• Bishops Asked To Approve National Pastoral Initiative On Marriage At Their November Meeting Here (04-210)
  October 28, 2004
  America's Catholic Bishops will be asked to approve a National Pastoral Initiative on Marriage when they hold their fall meeting here, November 15-18.
• Bishop Gregory Urges House To Support The Marriage Protection Amendment (04-186)
  September 29, 2004
  Saying the institution of marriage "has been weakened and eroded by many forces," Belleville Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has urged the House of Representatives to support the Marriage Protection Amendment.
• Lifelong Support for Marriage Emphasized in Catholic Church, Survey Finds (04-184)
  October 8, 2004
  Lifelong support for marriage is a key effort for parishes and dioceses in the United States, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family Life.
• Bishops' Head Comments On Senate's Failure To Vote On Federal Marriage Amendment (04-136)
  July 14, 2004
  Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued this statement after the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the debate on the Federal Marriage Amendment. Cloture would have ended the debate and permitted the Senate to vote on the Amendment.
• Bishops' Spokesman Expresses Support For Federal Marriage Amendment (04-134)
  July 13, 2004
  Msgr. William Fay joined other religious leaders at a press conference in the nation's capitol, saying "the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gives its full and unequivocal support to the Federal Marriage Amendment that would amend the United States Constitution to define marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman."
• Msgr. Fay Urges Support For Federal Marriage Amendment (04-132)
  July 12, 2004
  Speaking at a press conference in the nation's capitol, Msgr. William P. Fay said "the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops gives its full and unequivocal support to the Federal Marriage Amendment that would amend the United States Constitution to define marriage as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman."
• Catholic Bishops Strongly Urge The U.S. Senate To Support The Federal Marriage Amendment (04-128)
  July 6, 2004
  Saying the institution of marriage is "under serious attack," the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) strongly urged the Senate to vote in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment after turning back any attempt to prevent consideration of the measure.
• Bishops Committee On Women In Society, Church Notes Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Urges Clergy To Aid Battered Spouses (04-085)
  September 28, 2004
  The U.S. Bishops' Committee on Women in Society and in the Church is urging Catholic priests and other pastoral leaders to note October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
• Bishop Commends Hearing on Marriage Amendment (04-044)
  March 3, 2004
  The Chairman of the bishops Marriage and Family Life Committee today commended the chairman of a Senate subcommittee for calling a hearing on the national implications of the Massachusetts judicial decision requiring same-sex unions.
• Bishops of the Church in America Issue Statement Affirming Value and Importance of the Family (04-038)
  February 25, 2004
  At their meeting in San Antonio, Texas, the Bishops of the Church in America issued a statement affirming the fundamental value and importance of the family.
• U.S. Catholic Bishops' Administrative Committee Calls for Protection of Marriage (03-179)
  September 10, 2003
  The U.S. Bishops' Administrative Committee voted September 9 to give general support to Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
• Bishops' Head Welcomes Vatican Statement on Legal Recognition of Unions Between Homosexual Persons (03-158)
  July 31, 2003
  Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), welcomed the Vatican document entitled "Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons."
• Bishops to Vote on Revised Domestic Violence Document (02-193)
  October 3, 2002
  The U.S. bishops will vote on a revised document on domestic violence at their annual November meeting in Washington.
• World Youth Day to Feature Special U.S. Participation (02-127)
  July 1, 2002
  When World Youth Day (WYD) opens on July 23 in Toronto, the United States presence will be measured both in quantity and in quality. More than 52,000 young people and 125 bishops will attend from the United States. Participants will come from every state and nearly every diocese.
• Discount Deadline for World Youth Day Registration Extended (01-221)
  December 17, 2001
  The deadline to receive the five percent discount for World Youth Day registration has been extended to January 18.
• Lay Ministry Programs Spur Expression of Faith, Study Shows; More That 35,000 Men, Women Involved Across United States (01-147)
  August 28, 2001
  Programs to educate lay men and women for ministry in the Church not only give book knowledge but also enhance expressions of faith.
• Washington Prayer Breakfast to Mark Jubilee Day for Women (00-009)
  January 10, 2000
  Several national organizations, including the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' (NCCB) Committee on Women in Society and in the Church, will sponsor a prayer breakfast in Washington to mark the Jubilee Day for Women on March 25.
• Jubilee Resource for Young People Available from U.s. Bishops (00-008)
  January 10, 2000
  A youth and young adult oriented jubilee year guide has been published by the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth and is now available.
• Young Adult Ministry Document Now Available to Korean and Vietnamese Catholic Communities (99-193)
  August 18, 1999
  Sons and Daughters of the Light, the highly regarded pastoral plan for meeting the challenges of ministry with young adults, is now available in both Korean and Vietnamese, the acting chairman of the committee which drafted the document announced today.
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development Launches National Youth Initiative (99-183)
  July 28, 1999
  The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has launched an initiative to educate young people about the principles of Catholic social teaching and involve them in the work of CCHD diocesan offices and local community-based groups funded by the Campaign.
• World Youth Day 2000 Registration Fees Announced (99-173)
  July 15, 1999
  The National Conference of Catholic Bishops released registration options and fees for the XV World Youth Day, which is scheduled to take place in Rome, August 15-20, 2000. The registration process will be in two phases--initial registration taking place immediately, and a second phase to begin in the fall of 1999.
