Catholic Fire

(Vatican Radio) The U.S Catholic Bishops say the first anniversary of Pope Francis’s election on March 13th is a time to give thanks, highlighting his concern for the poor and marginalized and his reforms of the Curia. The statement was issued by the U.S. Bishops’ Administrative Committee which is meeting in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday (March 11th and 12th). In a statement issued on March 11th, the U.S. bishops said Pope Francis “has encouraged us to be a Church of the poor and for the poor, reaching out to the marginalized and being present to those on the periphery of society.” “He has set an example by choosing a personal simplicity of life, by washing the feet of prisoners, and by taking into his hands and kissing the badly disfigured.” Please find below the entire statement: STATEMENT OF THE USCCB ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ELECTION OF POPE FRANCIS “Gathered together in Washington, DC, for their annual March meeting, the members of the A...

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to pray, fast, and abstain from meat on Fridays in Januar, for the following intention: “that all those who are challenging the HHS mandate – whether family-owned businesses or non-profit service ministries – would have the strength to keep fighting for religious freedom.” “The federal government has chosen this January 1 to begin implementing its nationwide mandate forcing most Catholic universities, hospitals, and service ministries to violate Church teaching or face devastating fines,” USCCB staff stated in a reflection accompanying the intention. “Faith-based organizations like these seek to practice what they preach. That is, they seek to live out the Gospel mandate to serve those whom Christ called ‘these least brothers of mine’ (Mt. 25:40) while adhering to the tenets of our faith—including promoting the sanctity of human life. We pray that the courts will uphold our ability to live out the Gosp...

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz  WASHINGTON—Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has asked President Obama to temporarily exempt religious institutions from crippling fines if their insurance plans exclude sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptives. Archbishop Kurtz also asked the President to consider that the U.S. Supreme Court already has agreed to hear two cases related to the mandate created by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). At least 90 cases have been brought to federal courts by individuals and institutions objecting to the imposition of the HHS mandate. Most of the decisions to date have favored those bringing suit. Archbishop Kurtz’s request comes as the Administration has offered exemptions to numerous people and organizations having difficulty in implementing the ACA. Individuals who faced penalties for not meeting deadlines for enrollment have had deadlines extende...

During the recent General Assembly of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the nation’s bishops conducted the required canonical episcopal consultation on the sainthood cause of Servant of God Mary Teresa Tallon, the daughter of Irish immigrants and foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate. According to the Parish Visitors website, Mother Mary Tallon was born on May 6, 1867, two years after the end of the Civil War, on a farm in the Mohawk Valley near the city of Utica, New York in a hamlet called Hanover. She was the seventh of eight children born to Bridget and Peter Tallon, both of whom had emigrated to the United States from Ireland. They brought with them the deep faith of their homeland as a heritage for their children. None of them could have received it more eagerly than their next-to-youngest, Julia Teresa. The desire to belong totally to God seems to have unfolded in her with the dawning of reason, though she had no acquaintanceship with religious Siste...

The Catholic Bishops are in agreement to RESIST the HHS Mandate as it stands. Their full statement is below. This is GREAT news for religious freedom! Praise God! The bishops of this country have just concluded their traditional fall meeting in Baltimore and have spent time on issues important to them and their people: help to those suffering from Typhoon Haiyan; an update on the situation in Haiti; matters of worship and teaching; service to the poor; and comprehensive immigration reform. Among those priorities is the protection of religious freedom, especially as threatened by the HHS mandate. Pope Francis has reminded us that “In the context of society, there is only one thing which the Church quite clearly demands: the freedom to proclaim the Gospel in its entirety, even when it runs counter to the world, even when it goes against the tide.” We stand together as pastors charged with proclaiming the Gospel in its entirety. That Gospel calls us to feed the poor, heal the ...

