AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Fall assembly of Bishops, which will question the widespread violence

Tuesday, 18 October 2016 politics   episcopal conferences   evangelization  

Washington (Agenzia Fides) - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will meet November 14-16, in Baltimore for their fall general assembly. During the assembly, the Bishops will hear from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, as he gives his final address as USCCB President upon completion of his three-year term and the Bishops will elect a new President, Vice president, and five committee chairs. In addition, they will also vote for new chairmen-elect of the following five USCCB committees: Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, Committee on International Justice and Peace, and the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.
Additionally, the Bishops will discuss and vote on the Conference's 2017-2020 strategic plan, approved last November. The priorities are: "Evangelization": Open wide the doors to Christ through missionary discipleship and personal encounter.
"Family and marriage": Encourage and heal families; inspire Catholics to embrace the sacrament of matrimony.
"Human life and dignity": Uphold the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death with special concern for the poor and vulnerable.
"Vocations and ongoing formation": Encourage vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and provide meaningful ongoing formation to clergy, religious and lay ministers.
"Religious freedom": Promote and defend the freedom to serve, witness and worship, in the U.S. and abroad.
Several reports will also be given including an update from the USCCB Task Force to Promote Peace in Communities.
Violent episodes which have occurred in several US cities have provoked strong reactions in the intellectual, political and religious sector. It is indeed not only violence as a reaction to the abuse of power of the police but also of gratuitous violence, perpetrated by groups of people, some who are even very young. The phenomenon makes one reflect on the social, political and religious reality, and the Catholic Bishops are aware of the needs of the faithful to receive a word of guidance to ensure social peace in their cities. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 18/10/2016)


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