from the start of the Book of Genesis live from his apartment at the Vatican while other speakers read in the Basilica of Holy Cross. (CNS photo/Alessandro De Meo, Reuters)
Italian actor Roberto Benigni reads from the Book of Genesis for a live TV broadcast inside the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Rome Oct. 5. Pope Benedict XVI kicked off a Bible reading marathon Oct. 5 on Italian television. The pope read for several minutes from the start of the Book of Genesis live from his apartment at the Vatican while other speakers read in the Basilica of Holy Cross. (CNS photo/Alessandro De Meo, Reuters)
Bishops listen to Pope Benedict XVI during the opening meeting of the Synod of the Bishops at the Vatican Oct. 6. The focus of the gathering was "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church." (CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)
Pope Benedict XVI blesses with holy water during the Oct. 5 opening Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. (CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)
An Italian cardinal who repeatedly pushed for a synod on the Bible said he hopes the October gathering of bishops will focus on practical pastoral initiatives to bring Catholics closer to the Scriptures. Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, retired archbishop of Milan, told the Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica that too many Catholics still do not read the Bible alone or in groups. (CNS photo illustration/Nancy Wiechec)
Bishops receiving media queries
The following bishops are experts in the Scripture and have agreed to receive media queries during the Synod of Bishops on “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” To interview any of these bishops, contacted the Office of Media Relations of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at 202-541-3200.
Bishop Earl Boyea, Bishop of Lansing (MI)
Bishop Boyea holds an S.T.L. in biblical theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. His thesis addressed Christology in the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians. He has taught courses in biblical methodology and on the Book of Revelation. Bishop Boyea also holds an M.A. in History from Wayne State University and a Ph.D. in Church History from the Catholic University of America. He is an associate member of the Catholic Biblical Association.
Ordained a priest in 1978, he served as professor and academic dead at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and as rector/president at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH. In 2002, he was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was appointed Bishop of Lansing in February 2008.
Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, Bishop of Paterson (NJ)
Bishop Serratelli holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University. Bishop Serratelli serves as the chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on Scripture Translations and the chairmen of the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship. He is the U.S. representative to the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. Ordained a priest in 1968, he taught systematic theology, Sacred Scripture, and biblical languages at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, NJ. He also served as Rector of St. Andrew's College Seminary at Seton Hall University. He has taught at the Redemptorist Seminary in Esopus, NY; St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, NY; the Institute of Religious Studies, Archdiocese of New York; and the lay ministry program of the Educational Program Service of Trinity College, Washington, DC. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark in 2000. He was appointed Bishop of Paterson in 2004.
Bishop Richard J. Sklba, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee, WI
Bishop Sklba holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University, a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Roman University of Saint Thomas (the Angelicum). He is past chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of Scripture Translations and the current chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. He is a member and past president of the Catholic Biblical Association. He currently serves as the Chair of the Association’s Board of Trustees.
Ordained a priest in 1959, Bishop Sklba taught Scripture at Saint Francis Seminary in Milwaukee and at the Rome Branch of Loyola University of Chicago. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee in 1979.