(USCCB News Archives can be accessed at www.usccb.org/news/)
March 23, 2024
Holy Week Call to Prayer for an End to the Israel-Hamas War
WASHINGTON — Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace call on the faithful to renew their prayers during Holy Week for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.
“As the Church enters Holy Week and Christ’s suffering on the cross and his resurrection are made present to us so vividly, we are connected to the very source of hope. It is that hope that spurs us to call on Catholics here in the United States and all those of good will to renew their prayers for an end to the raging Israel-Hamas war.
“Thousands of innocent people have died in this conflict, and thousands more have been displaced and face tremendous suffering. This must stop. As the Holy Father
recently said, ‘One cannot move forward in war. We must make every effort to negotiate, to negotiate, to end the war.’ To move forward, a cease fire and a permanent cessation of war and violence is absolutely necessary. To move forward, those held hostage must be released and civilians must be protected. To move forward, humanitarian aid must reach those who are in such dire need.
“As Christians, we are rooted in the hope of the resurrection, and so we pray for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land.”
March 19, 2024
Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Battersby to Diocese of La Crosse
WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop William P. Callahan, O.F.M., Conv., 73, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of La Crosse for health reasons, and has appointed
Bishop Gerard W. Battersby, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, as his successor.
The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on March 19, 2024, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The Diocese of La Crosse is comprised of 15,078 square miles in the state of Wisconsin and has a total population of 875,018, of which 135,268 are Catholic.
March 15, 2024
Bishop Zaidan Prays for, Expresses Solidarity with People of Haiti
WASHINGTON — Expressing his steadfast solidarity with the people of Haiti suffering amid an intensification of violence and social disorder, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon called for immediate and long-term solutions. As the chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the bishop called for the U.S. government and the international community to address the challenges faced by Haiti:
“As the social, political, and security situation in Haiti continues dangerously to deteriorate, I would like to express my steadfast solidarity with my brother bishops and the people of Haiti. I would like to commend especially the heroic efforts of Haitian and international aid workers, including our own Catholic Relief Services, who are working tirelessly to provide vitally necessary assistance to the people of Haiti.
“Since the tragic 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti has been experiencing an acute intensification of violence—including rampant murders and kidnappings—social disorder, and an unclear path towards the restoration of the rule-of-law. This is an unlivable situation for the people of Haiti, where families are unable to provide basic necessities for their loved ones.
“I commend the United States Government for its recently stated commitment to provide $300 million in support for an emerging plan to address the rampant instability in the country. Beyond the immediate and pressing objectives, I urge our government and the international community actively to continue to seek ways to address the long-term challenges the country is facing.
“As chairman of the Committee, I heartily join our Holy Father Pope Francis in his expression of concern and support for the people of Haiti and who
recentlyinvited us to pray for the people of this land through the intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti that violence cease, and peace and reconciliation in the country be realized with the support of the international community.”
March 8, 2024
Bishop Burbidge speaks out on IVF issues
WASHINGTON — Each person’s life is a unique gift and has immeasurable value from the moment of conception, said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, and it is for that precise reason that the Catholic Church cannot condone procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) that result in a loss of life at a massive scale. In response to the growing attention to assisted reproductive technologies, Bishop Burbidge, as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, spoke about the gift of life.
Recognizing the desire to have children is good and given the challenges many couples face, Bishop Burbidge called for greater focus on ethical treatments addressing the root causes of infertility. Additionally, other approaches that may be sought by some couples seeking to expand their families, such as foster care and adoption, should be offered more support. The chairman’s full statement follows:
“The national conversation in the news about laws related to in vitro fertilization and other technologies creates an opportunity and a necessity to speak about protecting the gift of life itself. Each of our lives has immeasurable value from the moment of conception. In this way, we know that the deeply-rooted desire to bring about new life by having children is good. As priests and bishops, we grieve with and accompany in hope and love the increasing number of families suffering with an experience of infertility. We also encourage restorative, often-overlooked, treatments that can help to address the root causes of infertility.
