U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The pope’s man in Washington
By David Gibson — December 23, 2015
(RNS) Cardinal Donald Wuerl just turned 75 and submitted his resignation to Pope Francis. But don't wave goodbye yet -- Wuerl is too valuable to the pontiff, and to the future of the "Francis effect."
Top US Catholic bishop denounces anti-Islam backlash to shootings
By David Gibson — December 14, 2015
(RNS) Archbishop Joseph Kurtz also laments the Planned Parenthood attack and violence "in the name of God," and calls for stricter gun control.
On pornography, US Catholic bishops may find an unlikely ally (COMMENTARY)
By Charles C. Camosy — November 20, 2015
(RNS) The bishops’ new initiative resisting porn is likely to gain many unexpected allies, including many feminists.
Catholic bishops revise voter guide after debate over ‘Pope Francis agenda’
By David Gibson — November 17, 2015
BALTIMORE (RNS) More than any other item on the agenda of the bishops’ annual meeting, the debate over the voter guide revealed deep divides among the bishops and provided a snapshot of the extent of the “Francis effect” on the U.S. hierarchy.
US Catholic bishops meet, still struggling to adapt to ‘Pope Francis effect’
By David Gibson — November 16, 2015
BALTIMORE (RNS) Reorienting the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' agenda so dramatically and after so many years of doing things the same way is not expected to be easy.
Francis bids farewell, tells Catholics to avoid ‘perversion’ of ‘narrow’ faith
By David Gibson — September 27, 2015
PHILADELPHIA (RNS) In his final Mass before nearly 1 million people, the pope called on the Catholic Church to be open to everyone and to change -- flashpoint themes for a major Vatican meeting of bishops next week.
Pope Francis to bishops: Reject ‘harsh and divisive’ battles, be open to others
By David Gibson — September 23, 2015
WASHINGTON (RNS) In a personal and powerful talk, Francis gave the American bishops a new set of marching orders, away from the tempting path of culture warriors and toward an "inclusive" approach that stresses dialogue.
Religious groups push U.S. to take in 100,000 Syrian refugees
By Reuters — September 9, 2015
Groups pushing for this include the Church World Service, representing 37 Christian denominations, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the Jewish refugee assistance agency HIAS.
Catholic bishops: “Racism is an evil” in society and the church
By Lilly Fowler — June 11, 2015
ST. LOUIS – Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops kicked off their annual spring assembly by denouncing racism as an "evil."
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, Catholic journalist and longtime bishops’ spokeswoman, dies at 68
By David Gibson — April 28, 2015
NEW YORK (RNS) Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a quiet nun with a keen wit who led a very public life as a journalist and a longtime spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, died on Tuesday (April 28) after a tough battle with cancer.
U.S. Catholic bishops back Obama on Iran, warn Congress against meddling
By David Gibson — April 13, 2015
(RNS) Support from U.S. Catholic bishops and an alliance of mainline and evangelical leaders are more fodder for the White House as it wages a political battle for approval of a nuclear agreement with Iran.
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ gets black marks from bishops, pastors
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — February 6, 2015
(RNS) Critics say the movie trailer invites people to a film that, like the books it came from, glamorizes sexual abuse and violence. Nothing Christian -- or moral -- about it.
Nun is named first female head of Catholic Charities USA
By David Gibson — January 12, 2015
(RNS) Sister Donna Markham will be the first female chief of Catholic Charities USA in its 105-year history.
Can Cardinal Timothy Dolan be Gotham’s peacemaker?
By David Gibson — December 31, 2014
NEW YORK (RNS) In an evocative homily in St. Patrick’s Cathedral the day after two NYPD officers were shot dead, Cardinal Timothy Dolan spoke powerfully of his own anguish and his “worry about a city tempted to tension and division.”
Bishops send new delegates, mixed message, to 2015 Vatican family synod
By David Gibson — November 14, 2014
(RNS) The nation’s Catholic bishops have chosen a mixed slate of delegates for next year’s high-level Vatican summit on the family, including outspoken culture warriors viewed by many observers as out of step with Pope Francis’ priorities.
