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In response to requests for opinion pieces from the Latino perspective, the USCCB Office of Media Relations will offer “Entre Amigos,” a monthly column with a Latino flavor to run in English and Spanish around the 15th of each month. If you would like to receive this free-of-charge column, please e-mail mmunoz-visoso@usccb.org to be put on the Entre Amigos distribution list. We hope this service benefits not only your Spanish readers but also those interested in looking at Church news and events from a Hispanic perspective.
Attached are a sample column in English, a sample column in Spanish and a jpeg of the author.
WASHINGTON—Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit and named Bishop Allen H. Vigneron, Bishop of Oakland, California, as his successor. The pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop John J. McRaith of Owensboro, Kentucky, and named a new auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Orange, California, Father Cirilo B. Flores.
The appointments were announced in Washington on January 5, by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
Survey Shows Most U.S. Adults Support Laws Limiting or Regulating Abortion
WASHINGTON—A nationwide survey commissioned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has found that four out of five U.S. adults (82 percent) think abortion should either be illegal under all circumstances (11 percent) or would limit its legality. Thirty-eight (38) percent would limit abortion to the narrow circumstances of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother; and an additional 33 percent would limit abortion to either the first three or first six months. Only 9 percent said abortion should be legal for any reason at any time during pregnancy.
January 1 is World Day of Peace
The theme of Pope Benedict XVIs 2009 World Day of Peace message is Fighting Poverty to Build Peace. In the message, the Holy Father reminds the faithful that our efforts to address poverty reflect our commitment to the dignity of the human person and to building a more just and peaceful world. The full text of the Holy Father's message along with a bulletin insert and bulletin quotes can be found at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/worlddayofpeacewebsite.shtml.
Migration Committee Chairman Lauds Enactment of Anti-Trafficking Legislation
WASHINGTON—Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, chairman of the Unite States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, today hailed the enactment of H.R. 7311, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA). Passed by Congress on December 10, the legislation was signed by President Bush on Tuesday, December 23, at the White House.
Trafficking in human persons is a horrific crime and should be combated with all the legal means and resources available, Bishop Wester said. The enactment of this legislation is another important step toward eradicating this scourge, both in the United States and globally.
National Vocation Awareness Week to be Celebrated January 11-17
WASHINGTON—The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, January 11-17.
“This week is a chance for parishes across the country to highlight the gift of vocations in the church through prayer and education,” said Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. “As a church, we recognize the need to safeguard and promote this gift.”
Bishops Welcome HHS Regulation Protecting Conscience Rights in Health Care
WASHINGTON—A final regulation protecting health care providers’ conscience rights was issued December 18 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. Catholic bishops’ spokesperson on abortion, Deirdre A. McQuade, welcomed the published regulation as a way to protect medical personnel from being coerced to violate their consciences in federally funded programs. The regulation clarifies and implements existing federal statutes enacted by Congress in 1973, 1996 and 2004. (For the text of these laws see www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/crmay08.pdf.)
“Individuals and institutions committed to healing should not be required to take the very human life that they are dedicated to protecting,” McQuade said. “The enforcement of federal laws to protect their freedom of conscience is long overdue.”
Bishops Urge Catholics to Act on Popes World Day of Peace Message
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) urges Catholics to follow the call of Pope Benedict XVI in his 2009 World Day of Peace Message, “Fighting Poverty to Build Peace.” To promote action and awareness, the bishops have made available the text of the pope’s message, as well as bulletin inserts and other resources on the USCCB Web site at: www.usccb.org/globalpoverty/.
“The bishops want to help people understand the extent of poverty,” said Joan Rosenhauer, associate director for education and outreach of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the USCCB. “With 10 percent of families in the U.S. living in poverty and 1.4 billion people worldwide living in extreme poverty, the numbers alone express the urgency of this issue and why Pope Benedict would single it out as an essential part of working for peace.”
WASHINGTON—New resources to help Spanish-speakers understand and prepare for the implementation of the revisions to the English translation of the Roman Missal have been added to the Web page of the Secretariat of Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Spanish materials were made accessible December 12, to coincide with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Although some of these changes will not affect the Spanish translation of the Roman Missal, the Committee on Divine Worship wanted to offer these materials in Spanish to aid those responsible to present the changes in the English edition of the Roman Missal to Spanish speakers, said Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, chairman of the Committee, in a letter introducing these materials.
Globalization Works Only When All Can Grow, Says Cardinal George Greeting World Day of Peace Message
WASHINGTON—Globalization works only when all can grow, said Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop, December 12. The moral dimension of world poverty must be addressed if we are to have world peace.
Cardinal George made his comments in response to Pope Benedict XVIs 2009 World Day of Peace message, released at the Vatican, Dec. 11. The message is titled Fighting Poverty To Build Peace, and highlights the dangers of massive inequality among peoples of the world. World Day of Peace is January 1.
NEW - FAITH WORKS VIDEO
Stephanie Garza working on behalf of immigrants
Stephanie Garza, recipient of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)'s 2008 Cardinal Bernardin Award, works with the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) to empower parents as advocates for their families, schools, and communities. Also a leader in the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform in Chicago, Stephanie is inspired by her faith to ensure that the dignity of all people, including immigrants, is respected.
WASHINGTON— The death of Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ, “brings home to God a great theologian and a totally dedicated servant of the Church,” Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said of the cardinal who died December 12 at Fordham University at the age of 90.
“His wise counsel will be missed; his personal witness to the pursuit of holiness of life as a priest, a Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Church will be remembered and will encourage the Church to remain ever faithful to her Lord and his mission,” Cardinal George said.
Dignitas Personae (The Dignity of a Person), an Instruction from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) on ethical issues arising from biomedical research, provides guidance on how to respect human life and human procreation in our heavily scientific age, said Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"We welcome the Instruction as theologians, medical personnel, researchers and married couples consider new scientific and medical procedures that have profound ethical implications bearing upon the procreation of children and the integrity of marriage," Cardinal George said in a December 12 statement. "We applaud developments which advance medical progress with respect for the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception," he said. "We oppose discarding or manipulating innocent lives to benefit future generations, or promoting the creation of new human life in depersonalized ways that substitute for the loving union between a husband and wife."
More | Statement | Vatican Summary | News Release | Q and A
WASHINGTON—Catholic bishops must make safe environment programs and reaching out to those hurt by sexual abuse by clergy priority issues, said Bishop Blase Cupich, new chair of the bishops Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.
Bishop Cupich of Rapid City, South Dakota, highlighted the issues in a December 8 letter to all members of the United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The mission of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is to support the ministry of bishops with an emphasis on evangelization, by which the bishops exercise in a communal and collegial manner certain pastoral functions entrusted to them by the Lord Jesus of sanctifying, teaching, and governing.
This mission calls the Conference to
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