“It is precisely because each person’s life is a unique gift that we cannot condone procedures that violate the right to life or the integrity of the family. Certain practices like IVF do both, and they are often not effective even for their own purposes.
“Children have a right to be born to their married mother and father, through a personal act of self-giving love. IVF, however well-intended, breaches this bond and these rights and, instead, treats human beings like products or property. This is all the more true in situations involving anonymous donors or surrogacy. This of course does not mean that our brothers and sisters who were conceived by IVF are somehow ‘less than’ anyone else. Every person has immeasurable value regardless of how he or she was conceived – and that applies, absolutely, to all children created through IVF, the majority of whom have not been and may never be born.
“The fact is that, in the IVF industry, many embryos are never transferred to a mother’s womb, but are destroyed or indefinitely frozen, and, of those who are transferred, only a fraction survive to be eventually born. All told, there are millions of human beings who have been killed or potentially permanently frozen by this industry. This cannot be the answer to the very real cross of fertility challenges. In efforts to bring about new life, we cannot turn our face from the many more lives that are cut short and extinguished in the process.”
Bishop Burbidge was joined by three other bishop chairmen in a letter to the U.S. Senate on February 28, opposing the Access to Family Building Act and similar legislation that would greatly widen the use of various problematic assisted reproductive technologies nationwide. For more on infertility, including ethical restorative reproductive medicine and research, see https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/infertility.
February 28, 2024
Bishops Gather to Pray and Discuss Their Shared Ministry
TAMPA, Fla. — Concluding a
three-day summit, officers and members of the Episcopal Conferences of the Americas met from February 26 – 28 at a retreat center to pray and discuss their shared ministry as pastors. The twelve bishops attending included bishops from El Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano y Caribeño (CELAM), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
The bishops issued the following joint statement:
“Following a tradition of meeting that began in 1959, we came to spend time together in prayer, fraternity, listening, and sharing. We talked about our mutual concerns and approaches to pastoral ministry and moral issues including euthanasia, migration, ecological threats to our common home, and the Synod.
“Pope Saint John Paul II said there was one American continent. In our time together, we see the wisdom in that statement. We share much in common and have similar pastoral and social concerns. Our time together has strengthened our bonds of fraternity in Christ and has allowed us to discern ways we can promote a more synodal and missionary Church and work together even more effectively in the vineyard of the Lord.”
February 26, 2024
Freedom to Meet Migrants’ Basic Human Needs Must be Preserved
WASHINGTON — Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty, expressed solidarity with faith-driven ministries to migrants and noted the special need to protect religious liberty. His remarks commended the February 23 statement issued by the Catholic bishops of the State of Texas.
“It is hard to imagine what our country would look like without the good works that people of faith carry out in the public square. For this, we can thank our strong tradition of religious liberty, which allows us to live out our faith in full.
“As the tragic situation along our border with Mexico increasingly poses challenges for American communities and vulnerable persons alike, we must especially preserve the freedom of Catholics and other people of faith to assist their communities and meet migrants’ basic human needs. I join my brother bishops in the State of Texas in expressing solidarity with those seeking simply to fulfill the fundamental biblical call: ‘whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ”
February 23, 2024
War-Torn Ukraine Marks Two Years Since Russian Invasion
WASHINGTON — As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters its third year, the need for humanitarian assistance has greatly increased to help the millions of Ukrainians impacted by violence and destruction. People are struggling to survive in the cold winter with little food, heat, or shelter, said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon. As chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, he urged the U.S. government to provide more aid immediately to alleviate the suffering of Ukrainians. Bishop Zaidan also expressed concern at Russia’s targeting of religious communities in Ukraine, destroying churches, arresting religious leaders, some of whom have been tortured and killed.
