It was amazing to see so many Bishops in one place.  I was overwhelmed by seeing Bishops that I had only read about or seen on the news.  I wondered what kind of reception I would receive from them.  After all, I had just been ordained for two months.  But, I found the Bishops to be very welcoming.  They would introduce themselves as we met in the halls, at meals, and in the general meeting rooms.  On the first day that I was there, I came around a corner and almost “ran over” Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia.  Yet, he was very kind.

        There were important pieces of business that were enacted at the meeting.  There were several liturgical issues that were passed.  One was the approval of the text for the “Order for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.”  The prayers in this blessing are very touching.  The Bishops also passed the ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy) translation from the Latin of the Proper of Seasons from the third edition of the Roman Missal.  This moves this translation project closer to completion.  The whole translation is expected to be completed and put into use in 2011.  Also, the Bishops approved the Revised Grail Psalter by the Monks of Conception Abbey (USA) for liturgical use in the United States .  This is a very good translation of the Psalms of the Bible.

        Two statements were issued by Cardinal Francis George, who is the President of the USCCB and the Archbishop of Chicago.  One was a statement expressing solidarity with those who have been negatively affected by the economic crisis.  Cardinal George reminded our nation that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.  We are all in this together.  He expressed the hope that these hard times will bring us together and not separate us. 

        Cardinal George, with the input and approval of the Bishops, also issued a statement to President-elect Obama.  That statement welcomed this moment of historic transition in our country and stated that the Bishops look forward to working with the President-elect and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all.  Cardinal George went on to say that the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve, if the administration’s policies increase abortions, especially through what is called the Freedom of Choice Act (the full statement of Cardinal George is included in another section of The Prairie Catholic).

        The Bishops voted on goals and objectives for the work of their five task forces on the priority initiatives of the USCCB through 2011.  The goals that were passed were:

GOAL 1—CULTURAL DIVERSITY
To increase the Catholic community’s understanding and acceptance of cultural diversity in the Church.

GOAL 2—CULTURAL DIVERSITY
To include diverse cultures in the life and leadership of dioceses, parishes and other Catholic organizations in the United States .

GOAL 3—STRENGTHENING MARRIAGE
To inspire, challenge and help Catholic couples to witness to the meaning and value of marriage as a human institution and a Christian sacrament.
GOAL 4—STRENGTHENING MARRIAGE
To work for laws and public policies that protect, promote, and strengthen marriage.
GOAL 5—FAITH FORMATION AND SACRAMENTAL PRACTICE
To invite all Catholics to a relationship with Jesus in a context of living faith, especially at the parish level, by catechetical and educational formation on the nature of Catholic identity and an appreciation of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. This effort takes place within an awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity in the identity and practice of the Catholic faith in the United States .
GOAL 6—FAITH FORMATION AND SACRAMENTAL PRACTICE
To facilitate the prospective introduction, reception, and implementation of the new translation of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia, to the Church in the United States .
GOAL 7—LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
In a compelling and effective way, to re-establish the cultural compass of the United States to affirm the objective, transcendent truth of the intrinsic value of human life and the dignity of the human person from the inception of life to natural death.
GOAL 8—PROMOTION OF VOCATIONS TO PRIESTHOOD & CONSECRATED LIFE
To help individuals hear and respond to a call by God to the priesthood or consecrated life.
GOAL 9—PROMOTION OF VOCATIONS TO PRIESTHOOD & CONSECRATED LIFE
To educate all of the faithful on the importance of encouraging others to consider a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life.

        There is no significance to the order of the goals and each goal has its own accompanying objective.  The objectives are available to read on the USCCB website (www.usccb.org).

        On another note, some have been concerned about the funding of ACORN by the Bishops.  It was announced at the Bishops’ meeting that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the national anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has ended all funding to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).  This was due to a major case of embezzlement eight years ago which raised serious concerns about ACORN's financial accountability, transparency, governance, and organizational integrity.

        So ends my report on the November Bishops’ meeting in Baltimore.  It was a good experience, and I hope to be able to contribute more as I continue to learn more.