Some Numbers Not Promising

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released its 2019 Annual Report.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection releases its 2019 Annual Report, showing that 4,220 adults came forward with 4,434 allegations of abuse.https://t.co/xpymOD7wzL

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 26, 2020

Systemic Racism Killed George Floyd

On 31 May the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) included in his "Statement…on George Floyd and the Protests in American Cities,“ “Racism has been tolerated for far too long in our way of life.”

Today U.S. Bishop Shelton Fabre, Chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, was interviewed by Vatican News. He reiterated the the earlier presidential statement of the U.S. bishops: destruction of property and harm to others do not address the racism in a way that helps. Bishop Fabre noted that “the roots of the current situation do not lie only in the pandemic. They are deep, historical roots that are part of the disregard for life in this country and our inability or unwillingness to address the issue of race and racism.” Its tweet includes audio of that conversation.

Following the murder of #GeorgeFloyd, Bishop Shelton Fabre speaks denounces the systematic racism the US faces today.https://t.co/1RB8LaPA51

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) June 2, 2020

Late But Correct

The word that the coronavirus more adversely affects peoples of color has been announced sooner than in past circumstances. The announcement is nevertheless late; it began in typically understated fashion. Today the U.S. bishops supported the needs and rights of indigenous peoples.

“We hold in prayer our brothers and sisters who are suffering and grieving in these communities, and we stand with them in calling for a robust response to the pandemic in their lands.” #Catholic #COVID https://t.co/YJ2gHTlORJ

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) May 15, 2020

Bishops’ Statement on Economy

At their meeting yesterday the U.S. bishops decided to write a pastoral statement on “work and the economy as a way to raise the profile of growing poverty and the struggles unemployed people are experiencing.” The CNS post also mentioned their

message would build upon the bishops’ 1986 pastoral letter on the economy “Economic Justice for All,” Bishop [Stephen E.]Blaire explained, and would focus on specific challenges that have emerged since the economic downturn began in late 2007.

Will the bishops consult as widely for it as they did for their 1986 letter? (It is available here.)

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Wiki-image of chat bubbles is in the public domain.

Keep Open the Communication

“It’s not like there’s total conflict, and I want to get that out.”

Archbishop Timothy Dolan said that in a conversation in Rome with Mr. John L. Allen Jr. The archbishop responded with those words and others regarding the HHS insurance mandates much in the U.S. press.


In the interview, the archbishop also felt that the recently appointed papal nuncio to the United States is “someone who does not look upon the internal workings of the Holy See with rose-colored glasses, but is well aware of difficulties there.”

“Accomodation”

A “‘common sense accommodation’...is aimed at ending the confrontation between the Obama administration and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.”  Thus begins Kevin Clarke’s Opinion at CNN.com.

Meeting of Presidents

Recently, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB], Archbishop Timothy Dolan, met with the President of the United States.

The men discussed a range of issues related to the often complicated and recently fractious relationship between the administration and the U.S. church hierarchy. A spokesperson for the USCCB declined to confirm or deny the meeting.

The NCR post contains related links to other stories and a book of conversations with Archbishop Dolan, who praised President Obama’s ability to discuss things in a civil manner.

NABRE

Ash Wednesday was the date of release of the New American Bible Revised Edition [NABRE]. The "Daily Take" of Our Sunday Visitor released a brief about it that day with some links.

The Sacred Page blog issued a more detailed, and also brief, description at the top of this year.

Two paperback editions may be pre-ordered at Amazon.com. They will be available in April and May.

Steps of Bible Interpretation--in brief

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB] recently posted a question, "Does the Bible Still Matter Today?" Its answer briefly summarized three steps of biblical interpretation for contemporary readers.

Read it here to appreciate
1) hearing,
2) identifying and
3) seeking understanding
and what they mean for personal living.

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Wiki-image of a 12th-Century bible is in the public domain.

Peter's Pence Collection 2010

In Catholic parishes worldwide this Sunday, a second collection will be the annual one for the Holy Father. This worldwide collection, long called Peter’s Pence, allows the pope to exercise the ministry of charity on behalf of the entire Church. Contributions of the faithful are a sign of "sharing in the concern of [the] Successor of Peter for the many different needs of the Universal Church and for the relief of those most in need" [Vatican website on Peter's Pence].