“The magnitude of the suffering in the Ukrainian conflict continues to sear the conscience of the faithful. According to a UN report, the number of civilians killed and injured since February 2022 exceeds 30,000. Schools, hospitals, apartments, and basic infrastructure supplying power have been hit by missiles. In the face of such destruction and death, people are repeatedly displaced, insecure as to where to find safety.
“The Catholic Church, including many Catholic welfare organizations are trying to meet these enormous needs both within Ukraine and in other countries impacted by this war which has raged on for two full years. The USCCB’s
national collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe has been critical in providing much-needed aid to the region. Additionally, Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative has greatly heightened global food security concerns, increasing food prices, and jeopardizing the health and lives of poor and vulnerable people dependent on food assistance for survival. I urge the U.S. government to do all that it can to provide much needed humanitarian assistance quickly.
“At the same time, there are reports of religious communities, particularly the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, being attacked by Russian forces in territories they have seized. Over 600 religious structures have been damaged, some occupied by Russian forces and turned into military bases. Clergy have been harassed, persecuted, kidnapped, and even killed.
“On January 8, Pope Francis
spoke about Ukraine saying we cannot allow the persistence of a conflict that continues to metastasize to the detriment of millions of persons. He also underscored that it is necessary to put an end to the present tragedy through negotiations, in respect for international law. I join with our Holy Father in calling for an end to the violence in Ukraine and call on all the faithful and people of good will to join with the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, in setting aside February 24 as a solemn day of prayer, fasting for the end of the war and for peace to come to this war-torn land.”
February 21, 2024
New Initiative Strives to Explain: “What is Love?”
WASHINGTON — “Conversations about love, marriage, sexuality, family, and the human person can be confusing and polarizing”, said Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester. “This is why I am pleased to announce the launch of
Love Means More to help bring clarity and compassion to those questions.”
As the month of February brings cultural attention to Valentine’s Day and with it, conflicting notions of love, Bishop Barron noted that “cultural narratives tell us love is mostly about feeling good. True love is deeper than that, calling us to follow Christ’s example of sacrificial love so we can live in union with Him forever.”
The
Love Means More initiative is an ongoing campaign, based around a new
website that takes a deep dive into the meanings of love. It is a versatile resource for Catholic catechists, as well as “seekers” from any religious background, but also welcomes those who profess no religious background at all. Bishop Barron is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, which is spearheading the initiative.
Love Means More renews the effort begun by Marriage: Unique for a Reason to promote and defend what Christ has revealed about marriage and family, but also addresses a broader range of topics in the area of human sexuality, organized around the central question, “What is love?” This approach enables learners to see how some difficult discussions can actually be the result of hidden assumptions about more basic questions, such as:
Is love only how someone makes you feel?
Does love mean ‘to will the good’ of the other?
Is unity necessarily the goal of all love?
The Love Means More initiative is the result of wide consultation with bishops, pastors, educators, medical and mental health professionals, and lay Catholic leaders involved with family life ministry. The initiative has also heard, and seeks to address, questions and concerns received from people who are uncomfortable with some Church teachings. These include those who uphold the possibility of divorce and remarriage, LGBT-identifying individuals, and those who defend pornography. As content continues to be added post-launch, this initiative will be a valuable resource for engaging in cultural conversation about love.
February 13, 2024
Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop Deeley of Diocese of Portland
WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Robert P. Deeley, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Portland, and has appointed Reverend James T. Ruggieri, as Bishop-elect of Portland. Bishop-elect Ruggieri is a priest of the Diocese of Providence, and currently serves as pastor at St. Patrick’s parish and St. Michael’s parish in Providence, Rhode Island. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C. on February 13, 2024, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Ruggieri was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Father Ruggieri was born January 12, 1968, in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended public schools in Barrington, Rhode Island, followed by studies at Holy Cross and Providence College (1986-1990) and received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy while attending Our Lady of Providence Seminary. He received a master’s in divinity and a bachelor’s in sacred theology from St. Mary Seminary and University (1990-1995) in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Providence on June 24, 1995.