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville  Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops elected Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky , as its next president. Archbishop Kurtz, 67, has served as the conference vice president since 2010. Judie Brown, cofounder of American Life League, the nation’s oldest Catholic pro-life group, issued this statement: “We humbly offer our prayers and support to His Excellency Archbishop Kurtz. He has a reputation as placing abortion, euthanasia, and other challenges to protecting the dignity of the human person at the forefront of his priorities as a teacher and shepherd. The fact that His Holiness Benedict XVI appointed this prelate encourages us. “With his experience in social programs, we hope that Archbishop Kurtz will take the reins of social justice programs at USCCB to advance this important work of the Church. His leadership in this area will ensure that social justice is not separated from social moral...

During the first day of their fall meeting in Baltimore, the U.S. bishops discussed themes and priorities for their work as a whole, including evangelization, the family and Catholic education. The bishops listened on Nov. 11 to remarks from apostolic nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and conference president Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan on the importance of Christian witness and international religious freedom. They heard a report from the conference’s National Advisory Council, a 48-member group of laity, clergy and religious of various ages, locations, ethnicities and occupations, who meet to offer input on topics discussed by the bishops. The council supports a continued focus on evangelization and education, the development of a formal statement on pornography, a peaceful solution to the Syrian conflict, and an extension of the bishops’ “Call to Prayer” for life, marriage and religious liberty. Read the full story

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is asking Catholics to pray, fast, and abstain from meat on Friday, November 8, for engaged couples , “that they may recognize the high calling of their unique vocation to love one another as Christ loves the Church.” In a reflection published along with the weekly request for prayers, the USCCB notes that “the marriage of one man and one woman is not a temporary contract or something that can be ended if a husband or wife “falls out of love.’” Rather, “the bond of marriage is all-encompassing,” and the marriage vow is indissoluble. Married couples, the USCCB observes, participate in the love of the Trinity, which is eternal. In December 2012, the US bishops announced a call to prayer and penance whose “overall focus is to invite Catholics to pray for rebuilding a culture favorable to life and marriage and for increased protections of religious liberty. Campaign components include monthly Eucharistic holy hours in cathe...

October 7, 2013. (Romereports.com) Pope Francis dedicated a few minutes of his busy Monday schedule to meet with the leadership of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.   The meeting was brief but festive, with the Pope and the bishops making jokes with each other. The Pope especially joked on this limited knowledge of English, and how he had forgotten what he had learned. The group was led by archbishop of New York, and current conference president, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. It also includes the Archbishop of Louisville Joseph Kurtz, the Archbishop of Seattle Peter Sartain, and the Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston Michael Bransfield.

Washington D.C., Sep 11, 2013 / 01:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- On the twelfth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the U.S. bishops have released special Mass intercessions to pray for victims of terrorism, for military service members, and for an “end to all hatred.” “For all victims of violence and terrorism around the world, and for their families, that they may find comfort and peace, we pray to the Lord,” reads the new prayer on the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Another prayer asks that the Church “may continue to provide care and healing for all, especially those affected by the attacks on September 11, 2001.” A third prays that national leaders “may work together to address the problems that provide fertile ground for the growth of terrorism,” while another prays for both an end to hatred and for “the ability to forgive.” The new prayers come 12 years after al-Qaida terrorists attacked the U.S., hijacking passenger airplanes and flyi...

September 3, 2013. (Romereports.com) After drafting a letter pushing for the protection of religious freedom in Egypt, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops once again reached out to American Secretary of State John Kerry, this time on the on-going violence in Syria. The letter was once again written by Iowa Bishop Richard Pates, the chairman for the Conference's Justice and Peace Committee. The bishop denounced the use of chemical weapons against innocent people. However, the letter clearly states that the Conference believes “dialogue and negotiation” are the only solution to end the bloodshed. They urged Kerry and the U.S. Government to obtain a ceasefire, rather than military intervention, and push for serious negotiations between the warring sides. They also asked for the government to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict, and to protect Christians and other minorities.

