archives

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore

In an effort to unify the church’s sometimes divided advocacy on behalf of both a “culture of life” and greater social justice, the U.S. bishops today overwhelmingly approved a document titled “Faithful Citizenship,” intended as their most important political statement heading into the 2008 elections.

The text was approved by an overwhelming 97.8 vote in favor, and the result drew a standing ovation from the bishops.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore

Attempting to bring religious instruction in Catholic schools and parishes into greater alignment with the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church, the U.S. bishops unanimously adopted a new set of guidelines for textbooks and other instructional materials.

The bishops also adopted a separate set of guidelines for instruction in what they called "chaste living," meaning instruction in church teaching on sexual morality.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore

In what shapes up as nearly a clean sweep for bishops with a Chicago connection, Bishop George Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, was elected this morning to the office of secretary, one of five executive positions within the conference.

Though born in Camden, New Jersey, the Jesuit Murry served as an auxiliary bishop of Chicago from 1994 to 1998 under then-Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. He joins the new president of the conference, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, and the new vice-president, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, as conference officers with ties to the Windy City.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore

A critical notice from the U.S. bishops on a book by Vietnamese-American theologian Fr. Peter Phan, who writes on the theology of religious diversity, is close to publication, sources speaking on background told NCR today.

The text of the notice has been finalized and sent to Phan, although speaking by phone from his office at Georgetown University, Phan said that the document had not yet reached him. In theory the text could still be revised based on a response from Phan, though Phan said that because of his other academic commitments he would not be able to produce a response before next May.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore

One of the more complicated, and politically charged, concepts in church teaching on political life is that while a Catholic may never vote for a candidate who favors an intrinsic moral evil such as abortion because of that position, there may be rare circumstances in which “proportionate reasons” suggest voting for that person despite that position.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Baltimore

A brief reference to “the continuing threat of fanatical extremism and global terror” within the document “Faithful Citizenship,” inserted during floor debate this morning, should not be read as an implied endorsement of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the chair of the bishops’ Committee on International Policy told the press today.

Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando was asked if the new language means that the bishops see the war in Iraq as a legitimate part of the war on global terrorism.