Pope Francis: Jesus Renews “Our Amazement for the Gift of the Eucharist”
August 9, 2021

Vatican City, Aug 8, 2021| (CNA) – Pope Francis said on Sunday that Jesus’ declaration that he is the “Bread of Life” renews “our amazement for the gift of the Eucharist.” In his Angelus address on Aug. 8, the pope reflected on the meaning of Jesus’ statement in a passage of the Gospel of John known as …

Pope Francis: ‘The Lord wants a loving relationship with us’
August 3, 2021

Vatican City, Aug 1, 2021 / (CNA) – Pope Francis said on Sunday that God wants us to move “beyond the logic of interest and calculation” and enter into a loving relationship with Him. In his Angelus address on Aug. 1, the pope said that Catholics were called to mature in faith, leaving behind self-interest. “We are …

Vatican Names Planning Group for Upcoming Synod
July 22, 2021

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican released the names of members of two commissions charged with assisting the leaders of the Synod of Bishops’ general secretariat in reviewing documents, drafting resources and developing best practices. According to the synod website, the theological commission and the methodology commission will …

Bullying Redirect Provides Christ-Centered Solutions to Bullying and Mistreatment
July 22, 2021

 (CNA) – Following the Columbine High School massacre in April 1999, Catholic educator and counselor Frank DiLallo knew he had to do something. With a background in school counseling, DiLallo recorded an audio CD titled The Peace Project, a collection of introspective meditations on relaxation and self-regulation for students. “I imagined what it would have …

Appealing to Need for Unity, Pope Restores Limits on Pre-Vatican II Mass
July 17, 2021

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Saying he was acting for the good of the unity of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has restored limits on the celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Missal in use before the Second Vatican Council, overturning or severely restricting permissions St. John Paul …

Cuban Bishops Call for Dialogue as Island Reels from Protests
July 16, 2021

By Manuel Rueda, Catholic News Service (CNS) — The Cuban bishops’ conference called on the island’s government and protesters to “listen to each other” and avoid violence as the country reels from demonstrations sparked by food shortages, power outages and worsening economic conditions. (Click here to read a statement by four Cuban-American bishops.) The protests …

Gymnast Headed to Olympics Relies on Hard Work, Trust in God
July 14, 2021

By Dianne Towalski, Catholic News Service CHAMPLIN, Minn. (CNS) — The Twin City Twisters in Champlin is the home gym of Grace McCallum, a member of the 2018 World Championship U.S. gymnastics team. A large banner hangs over the facility’s main entrance honoring that accomplishment. But her supporters are hoping the gym will soon need …

Upcoming Virtual Summit Seeks to Increase Devotion to St. Joseph
July 14, 2021

(CNA) – A virtual three-day summit dedicated to St. Joseph will feature more than 40 evangelists and aims to connect Catholics with their “spiritual father.”  The summit “Our Spiritual Father: Pilgrimage to the Heart of Saint Joseph” will be held online from Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, and will be hosted by Deacon Steve Greco, the president …

Statement of USCCB President and Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace on the Assassination of the President of Haiti
July 9, 2021

WASHINGTON – Upon the news of the brazen assassination of Haiti’s president at his home, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued the following statement: “We express our …

Catholics Invited to Celebrate Religious Freedom Week, June 22-29
June 7, 2021

Each year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) observes Religious Freedom Week. Beginning with the feast day of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, and including the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the week-long commemoration ends with the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.  Religious Freedom Week will be observed this year from …

Annual Survey of Permanent Diaconate Highlights the Importance and Need for Their Ministry in Life of the Church
June 7, 2021

Photo Above: The class of 2021 for the Deacon Formation Program of the Diocese of St. Petersburg who were admitted to the Rite of Candidacy for Holy Orders on October 19th at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle; Frank Averill, Guillermo Caceres, Geoff D’Angelo, and James Riveiro. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) …

Statement of U.S. Bishop Chairmen on Verdict in Trial of Derek Chauvin
April 20, 2021

Following the verdict in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota today, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued …

U.S. Bishops’ Migration Committee Chairman Expresses Disappointment that Low Refugee Admissions Goal Remains
April 19, 2021

The Biden Administration announced Friday afternoon that it will not increase the historically low number of refugees who can be resettled in the United States for the current fiscal year. However, it will restore the long-time practice of allocating refugees from every region of the world, thus opening resettlement to some who were not included …

U.S. Bishop Chairman Mourns Loss of Life in Mass Shooting in Boulder, CO
March 24, 2021

