US bishops to elect new president at November general assembly

(Vatican Radio) The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced it will be holding its next meeting from November 14th to 16th, in Baltimore for the fall general assembly.

A statement from the USCCB said that during the assembly, the bishops will elect a new president, vice president, and five committee chairs. In addition, they will discuss and vote on the Conference’s strategic plan for 2017-2020, and will receive a report and recommendations on promoting peace in violence-stricken communities.

The bishops will hear from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, as he gives his final address as USCCB president upon completion of his three-year term

The bishops will also vote for new chairmen-elect of the following five USCCB committees: Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, Committee on International Justice and Peace, and the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People.

Additionally, the bishops will discuss and vote on the Conference’s 2017-2020 strategic plan, Encountering the Mercy of Christ and Accompanying His People with Joy, to support the five priorities approved last November. The priorities are:

•          Evangelization: Open wide the doors to Christ through missionary discipleship and personal encounter.

•          Family and marriage: Encourage and heal families; inspire Catholics to embrace the sacrament of matrimony.

•          Human life and dignity: Uphold the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death with special concern for the poor and vulnerable.

•          Vocations and ongoing formation: Encourage vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and provide meaningful ongoing formation to clergy, religious and lay ministers.

•          Religious freedom: Promote and defend the freedom to serve, witness and worship, in the U.S. and abroad.

Several reports will also be given including an update from the USCCB Task Force to Promote Peace in Our Communities.

An update will also be given on planning preparations for the upcoming Convocation of Catholic Leaders, The Joy of the Gospel in America. The Convocation is scheduled to take place from July 1st to 4th, 2017 in Orlando, Florida.