National News

National confab was a big hit; energy to evangelize must be seized

A trio of bishops say last July's meeting of 3,200 Catholic leaders was "not just another meeting," and it offered "bold and creative" ways of building evangelization efforts to bolster church and parish life.

California bishop asks for prayers after shooting tragedy in his state

UPDATED - A gunman opened fire at random locations, including near a grade school, in a rural area, leaving at least four people dead and at least 10 others injured.

Too much info to review, and it’s coming too fast, for committee

The two full-time staff members of the bishops' catechism committee can't keep up with overseeing the review process for dramatically more material in English and Spanish from publishers across the U.S.

Beatification will see ‘Jesus planting his cross’ in heart of Detroit

Jerseys and helmets will be replaced by chasubles and miters as thousands of bishops, clergy and faithful from across the country prepare to celebrate the beatification of Capuchin Franciscan Father Solanus Casey at the home of the NFL's Detroit Lions.

Bishops OK budget for 2018, hiking diocesan assessment for 2019

Last year the bishops voted down an increase in the assessment from US dioceses to the national conference. As a result the "tight, balanced budget" cuts programs, travel and building maintenance, and curtails wages "below market value for the D.C. area."

U.S. bishops’ predecessors read ‘signs of the times’ in founding USCCB

Held the day before the bishops opened their fall general assembly in Baltimore, the workshop featured three talks, the first by Cardinal Dolan, head of a task force on the centenary observance.

Bishops to put together pastoral plan for marriage, family life ministry

U.S. Catholic bishops acknowledged that Catholic families and married couples need more support from the church at large and hope to offer it by giving parishes plenty of resources through a pastoral plan for marriage and family life.

Sainthood cause of Lakota catechist moves forward

The U.S. bishops voted Nov. 14 to move forward the sainthood cause of Nicholas W. Black Elk, a 19th-century Lakota catechist who is said to have introduced hundreds of Lakota people to the Catholic faith.

Panama archbishop: World Youth Day will invite youth of other faiths

UPDATED - Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa Mendieta of Panama visited Baltimore for the gathering of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 13 and 14, where he gave bishops an informational overview of the preparations for World Youth Day. 

U.S. bishops take on immigration, racism at fall assembly

UPDATED - They acknowledged the current polarization in the country and divides within the Catholic Church and stressed their responsibility as church leaders to promote immigration reform, educate parishioners on justice issues and listen to those affected by "sins of racism."