Bishop-elect Ruggieri’s assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar at St. Matthew parish in Cranston (1995-1998), St. Aloysius, St. Ann, and Our Lady of Victories parishes in Woonsocket (1998-2001), and Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Central Falls (2001-2003), and as administrator of St. Casimir parish in Providence (2004-2011), and St. John the Baptist parish in Pawtucket (2005-2006). He was named pastor of St. Patrick parish in 2003, and in 2020 was named pastor of St. Michael’s parish, both in Providence, where he currently serves.
Bishop-elect Ruggieri’s additional responsibilities for the Diocese of Providence have included serving as vicar forane for Providence Central City (2006-2009), and a member of the diocesan council of priests (2008-2011) and the priests’ personnel board (2013-2014). He speaks English and Spanish.
The Diocese of Portland is comprised of 35,385 square miles in the state of Maine and has a total population of 1,362,357, of which 286,095 are Catholic.
February 2, 2024
Bishop Daly: Catholic Schools Integral Formation in Wisdom and Virtue
WASHINGTON – Calling Catholic schools “beacons of light in times of confusion,” Bishop Thomas A. Daly of Spokane expressed gratitude to Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and Congressman Darin LaHood of Illinois for introducing congressional resolutions in their respective chambers (
Senate/
House) commending Catholic schools and celebrating National Catholic Schools Week.
“Catholic schools serve diverse populations, believe that education is an integral formation in wisdom and virtue, and cultivate a love for all that is true, good, and beautiful They are beacons of light in a time of confusion,” said Bishop Daly. “It is gratifying to receive the recognition of the historic contributions of Catholic schools to the health and vitality of the republic, especially during Catholic Schools Week. It is also a testament to our Catholic school leaders and staff for their dedication to the Church’s mission.”
Bishop Daly is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education. January 28 to February 3 marks the 50th anniversary of Catholic Schools Week, an annual celebration during which parish and school communities celebrate the history and contributions of Catholic education in the United States in their local communities. Many schools host open houses, celebrate special Masses, and school events meant to showcase the community’s spirit and enthusiasm for Catholic education.
February 1, 2024
Collective Action Needed to Prevent Evil of Human Trafficking
WASHINGTON — We must unite to identify and address conditions that lead to human trafficking and promote efforts to prevent it, says Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso. The Catholic Church observes the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on February 8, the feast day of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the patroness of human trafficking survivors. Abducted in the 1870s in Sudan at the age of seven, Saint Josephine endured slavery and trafficking. Eventually freed from captivity in Italy, she joined the Canossian Daughters of Charity and was canonized by Saint John Paul II in 2000.
Pope Francis has
said that human trafficking “disfigures dignity” because exploitation and subjugation limit freedom and turn people into objects to use and discard while the system of trafficking profits from this injustice and wickedness. Bishop Seitz, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, echoed Pope Francis’ call to uphold human dignity and underscored the need for collective action:
“It is incumbent upon all of us to unite in promoting efforts that prevent the evil of human trafficking. I join our Holy Father in inviting the faithful and all people of good will to uphold and affirm human dignity and grow in solidarity with those who are vulnerable to exploitation and have been impacted by this terrible evil of modern-day slavery. Inspired by Saint Josephine’s life, may we accompany them in the pursuit of justice. We also recognize the important role of governments in addressing the conditions that lead to trafficking, and we remain committed to working with our own government and fellow members of civil society to develop and implement anti-trafficking efforts.”
As part of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) ongoing public policy advocacy efforts, the Committee on Migration has supported calls for legislation and policies that enhance protections for victims and address the conditions that result in trafficking. Most recently, the committee has expressed its support for the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 5856) and urges Congress to pass the bill without further delay.
To mark the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, the USCCB will collaborate with The Catholic University of America (CUA) to co-host a Mass and panel discussion on human trafficking. More information on the event, including registration to view the livestream may be found on the Justice for Immigrants campaign’s
Saint Bakhita webpage.