August 27, 2013. (Romereports.com) The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called on U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to look after persecuted Christians in Egypt, while echoing Pope Francis' calls for “peace, dialogue and reconciliation.”   In a letter, written by Iowa Bishop Richard Pates, chairman for the USCCB Committee on Justice and Peace, they specifically show concern for Christian minorities in Egypt, as attacks by extremists against churches and Christians continue. But the letter goes a step further. The USCCB urged Kerry to work with the international community to protect Christians. It also asked the US government to maintain or increase humanitarian and economic aid to Egypt, to help “poor and vulnerable Egyptians.” Bishop Pates also praised Muslims who rushed to help and defend fellow Christians from attacks by Islam extremists.

Independence Day is a holiday that unites us as we celebrate our freedom and independence as “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” It also is the final day of a “Fortnight for Freedom ,” a two-week period of prayer and action called by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the HHS mandate and attempts to redefine marriage. It’s a time to honor the men and women who have courageously fought, and continue to fight, for our religious freedom, as well, including the late military chaplain Fr. Emil Kapaun. Kapaun posthumously received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama in April, nearly 60 years after he heroically gave his life as a POW in the Korean War. The Vatican is also considering him a possible candidate for Sainthood. His life, service and hero’s death is the subject of an incredible new book, THE MIRACLE OF FATHER KAPAUN , co-written by Roz Wenzl and Travis Heying, and published ...

July 02, 2013. (Romereports.com) How safe are children on the web? What social networks are safe to use and why? How can they make the most of the electronic devices they use? The U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops has teamed up with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to launch 'Faith and Safety', a new website to help parents keep their kids safe on the web.   The site is full of tips on how to secure devices and networks, but it also features thought provoking advice. Social networks and websites are reviewed one by one and their use is recommended on an age based scale. Facebook, for example, is suggested for 13 year olds or older. The website even grades the presence of sexual content, violence and consumerism.  'Faith and Safety' also reviews cellphones that are made especially for kids that can block unwanted calls, set time limits for phone usage and those that allow parents to find their children through a GPS system. Another interesting feature ...

Washington D.C., Sep 21, 2009 / 08:04 pm ( CNA ) .- A Wichita priest has been named head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat for Consecrated Life and Vocations. Fr. W. Shawn McKnight, 41, is pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wichita, Kansas. He will assume his USCCB position in July 2010. Msgr. David Malloy, General Secretary of the USCCB, commented in a press release that Fr. McKnight has an “extraordinary background” for the position. Click here to read the rest of the article.

Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director of Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, discusses the U.S. bishops' position on abortion in the debate over health care reform. As I mentioned in my post on Friday , the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a Web page promoting its support of “truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity.” The page, www.usccb.org/healthcare , includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress. Click HERE to vist the USCCB site. ~ H/T: OSV

Bishop William Murphy “Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation.” Bishop of Rockville Centre, New York William F. Murphy, comments in a July 17 letter to Congress on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). ~ More information from the CNA article.

I recently received the following urgent information regarding the pending removal of conscience protection for healthcare workers from Deirdre McQuade at the USCCB: As you may know, the new Administration has taken action to rescind a vital conscience protection regulation implemented recently by the Department of Health and Human Services under the previous Administration. This is a frontal attack on pro-life health care and the bishops are united in fighting in defense of conscience rights and religious liberty. The public has only 7 more full days to post their comments in support of the conscience protection regulation...and the USCCB is trying to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Detailed information on how to post your comment to HHS and other ways to mobilize can be found by clicking here. My Comment: HHS is required to read and count every message they receive. Please make your voice heard on this important issue. Click here to go to the USCCB website and make y...

Speaking as the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, this weekend Cardinal Francis George of Chicago said that the University of Notre Dame's decision to host and honor President Obama at their commencement ceremony this year was an "extreme embarrassment" to Catholics . " Whatever else is clear, it is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation," George told the crowd at a conference Saturday on the Vatican document Dignitatis Personae. The conference was hosted by the Chicago archdiocese's Respect Life office and Office for Evangelization at the Marriott O'Hare hotel. In a video obtained by LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) today, Cardinal George prefaced his remarks by noting that as USCCB president he does not have jurisdiction or authority over other bishops, but nonetheless has "some moral authority, without any kind of jurisdiction or any sort of real authority." "As ...