• Celebrations of Women, Lay Ministry, Consecrated Life Among Jubilee Days Slated for United States in Year 2000 (99-166)
  July 15, 1999
  Women in the church, lay ministry, families and persons who have consecrated themselves to God in the vowed life are among groups to be singled out for special jubilee year celebrations to mark the year 2000 in the United States.
• NCCB Official Hails Passage of Child Custody Protection Act (99-159)
  June 30, 1999
  The executive director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, praised passage of the Child Custody Protection Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today (June 30) by a vote of 270-159.
• NCCB Official Urges Support for Child Custody Protection Act (99-146)
  June 18, 1999
  An official of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) has urged Congress to support the Child Custody Protection Act (H.R. 1218/S. 661).
• Bishops' Youth Initiative Offers Ideas to Prevent Teen Tragedies (99-116)
  May 21, 1999
  The Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Subcommittee on Youth said the recent killings in Littleton, Colorado, underscore the urgency of addressing societal issues, including violence, that affect youth.
• Bishops Issue Family Guide for Using Media (99-101)
  May 10, 1999
  A 10-point Family Guide for Using Media to help families view media critically has been issued by the U.S. Bishops' Administrative Committee.
• Bishops Urge Celebration of Jubilee Day for Women in March 2000 (99-076)
  April 7, 1999
  Dioceses and parishes across the nation should plan events to mark the international Jubilee Day for Women, next March 25, according to the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Women in Society and in the Church.
• Archbishop Vlazny Names Women's Committee Members (98-251)
  November 27, 1998
  Archbishop John G. Vlazny of Portland (Oregon), recently elected chairman of the U.S. bishops Committee on Women in Society and in the Church, has named six other bishops to the committee.
• Bishops' Subcommittee Launches Pilot Program to Aid At-Risk Youth (98-238)
  November 18, 1998
  The U.S. Bishops' Subcommittee on Youth today launched a program, called Communities for Youth, aimed at helping at-risk youth across the nation in cooperation with America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth.
• Directory of Lay Groups Published by U.S. Bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women, Youth (98-156)
  July 8, 1998
  The U.S. Bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth has just released its 1998 Directory of Lay Movements, Associations, Organizations, and Secular Institutes.
• Orthodox, Catholic Bishops Discuss Family Life in U.S. Culture (98-075)
  April 3, 1998
  The fifteenth meeting of the Joint Committee of Orthodox and Catholic Bishops took place at St. Paul's College here, March 31 to April 2.
• Marriage and Family Life Is Topic of Islamic-Catholic Dialogue (98-055)
  March 11, 1998
  Marriage and family life in the Catholic and Islamic traditions was discussed at the initial meeting of what is expected to be an on-going Islamic-Catholic dialogue.
• H. Richard McCord Is Director of Family, Laity, Women, and Youth (97-258)
  November 19, 1997
  H. Richard McCord, Associate Director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth for the past 10 years, has been named Executive Director of the Secretariat.
• Bishops Urge Parents of Homosexuals to Accept Their Children, Themselves, Church Teaching on Human Dignity (97-208)
  October 1, 1997
  Parents who learn that their teenage or adult children have a homosexual orientation are urged to accept their children, themselves, and Church teaching on human dignity, the U.S. Bishops stress in Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers.
• Almost 13,000 U.S. Youth Heading to Paris For World Youth Day and Pope John Paul II (97-168)
  August 11, 1997
  Almost 13,000 U.S. youth are headed for Paris for the 12th annual World Youth Day, the international Vatican-sponsored celebration inaugurated by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
• Pope's Words on Women Highlighted in The Genius of Women (97-166)
  August 7, 1997
  Pope John Paul II's words on women are highlighted in The Genius of Women, an 80-page booklet published by the U.S. Catholic Conference.
• Court Internet Decision Underscores Need for Laws Protecting Children from Indecency in Cyberspace (97-143)
  June 26, 1997
  The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold freedom of speech even if it means indecent materials may reach minors underscores the need for "the development of legislation that effectively and constitutionally protects children from unsuitable and dangerous material," said Mark Chopko, General Counsel for the U.S. Bishops, June 26.
• Family Gathering with Pope Slated for Rio de Janeiro; NCCB Coordinating U.S. Participation (97-079)
  April 11, 1997
  A worldwide gathering of families with Pope John Paul II has been slated for October 4 and 5 in Rio de Janeiro.
• Kansas, Texas Young Adults to Represent Church in United States at Vatican-Sponsored International Youth Forum (97-062)
  March 18, 1997
  Mitchel J. Zimmerman of Lawrence, Kansas, and Maritza Gamboa of Lubbock, Texas, will represent the Catholic Church in the United States at the Vatican- sponsored VI International Youth Forum, this year slated for Paris, August 14-18.
• For Young Adult Ministry, Call 1-888 YG ADULT (97-055)
  March 12, 1997
  The U.S. Bishops' Committee on the Laity has set up a toll-free 800-number, 1-888 YG ADULT (1-888-942-3858), for people seeking information on Church efforts for young adults.
• Young Adult Ministry Meetings Slated For Washington, San Diego, Chicago (97-050)
  March 6, 1997
  Connecting With Young Adults, a leadership conference for parish, campus and diocesan leaders, will be offered in Washington, April 10-12; San Diego, May 1-3; and Chicago, June 5-7.
• Attendants at World Youth Day in Paris Must Register With NCCB (97-032)
  February 12, 1997
  Attendants at World Youth Day in Paris must register with the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) or they will not get an events pass to World Youth Day events. Registration with the Vatican alone is not enough.

Visit these department pages!

Family, Laity, Women & Youth
World Youth Day '97: Paris, France

For media inquiries, e-mail us at commdept@usccb.org
Department of Communications | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 © USCCB. All rights reserved.