Briefs from Bishops' Meeting

Working group formed
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit will head up a special working group of the U.S. bishops to address issues surrounding the election of a Catholic president and policies that may come about that would be in conflict with Catholic teaching and the bishops’ priorities. Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops, announced the establishment of this working group at the end of the public portion of the bishops’ Nov. 16-17 meeting, held this year completely online. Archbishop Vigneron is vice president of the USCCB. Other members of the working group will be the chairman of USCCB committees focused on various policy areas. “We are facing a unique moment in the history of our country” with the election of President-elect Joe Biden, only the second Catholic as president, Archbishop Gomez said. “This presents certain opportunities but also certain challenges.” Biden has indicated his faith commitments “will lead to certain policies that we favor,” Archbishop Gomez said, such as immigration, aid to refugees and the poor, racial justice and climate change, but he supports Roe v. Wade and has said he favors repeal of the Hyde Amendment.
Four-year strategic plan
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Although the U.S. bishops’ four-year strategic plan was adopted one year ago, it was not scheduled to go into effect until January 2021. That gave the bishops a window to address two issues that have captured the world’s attention since last November: the coronavirus pandemic and racial inequality. Addendums to the strategic plan were approved during the fall general meeting. The 193-3 vote, with two abstentions, was taken via email Nov. 16, and results were announced Nov. 17. The modifications to the strategic plan required a majority email vote of those bishops present and attending; at its peak Nov. 16, 301 bishops had logged on to the meeting. The addendums in the plan, presented to the bishops by the USCCB Committee on Priorities and Plans, included making pandemic recovery became a new priority for the plan, with the priority to “promote the healing of the personal, spiritual and societal wounds of COVID-19 through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, the Divine Physician.” The May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis brought about further revision to the strategic plan in include anti-racism efforts.
Evangelization in pandemic
CLEVELAND (CNS) -- The coronavirus pandemic may have led to debilitating isolation among Catholics, but it has not lessened people’s hunger for the Eucharist, bishops across the country said. In a 45-minute online discussion Nov. 17, bishops described an unwavering thirst for the Eucharist, detailing some of the extraordinary measures people have taken to worship before the Blessed Sacrament. “The power of the Holy Spirit is living in the hearts of the faithful,” said Bishop David P. Talley of Memphis, Tennessee. “People are expressing such a deep love and devotion to the Eucharist,” added Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico. And in the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas, Bishop Daniel E. Flores described how he has arrived at parishes to see people kneeling outside, praying for the chance to receive holy Communion and the return of normal worship experiences. “This is the renewal that I find very personally edifying and a source of great strength,” Bishop Flores said.
Budget for 2021
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops approved a budget for the year 2021 that has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The vote was taken via email Nov. 16. The vote required a simple majority of bishops present and voting. At its peak, the virtual meeting had 301 bishops logged on to the proceedings. Bishop Gregory L. Parkes of St. Petersburg, Florida, treasurer of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Budget and Finance, said the USCCB had started trimming budget outlays in 2020 when it appeared the coronavirus pandemic was going to stay far longer than expected. One such measure was a pay freeze and travel restrictions for all USCCB employees. The USCCB’s own stock portfolio suffered its share of gyrations over the course of the year, according to Bishop Parkes in prerecorded remarks delivered Nov. 16. “The market declined quickly and dramatically” when the pandemic hit, he said.