Following a mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, CO, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued the following statement: “As we are still reeling from the loss of life in the mass shootings in Atlanta, it is heartbreaking …

U.S. Bishop Chairman Welcomes Repeal of Death Penalty in Virginia
March 24, 2021

Following passage of legislation to repeal the death penalty in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued the following statement: “I welcome Virginia’s repeal of the death penalty as a bold step towards a culture …

Statement of U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for Asian and Pacific Island Affairs on Discrimination Against the Asian Community
March 22, 2021

Following deadly shootings at three businesses in the greater Atlanta area this past week and the dialogue that has been ignited about other reported incidents of aggression against people of Asian descent, Bishop Oscar A. Solis of Salt Lake City, and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific …

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Administrative Committee Releases a Pastoral Message on the COVID-19 Global Pandemic
March 10, 2021

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Administrative Committee has issued the following message today on the global COVID-19 pandemic. The USCCB’s Administrative Committee is led by the president of the Conference, and is made up of all the chairmen of the Conference’s committees and a representative from each Episcopal Region of the United States …

U.S. Bishop Chairmen Say Equality Act Would Discriminate Against People of Faith and Threaten Unborn Life
March 8, 2021

Five committee chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) wrote a letter to members of Congress opposing the recent reintroduction of the Equality Act (H.R. 5), which is scheduled to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The bishops warned of the threats posed by the proposed legislation to …

U.S. Bishop Chairmen for Doctrine and for Pro-Life Address the Use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine
March 3, 2021

WASHINGTON– On March 2, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recently approved for use in …

Responding to the Challenge of Abortion in Florida on the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Life: A Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Florida
January 21, 2021

The Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling usurped the proper role of legislators and imposed an extreme abortion regime that has contributed to the polarization that has divided us as a nation and further wounded our society by ending over 61 million lives. Its trauma affects the web of social relationships that form families …

U.S Bishops Issue Statement on the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as 46th President of the United States of America
January 20, 2021

From: Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, January 20, 2021 My prayers are with our new President and his family today. I am praying that God grant him wisdom and courage to lead this great nation and that God help him to meet the tests …

U.S. Bishops Urge Peace Following Reports Warning of Plans for Additional Violence at State Capitols and U.S. Capitol
January 18, 2021

WASHINGTON —Following the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and reports of an FBI bulletin warning of “armed protests” in state capitals and Washington, DC, in the coming week, including groups urging participants to “storm” state capitols and other government buildings and threatening “a huge uprising,” as well as reports of threats against …

Recalling the Meaning of Advent, U.S. Bishop Chairmen Call for End to Executions
December 7, 2020

With more federal executions scheduled in December and January, two bishop chairmen call on the Administration to recall God’s mercy during Advent. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, …

Vatican launches website dedicated to “Fratelli tutti” encyclical
December 1, 2020

The Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announces a new, intuitive website dedicated to Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli tutti”. By Vatican News staff writer Beginning Tuesday, Pope Francis’ recent Encyclical Fratelli tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship, will be more readily accessible by the faithful. The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announces a special website dedicated …

Acknowledging the importance of religious freedom on Christ the King Sunday
November 20, 2020

The Solemnity of Christ the King is Sunday, November 22, 2020. Here is a reflection from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: “The Solemnity of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI with the encyclical Quas primas. The Holy Father speaks directly to the problem of what he referred to as “anti-clericalism,” …

USCCB Statement on Holy See’s Report on Theodore McCarrick
November 10, 2020

The following statement is from Most Reverend José H. GomezArchbishop of Los Angeles, President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).   November 10, 2020  I welcome the report of the Holy See’s investigation into its knowledge and decision-making regarding Theodore McCarrick during his long career as a priest, bishop, and cardinal. We are studying …

President of U.S. Bishops’ Conference Issues Statement on 2020 Presidential Election
November 9, 2020

WASHINGTON – Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement on the 2020 presidential election:  We thank God for the blessings of liberty. The American people have spoken in this election. Now is the time for our leaders to come together in …

U.S. Takes Action to Ensure Access to Spiritual Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
October 21, 2020

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Religious Liberty, applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) that, in response to two complaints received, it has taken action to ensure that hospital patients have access …

U.S. Bishops’ Chairman of Hispanic Affairs Reflects on Hispanic Contributions and Leadership in the Church
September 14, 2020

