US Bishops' Spring Plenary: focus on Marriage, New Evangelization
(Vatican Radio) The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a press
release ahead of their Spring, 2014 Plenary Assembly in New Orleans, La. The three-day
session will focus on marriage and the economy, as well as on the challenges of the
New Evangelization.
Please find the full text of the statement, below.
***********************************
U.S.
BISHOPS TO MEET IN NEW ORLEANS FOR SPRING GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JUNE 11-13
May
6, 2014 WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will meet June
11-13, in New Orleans, for their annual Spring General Assembly. The opening Mass
of the June general session will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville,
Kentucky, USCCB president, at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis.
The second
day of the general session will include presentations and discussion on two special
topics: “Marriage and the Economy” and “the New Evangelization and Poverty.” Other
agenda items include:
• A presentation on the upcoming Extraordinary Synod
of Bishops on the Family. • A presentation on the World Meeting of Families by
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., of Philadelphia and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia,
president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. • A presentation from Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) regarding the relief efforts in the Philippines in the wake
of last November’s Typhoon Haiyan. • Debate and vote on the request for renewal
of the recognitio granted to the National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and
Life of Permanent Deacons. • Consultation on the cause for canonization of Father
Paul Wattson, Servant of God. • Update and vote on proposal by working group on
Faithful Citizenship. • A presentation on the Annual Progress Report of the bishops’
efforts to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, presented by Francesco
Cesareo, Ph.D., chair of the National Review Board. • Debate and vote on the renewal
of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty for an additional three year
term.. • An update from Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford, Connecticut,
chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Catechism, on the work of the Subcommittee. •
An update from Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the
USCCB Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, on the Subcommittee’s
efforts.
Coverage of the meeting is open to credentialed media. Sessions open
to the media will be Wednesday, June 11, and the morning of Thursday, June 12. Media
conference will follow open sessions of the meeting. Reporters seeking to cover the
meeting can download a credential application form at and submit it by June 1 to
, or mail to:
June Meeting Credentials Office of Media Relations 3211
4th St. NE Washington, DC 20017-1194