U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to Meet Nov 13-16, 2006

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will meet in Baltimore, MD, November 13-16, 2006.

According to a posting on the USCCB website, the agenda will include:

  • approval of a reorganization plan for their national conference,
  • approval of a revision to the Lectionary for Mass for selected days in the season of Advent,
  • approval of a directory for music and the liturgy for use in the dioceses of the United States,
  • approval of two documents from their Doctrine Comm ittee:
  • a proposed statement on receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist worthily,
  • proposed guidelines for ministry to persons with a homosexual inclination,
  • a document from the Pro-Life Committee offering pastoral guidance on the Church's teaching concerning contraception, linked with a culture of life.

The proposed guidelines for ministry to persons with a homosexual inclination have received the most pre-meeting attention and media coverage. Bear in mind that the proposed guidelines will be given to the body of bishops for approval. They may not be in their final form, The proposal document is entitled, “Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care.”

The USCCB Office of Media Relations has prepared and released a summary of the guidelines under a document entitled, “Guidelines for Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclination on Catholic Bishop’s Agenda.” It may be found athttp://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2006/06-203.shtml.

An article entitled, “Bishops to vote on guidelines for ministry to homosexuals,” by Jerry Filleau of the Catholic News Service, may be found athttp://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0605957.htm