Unity Powers Bishops' Fall General Assembly
Some media reports have suggested that, beyond election of new officers, not much happened last week in Baltimore during the annual Fall General Assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Listening to Bishop Charles C. Thompson describe it, however, one gets the powerful impression that our nation’s bishops took actions that herald amazing unity.
“Although it was announced after the official close of the assembly,” he said, “the statement on the HHS mandate was a very powerful moment. The bishops readily and overwhelmingly approved it. We showed great unity and commitment to stand together for what we believe is a grave injustice.”
On Nov. 13, the bishops released a “special message” that reiterated their objections to the Affordable Care Act, saying they remain “united in our resolve to resist this heavy burden and protect our religious freedom.”
Bishops elected Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D., to a three-year term as USCCB president, replacing Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. They also elected Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to serve as vice-president for the next three years.
Another sign of unity – across continents and cultures – involved a vote to approve the Roman Missal from the Diocese of Mexico (Mexican Misal Romano) for use in Latino liturgies in the U.S “I believe that the Diocese of Mexico getting its own version of the Roman Missal is a great thing,” Bishop Thompson said. “It has been approved, not only for Mexico, but also for other Spanish-speaking nations.
“A majority of the Latino Catholics in our diocese come from Mexico, Central American and South America,” he added. “Adoption of the Missal for use here in Latino liturgies is another great sign of the unity and consistency for the Catholics we serve across the U.S.”
Bishops at the general assembly also approved development of a statement on pornography and its tremendously damaging effects that can be used as a teaching tool for church leaders. The USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth will present a draft statement to the bishops in 2015. “There is overwhelming support for this statement,” Bishop Thompson said. “It will speak to how destructive pornography is to individuals, families … to society in general. It is degrading to the human person, and our opposition is straight from Catholic social teaching.”
Bishops also heard from representatives of Catholic Relief Services about the plans already at work to provide assistance in the Philippines and Vietnam in the wake of devastating Typhoon Haiyan. “Catholic Relief Services serves based on need, not on creed; it is a major player in providing assistance throughout the world,” Bishop Thompson said.
“In addition to learning about the plans they are executing to get assistance to those recovering from Typhoon Haiyan, we also got a general update on the organization. Catholic Relief Services is present now in 92 countries,” he said, “and it employs 5,000 people – and it provides 93 percent of all the funds it raises directly to people in need.
“The organization partners with others to provide a Catholic presence in some regions of the world,” he added. “No organization can control the groups it partners with, but Catholic Relief Services provides great oversight to assure that none of its resources are used in ways that are contrary to Church teaching.”
Other actions from the U.S. bishops' annual fall general assembly in Baltimore, as reported by Catholic News Service:
• Approved adaptations for the Order of Celebrating Marriage and OK'd a new translation of the Order of Confirmation for use in U.S. dioceses.
• Heard a report on the USCCB's efforts to promote and defend traditional marriage, which stressed that recent laws have placed the legal defense of marriage "at a critical point in this country."
• Approved a budget for 2014 and approved a three percent increase in diocesan assessments starting in 2015.
• Heard a report on "important progress" being made in bishops' priorities for 2013-16 in their efforts to protect the life and dignity of the human person, to strengthen marriage and family life, to promote religious liberty, and to improve faith formation and sacramental practice.
• Approved adding a new staff person to the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities to work on a national level with the post-abortion ministry Project Rachel funded by a Knights of Columbus grant.
• Approved the advancement of the sainthood cause of Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, who founded the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, an order focused on contemplation and door-to-door, personal ministry.
Catholic News Service provided information for this story.
