National News
Bishops form group to address Biden policies, church teaching
The vice president of the U.S. bishops will lead a working group to address policies of President-elect Biden that may be in conflict with Catholic teaching and the bishops' priorities.
Bishops reauthorize anti-racism ad hoc committee for three more years
"We hope that, once we get beyond COVID, to pick up on listening sessions" regarding racism around the U.S., said committee chairman Shelton J. Fabre of Louisiana.
Bishops approve pandemic-influenced budget for 2021
The USCCB had started trimming expenses in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, even as its stock portfolio gyrated wildly. The bishops approved a balanced budget Nov. 16.
Women urge bishops to continue response to top issues
Two women who lead groups that advise the U.S. bishops encouraged them to continue holding dialogues on racism, reaching out to Catholics during the pandemic and informing them about efforts to prevent abuse in the church.
Bishop Conley returns to lead Lincoln Diocese after medical leave
After treatment for depression and anxiety, Bishop James Conley cautioned bishops at the annual meeting that "there are a lot of stresses on bishops and it's only going to get worse."
Bishops air feelings, solutions to prevent another ‘predator’ in their midst
While the description of former cardinal Theodore McCarrick's rise to power reads like a list of the seven deadly sins, one bishop at this week's meeting warned that pastors themselves "can turn a blind eye to sin."
At meeting, U.S. bishops focus on McCarrick report, COVID, racism
The two days of the virtual assembly of the U.S. Catholic bishops initially included discussion of the Vatican report on former cardinal Theodore McCarrick. But the bulk of the conversation focused on the ongoing pandemic and the church's response to racism.
Alito sees religious freedom ‘fast becoming’ a ‘disfavored right’
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, in a speech to the Federalist Society, cited trends such as restrictions on free speech, gun rights and on houses of worship in response to COVID-19.
Brooklyn Diocese asks high court for injunction on limits on indoor worship
The diocese objected to New York's limiting "in-person 'house of worship' attendance to 10 or 25 people" but allowing "numerous secular businesses to operate without any capacity restrictions."
Voter behavior wasn’t different in the 2020 election, just the results
Political experts find that some elements of previous elections were present in this year's races, with the exception of the leading issue, COVID, and the "mutual radicalization" of politics.