Its theme this year, “Cast the love of Christ upon the world,” brings together solidarity and love, which blossom into action on behalf of victims of disaster, war and oppression as well as people who suffer great need from these and other events.

The U.S. Bishops Conference offers more details on its website. The Vatican website offers a brief history of "this ancient custom still alive today."

Synopsis of Bishops' Statement on Military Force in Afghanistan

The U.S. Bishops via their Committee on International Justice and Peace. It sent its appeal [the full text] to General James Jones, the U.S. National Security Advisor.

He wrote the letter to offer guidelines and suggestions while the country's administration reviews its strategy in Afghanistan.

"While we are pastors and teachers and not military experts," [Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany] stated on behalf of the entire conference, "we can share Catholic teaching and experience which may help inform various policy choices."

Bishop Hubbard also noted "that the situation in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan is at a critical juncture. Should these states fail, particularly with Pakistan possessing nuclear weapons, there are grave implications for regional and international security."

The full text of their appeal includes three principles and recommends five actions.

Importance of Background & Context

Why a new translation of the Roman Missal (the book used at mass, containing a great variety of texts for celebration)?

On the U.S. Bishops' recently-released website--which they "hope...will be a central resource for those responsible for implementing the text"--one page is devoted to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). It begins with

Why is there a need for a new translation?
The Missale Romanum (Roman Missal), the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass, was promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as the definitive text of the reformed liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. That Latin text, the editio typica (typical edition), was translated into various languages for use around the world; the English edition was published in the United States in 1973. The Holy See issued a revised text, the editio typica altera, in 1975. Pope John Paul II promulgated the third edition (editio typica tertia) of the Missale Romanum during the Jubilee Year in 2000. Among other things, the third edition contains prayers for the celebration of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass. ... (emphasis added)

The evolution and development of liturgical books has a long history. The key dates above are a slender sliver of that history within the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church. The unique quality of expression called "Roman" is economical use of language. Its economy is concise, noble and not given to abstract expression.

Every translation is an interpretation. In the case of the Roman Missal, the translations into the vernacular languages are from Latin. In the recent editions of the Roman Missal from 1970 to the present, the challenge has been to make more faithful translations, extraordinarily difficult from one language to another, here from Latin to English, two languages which diverge in ways of expression. That heightens the challenge to be faithful to the doctrine liturgical language both expresses and conveys.

The site offers examples of changes in the parts spoken by the assembly. The layout allows readers to note that more words in those spoken parts remain the same than have changed in the most recent edition of the Roman Missal.

Health Care: U.S. Bishops Create Website

The United States Bishops have again used the internet to promote their desires and positions concerning health-care reform. The bishops' website has the advantage of consolidating videos and information at a single site; plus, arranging information in ways to aid readers' appreciation of facts and statistics. For example, this from the homepage today:

Fast Facts About
Catholic Health Care

624 Catholic Hospitals
499 Catholic Long-Term Care Nursing Facilities
164 Home Health Agencies
41 Hospice Organizations
More facts
Source: Catholic Health Association

In addition to lists, the site also arranges facts in graphic formats as further aids to appreciating information.

Site: Resource for Forthcoming Edition of Roman Missal

The new texts are understandable, dignified and accurate.

"They not only strive to make the meaning of the text accessible for the listener, but they also strive to unearth the biblical and theological richness of the Latin text."
From the following post on Zenit.com.

Bishops Present Coming Missal Changes

Web Site Aims to Familiarize Catholics With New Text

WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG. 21, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. bishops' conference launched a Web site that aims to educate Catholics about the changes in the Mass that are coming with the new Roman missal translation.

A press release from the conference announced today that this site includes background on the liturgical texts, sample wording from the newly translated missal, and answers to frequently asked questions.

The conference's Committee on Divine Worship expressed the hope that this will be a central resource for those responsible for implementing the text. ...

Read complete posting

More to follow next week.