As the observance of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) begins, Bishop Arturo Cepeda, auxiliary bishop of Detroit and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs says both the Catholic Church and American society must acknowledge the historic and current contributions of Hispanic and Latino leadership in …

Bishop Chairmen Urge Congressional Black Caucus Leaders to Support Federal Emergency Relief for Urban Catholic School Students
August 27, 2020

Catholic schools, especially those serving urban areas have been disproportionately impacted in the ongoing fallout of the novel coronavirus. Three bishop chairmen of committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have sent a letter to Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, requesting support for black families in Catholic …

U.S. Bishops’ President Joins in Solidarity with the Suffering of Lebanon After Explosion in the Port of Beirut
August 6, 2020

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued the following statement in solidarity with Lebanon after the explosion in the Port of Beirut: “The world watched with shock and horror the catastrophic explosion in the Port of Beirut Tuesday. Over 100 have died, thousands are injured, …

U.S. Bishops’ International Justice and Peace Chairman Shares Solidarity with Pope Francis in Condemning the Attack Against the Cathedral of Managua, Nicaragua
August 5, 2020

Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued the following statement: “Alongside Pope Francis and my brother bishops throughout Latin America, I condemn the sacrilegious attack against the Cathedral of Managua that occurred on Friday, July 31. Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, archbishop …

U.S. Bishops’ President Joins Migration Chairman Urging Trump Administration to Reinstate Full DACA Program; Calls for Congressional Action
July 30, 2020

On July 28, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf issued a memorandum adding limitations to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The memorandum was issued in response to the recent 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States striking down the Trump Administration’s September 2017 attempt to end the DACA program. The …

Migration Chairman Calls for Prayers for Trafficking Survivors
July 29, 2020

The United Nations designated July 30 as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in 2013 to raise awareness of the devastating impact human trafficking has on women, men, and children and to promote survivors’ rights and human dignity. The international day is observed annually in the United States and throughout the world. There are nearly 25 …

U.S. Bishops Condemn Acts of Vandalism, Destruction at Catholic Sites
July 28, 2020

Acting on behalf of all bishops, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Religious Liberty, and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued the following statement in response to reports of increasing incidents of …

Brother Bishops: Pope Francis Names Father Stephen Parkes, Brother of Bishop Gregory Parkes, to Serve as Bishop of Savannah
July 8, 2020

For about a week now, Bishop Gregory Parkes has been keeping a pontifical secret that he was finally able to share on Wednesday, July 8, when he posted on social media at around 6:00 a.m., “A day of great joy as my brother, Fr. Stephen Parkes, is appointed Bishop of Savannah by Pope Francis!  Blessed …

Statement on Requiring Parental Consent Prior to a Minor’s Abortion Signed into Law by Governor DeSantis
July 1, 2020

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops thanks Governor Ron DeSantis for signing into law on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, SB 404, a bill that requires parental consent before a minor has an abortion. This common-sense measure simply holds abortion to the same consent requirements as most every other medical decision involving a child, including simple …

U.S. Bishops Secretariat For Child and Youth Protection Releases Annual Report
June 26, 2020

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released the 2019 Annual Report – Findings and Recommendations on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The report is based on the audit findings of StoneBridge Business Partners, a specialty consulting firm headquartered in Rochester, …

Catholic Bishops Issue Statement on Supreme Court Decision regarding Legal Definition of “Sex” in Civil Rights Law
June 16, 2020

WASHINGTON — The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, provided a statement on the decision issued today by the Supreme Court of the United States – combining Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., Altitude Express v. Zarda, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal …

President of U.S. Bishops’ Conference Appoints Four New Members of National Review Board for the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People
June 15, 2020

Four new members have been appointed to serve on the National Review Board (NRB) by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The NRB advises the bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and was established as part of the Charter for Protection …

Pope Francis Appoints a Clearwater Priest to Serve as Bishop of Beaumont, Texas
June 9, 2020

On June 9, 2020, Pope Francis announced that Monsignor David Toups, 49, has been appointed a bishop and his first assignment will be bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas. He currently serves as Rector of the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, a position he’s held since 2012. There will …

Declaración del papa Francisco sobre la muerte trágica de George Floyd
June 3, 2020

Queridos hermanos y hermanas de los Estados Unidos, sigo con gran preocupación los dolorosos desórdenes sociales que se están produciendo en vuestra nación en estos días, tras la trágica muerte del Sr. George Floyd. Queridos amigos, no podemos tolerar ni cerrar los ojos ante ningún tipo de racismo o exclusión y pretender defender la santidad …