USCCB Blog

Journey to the Foot of the Cross: Bishop Ricken Offers 10 Things to Remember For Lent

2012-02-21T15:04:00.002-05:00

Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), offers “10 Things to Remember for Lent” as the Church prepares to begin the season with Ash Wednesday on February 22:1. Remember the formula. The Church does a good job capturing certain truths with easy-to-remember lists and formulas: 10

Seis cosas más que todos debemos saber sobre el mandato del departamento de salud y servicios humanos (HHS)

2012-02-14T16:26:00.001-05:00

1. La disposición que ha creado tanto alboroto no ha cambiado para nada las cosas, sino que todo ha terminado como estaba. En la noche del viernes, después de todo un día anunciando cambios significativos a este mandato, el departamento de HHS emitió una regulación “sin cambios”, terminando así los trámites de esta disposición emitida originalmente en agosto del 2011. De esta forma, los

Six More Things Everyone Should Know About the HHS Mandate

2012-02-13T12:16:00.007-05:00

1. The rule that created the uproar has not changed at all, but was finalized as is. Friday evening, after a day of touting meaningful changes in the mandate, HHS issued a regulation finalizing the rule first issued in August 2011, “without change.” So religious employers dedicated to serving people of other faiths are still not exempt as “religious employers.” Indeed, the rule describes them

Referral is Not the Answer, Rescinding the Mandate Is

2012-02-09T11:52:00.004-05:00

By Bishop William Lori Two short weeks ago, on January 20, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that virtually all health plans provided by virtually all employers, including those affiliated with the Catholic Church, would now be forced to cover sterilization procedures, abortion inducing drugs, and contraception. Under the Obama Administration’s unprecedented rule,

HHS Takes a Vietnam Turn

2012-02-08T10:29:00.003-05:00

When Walter Cronkite spoke out against the Vietnam War during a February 1968 broadcast, President Lyndon Johnson reportedly bemoaned, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."That quote came to mind during this clip from last night's Hardball with Chris Matthews, in which Matthews gives his take on the HHS rule that would force Catholic hospitals, universities and social services to pay

Six Things Everyone Should Know About the HHS Mandate

2012-02-06T12:19:00.008-05:00

Today we're sharing our blog space with Deacon Bernard Nojadera, a colleague who directs the U.S. bishops’ critical office that works with clergy sexual abuse of children.With 2012, the Catholic Church looks back on a decade of learning about a problem which may be decades of centuries old: the sexual abuse of minors by those who would mentor them.The crisis

The Christmas Welcome Mat

2011-12-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

The welcome mat is out at Catholic churches across the country. Actually it's always out, but churches tend to emphasize their open arms and doors during Advent and Christmas and later on in Lent and at Easter. Why now? There's something in the season that makes you think of home – including the spiritual home some are too busy to visit throughout the year. The message of the Prince of Peace,

Estas son las Mañanitas...de los obispos hispanos

2011-12-12T10:17:00.005-05:00

Los obispos hispanos/latinos de Estados Unidos nos saludaron temprano hoy, día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, con su propia versión muy especial de las mañanitas: una carta abierta a los inmigrantes. La carta está firmada por 33 obispos y fue publicada simultáneamente desde Los Angeles y San Antonio, sede de los dos arzobispos hispanos de más alto rango.El texto completo de la carta con la lista de

Estas son las Mañanitas...of the Hispanic Bishops

2011-12-12T10:02:00.005-05:00

The Hispanic/Latino Bishops of the United States greeted us early today, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with their own very special version of the "Mañanitas," a letter to immigrants. Signed by 33 bishops, the letter was released simultaneously from Los Angeles and San Antonio, the sees of the two highest ranking Hispanic archbishops. The full text of the letter along with the

HHS Protects Kids in Vetoing FDA Plan B Decision

2011-12-09T14:44:00.004-05:00