Agenda for bishops' fall meeting includes discussion on family synod

The U.S. bishops' conference will hold its annual Fall General Assembly in Baltimore Nov. 10-13. The agenda includes a discussion of last month's Synod of Bishops on the family.

A number of liturgical items will be discussed and a handful of elections held. Additionally, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., elected president of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops a year ago, will deliver his first presidential address.

In some ways, "the events surrounding the [synod on the family] have somewhat eclipsed the November meeting," Richard Gaillardetz, the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College, wrote in an email to NCR.

In his address as conference president, Kurtz will have a chance to talk about the synod, "and it will be interesting to see how he interprets the synodal process and preliminary results," Gaillardetz wrote.

"Some prominent bishops like [Archbishop Charles] Chaput in Philadelphia have been quite critical while others like [Cardinal Donald] Wuerl in Washington, D.C., have been more supportive. Will Kurtz focus on Francis' call for the primacy of mercy and the need for an open and respectful conversation, or will he align himself more with those bishops who seem particularly fearful of compromising church doctrine?"

Speeches aside, a number of votes will be held.

By most accounts, the bishops will vote to decide who to send to the ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2015. The U.S. bishops' conference is typically allowed three or four representatives.

Another vote will determine "whether to pursue a revision of the section of the 'Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services' dealing with forming partnerships," in order to "incorporate guidance the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) received from the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith this past February," according to a conference press release.

The guidance outlines how "to ensure that Catholic health care institutions neither cooperate immorally with the unacceptable procedures conducted in other health care entities with which they may be connected nor cause scandal as a result of their collaboration with such other entities," the press release said.

The conference will also hold votes for the conference's secretary-elect, as well as the chairmen-elect of five committees. The conference secretary election features candidates Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans and Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

The committee elections include candidates:

• Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., for the Committee on Communications;
• Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio and Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, Wash., for the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church;
• Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, Mass., and Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit for the Committee on Doctrine;
• Archbishop Thomas Rodi of Mobile, Ala., and Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Calif., for the Committee on National Collections;
• Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles for the Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

A press release from the conference said that liturgical items will include:

• "A revised translation of the ritual book, 'Dedication of a Church and Altar' ... used whenever a new church is built or when a new altar is made."
• "A first ever official English translation of the ritual book, 'Exorcisms and Related Supplications.' Revised after the Second Vatican Council, this ritual was promulgated in Latin in 1999 with an amended version in 2004. The main part of this book is the rite of major exorcism and includes an introduction outlining criteria for its use, which is always the decision of the bishop alone. While this text affirms the reality of evil in the world, it even more so affirms the sovereignty of Christ to overcome any and all evil."
• A "supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours. An English translation of the prayers used for the feast days of saints who have been added to the General Calendar since 1984."
• "Modifications to the Revised Grail Psalms, originally approved by Rome in 2010. Since it is anticipated that the Psalms will be widely used with a future edition of the liturgy of the hours, the committee recommended improving the translation and its 'sprung rhythm' to facilitate easier proclamation and singing."
• Proposed revisions to "Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities," first published by the U.S. bishops in 1995. The Committee on Divine Worship "is seeking permission to revise these Guidelines in light of medical developments and increased awareness of some of the challenges faced by Catholics today. One example of such a challenge is the greater awareness today of those with gluten intolerance (Celiac disease) and the need to continue to provide for their sacramental and spiritual needs."

Generally, church observers say they will be watching to see if any of the votes or liturgical decisions reflect a change in tone within the U.S. bishops' conference.

"One of the big issues over the last 20 months has concerned the extent to which prominent leaders among the U.S. bishops would revise their current public stance and policy priorities in the light of the agenda of Pope Francis," Gaillardetz wrote. "For example, we still hear a lot more about religious liberty from some bishops even though it does not seem a priority, at least in the American context, for Pope Francis."

[Vinnie Rotondaro is NCR national correspondent. His email address is vrotondaro@ncronline.org.]