Happening Now

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letter to Congress on Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act of 2022
August 3, 2022

Letter to Congress on the EQUAL Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, August 1, 2022

Statement on the July 4 Shooting in Highland Park, Illinois
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and Archbishop William E. Lori, July 6, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas Daly, June 23, 2022

U.S. Bishops’ Domestic Policy Chairman Commends Congressional Efforts to Address Gun Violence
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, June 14, 2022

Bishop Chairmen Call for Congressional Action to Address Gun Violence 
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly, June 3, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence and Root Causes of Violence
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly, June 3, 2022

Statement of USCCB on School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
May 24, 2022

Statement of USCCB on Shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Woods
May 16, 2022

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, March 9, 2022

Letters and Statements on Criminal and Restorative Justice

2016-Present

Letter to Congress on RESTORE Act
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Mr. Ralph Middlecamp, Sr. Donna Markham, and Ms. Karen Clifton, June 9, 2023

Letter to Congress on Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act of 2022
August 3, 2022

Letter to Congress on the EQUAL Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley and Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, August 1, 2022

Bishop Chairmen Call for Better Police Formation and Accountability
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, June, 24, 2020

Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen in Wake of Death of George Floyd and National Protests
Bishop Shelton J. Fabre, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop David G. O’Connell, Bishop Joseph N. Perry
May 29, 2020 

Pass the FIRST STEP Act
In a November 20, 2018 letter to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Bishop Frank J. Dewane joins with the President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA and the President of the National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul write to urge passage of the FIRST Step Act and in so doing improve the lives of people impacted by the federal criminal justice system.

Letter Discussing FIRST STEP Act
In an August 6, 2018 letter to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Sr. Donna Markham share an analysis of the FIRST STEP Act and express their encouragement in its efforts to improve upon the criminal justice system.

Letter to U.S. Senate in Support of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017
On March 26, 2018, Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Sr. Donna Markham write to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in support of sentencing reform as a component of comprehensive improvement to the nation's criminal justice system.

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives in Support of Second Chance Act Reauthorization Act of 2017
In an October 16, 2017 letter with Catholic Charities USA, Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Sr. Donna Markham write to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary to express support for the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2017.

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Urging Support for the Second Chance Act
In a January 11, 2016 letter to the House Judiciary Committee, the Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham urge support for the Second Chance Act siting that the legislation is an important step in addressing issues facing formerly incarcerated individuals reentering society.  The legislation would support programs proven to reduce recidivism.

2005-2015

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Sentencing Reform Act of 2015
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, November 16, 2015

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, October 19, 2015 

Testimony Submitted for the Record to U.S. House of Representatives on Criminal Justice Reform 
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, and The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, July 14, 2015

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding the Second Chance Act
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, July 8, 2015

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2015
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, April 14, 2015

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Tax-payers in Our National System (CORRECTIONS) Act
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Sr. Donna Markham, April 14, 2015

Letter to U.S. Sentencing Commission on Fixing Broken Sentencing Guidelines
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Rev. Larry Snyder, July 7, 2014

Letter to U.S. Senate on Smarter Sentencing Act
Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski and Rev. Larry Snyder, March 27, 2014

Letter to Congress on Second Chance Act
Archbishop Thomas G.. Wenski and Rev. Larry Snyder, March 4, 2014

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on Second Chance Act of 2007
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Rev. Larry Snyder, April 18, 2007

Letter to U.S. House of Representatives on the Second Chance Act
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, July 26, 2006

Letter to U.S. House of Representative on the Second Change Act
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Rev. Larry Snyder, April 29, 2005

Letters and Statements on Gun Violence

2019-Present

Statement on the July 4 Shooting in Highland Park, Illinois
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and Archbishop William E. Lori, July 6, 2022

Bishop Chairman Welcomes Passage of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas Daly, June 24, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas Daly, June 23, 2022

U.S. Bishops’ Domestic Policy Chairman Commends Congressional Efforts to Address Gun Violence
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, June 14, 2022

Bishop Chairmen Call for Congressional Action to Address Gun Violence 
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly, June 3, 2022

Letter to Congress Regarding Gun Violence and Root Causes of Violence
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Bishop Thomas A. Daly, June 3, 2022

Statement of USCCB on School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas
May 24, 2022

Statement of USCCB on Shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Woods
May 16, 2022

Letter to U.S. Senate Regarding Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, March 9, 2022

Call for Easter Response to Mass Shooting in Indianapolis
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, April 19, 2021

U.S. Bishop Chairman Mourns Loss of Life in Mass Shooting in Boulder, Colorado
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, March 24, 2021 

Statement of U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for Domestic Justice Committee on Shootings in San Jose
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, May 26, 2021

U.S. Bishop Chairman Urges Peace Following Reports Warning of Plans for Additional Violence at State Capitols and U.S. Capitol
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, January 16, 2021