News
USCCB’s election year document to be supplemented by letter, videos
The U.S. bishops' quadrennial document that provides guidance to voters on Catholic social teaching during a presidential election year won't change for 2020 but will be supplemented by a brief letter and four 90-second videos that reflect the teaching of Pope Francis.
U.S., English bishops welcome Vatican document on gender ideology
Catholic bishops in the U.S., England and Wales welcomed the Vatican's statement that gender ideology is opposed to faith and reason, and that Catholic schools and parents must help teach children that gender is fixed from birth.
Bishops may revise U.S. catechism to update capital punishment stance
On the first day of the bishops' spring assembly in Baltimore, Bishop Robert Barron said June 11 that the draft emphasizes the dignity of all people and the misapplication of capital punishment.
‘Filled with the Spirit,’ 7 men ordained for ministry as deacons
Just as there were seven men ordained by the apostles to serve the needs of the church, so Archbishop Charles Chaput ordained new permanent deacons in the presence of their wives June 8 at the cathedral.
Leader repeats call for greater lay role as church tackles abuse
The head of the National Review Board called for a greater role for laity in investigating allegations of abuse, among other recommendations that he said were meant to strengthen the church's response to the ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis.
US deal on migration crackdown questioned by Mexican church
The Mexican bishops' conference was concerned negotiations with President Trump, who threatened tariffs until migration through Mexico stopped, placed economics ahead of human rights.
Vatican bank reports decreased profits in 2018
The Institute for the Works of Religion, aka the Vatican bank, saw a 14.4 million euro drop in profits over last year due "to the strong turbulence of the markets" and "very low" interest rates.
Bishops consider update of texts of rites for clergy ordinations
Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington described the evolution of the ordination translations and a proposal to fix a dilemma: approved books are out of print, and used books must be found for ordinations.
‘Unity prevails over conflict,’ papal nuncio tells US bishops
Recalling "there were some expressions of 'dissent'" when U.S. bishops were asked last year to table proposals on handling sexual abuse by bishops, the Vatican's ambassador said "the Holy Spirit keeps the church united even amid honest disagreements."
Plan outlines restrictions on bishops facing claim of abuse
A proposal presented to bishops on the first day of their much-anticipated meeting in Baltimore would limit a retired bishop's scope of ministry in the face of a credible accusation of sexual misconduct.