National News
NCCW records a million-plus works of mercy during jubilee year
The National Council of Catholic Women's "Million Works of Mercy" initiative, proposed by supporting member Jane Carter, asked NCCW members to tally their works of mercy, performed either individually or as a council affiliate.
U.S. bishops urged to bring wider attention to Christian persecution
Maronite Bishop Gregory J. Mansour said he hoped that the new four-year strategic plan adopted by the conference earlier in the day would incorporate a robust advocacy for religious freedom in the rest of the world.
Bishops make Africa subcommittee permanent, OK two staff positions for it
The bishops in a later vote also approved another 10-year extension for its most popular national collection, the Retirement Fund for Religious collection, which is taken up in most U.S. dioceses in early December.
Report commissioned by bishops finds diversity abounds in U.S. church
Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio called the study "groundbreaking" because he said it combined, for the first time all available data from Catholic and non-Catholic sources and mapped the multicultural and ethnic diversity of the church nationwide.
USCCB president-elect stresses need to listen, continue dialogue
The bishops "intend to be attentive," said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston hours after his Nov. 15 election to a three-year term that begins at the close of the bishops' fall assembly in Baltimore.
Bishops reject assessment hike; mail vote needed on change in formula
Needing 130 votes to approve the assessment increase, only 100 bishops, or 60 percent, approved the hike, while 65 voted it down.
Guam’s new coadjutor archbishop says his first task will be to listen
He added he also is aware that he will have to bring about "healing to those who said they have been abused."
U.S. church prepares for 2018 Encuentro in Fort Worth
The fifth Encuentro will be the culmination of parish, diocesan and regional encuentros, in which the bishops anticipate more than 1 million Catholics participating over the next two years.
Text: Pope Francis’ message to U.S. bishops on Encuentro
Here is the text of Pope Francis' English-language message to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Nov. 15 about the Fifth Encuentro
Bishops say Mass at historic black Catholic church; elect new officers
UPDATED - The U.S. bishops chose to break from tradition during this year's fall assembly by celebrating Mass at the church known as the "Mother Church" of black Catholics in Western Baltimore instead of the usual venue: Baltimore's historic basilica.