Appeared in The Catholic Virginian November 27, 2000

Meeting of U.S. Bishops
 

Every year during the middle of November, the Catholic bishops of our country meet in Washington, D.C. for their annual meeting. We also have a spring meeting in mid-June at a different location each year. Called for by the Second Vatican Council, our bishops conference is now known as the United States Catholic Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

I generally like to drive up to Washington on Sunday afternoon before the November meeting to spend time with my family. Because this time I had to celebrate the final Liturgy of Lay Recognition on Sunday, I decided to drive up Monday morning, leaving Richmond at 7:30 AM. Much to my surprise, I arrived at the Hyatt Hotel near the capitol at 9:30 AM, only 1/2 hour late.

I always sit next to my good friend Bishop David Foley who was my auxiliary bishop before being appointed Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama. Together we catch up on the news about each other. It is hard to believe that this is approximately my 60^th bishops' meeting since I was ordained a bishop in 1970, 30 years ago. I find it refreshing to meet bishops whom I have known over the years. I was surprised at how many like myself are nearing retirement age. Many of the retired bishops were present. They have a voice but no vote in the conference.

I arrived in time for the opening address by Bishop Joseph Fiorenza of the Diocese of Houston, Texas who is our conference president. Bishop Fiorenza pointed out our achievements and ongoing collaboration with our ecumenical and interfaith partners who work together for the common good. He mentioned our Holy Father's visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. He repeated the Pope's words on that occasion: "No one can forget or ignore what happened, no one can diminish its scale". Bishop Fiorenza spoke of the Pope's Jubilee gift to our world with the beatification of Pope John XXIII and the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel for whom I established a shrine at St. Joseph's Church in Columbia. Bishop Fiorenza concluded his remarks by referring to the recent book by Cardinal Carlo Martini of Milan, Italy, What Beauty Will Save the World. The Cardinal asserts that it is not enough for us to deplore the problems and disappointments of the world and of the Church; we must instead radiate the beauty that truly captivates the heart and turns it to God.

The Bishops then turned their attention to the business of our four days together. This year we had many timely statements to approve. I can only give you a capsule glimpse at the quality of the pronouncements.

Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston presented two statements for our approval, one on the Middle East and the other on Sudan. He heads up the Committee on International Policy. Before speaking about the present day conflict, particularly in the Holy Land, our conference always consults with the Vatican and the Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem. I met the Patriarch a year ago when I was in Jerusalem with Pax Christi International. Patriarch Sabbah was elected the new International Bishop President of Pax Christi. Our statement on the Middle East is a call for a peaceful solution to the present conflict among Muslims, Jews and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis. The statement also calls for recognition of a Palestinian state and the preservation of the Christian Shrines in the Holy Land. We state that a just peace demands respect for Israel's right to exist and flourish within secure borders and that the future of the Middle East must be built on mutual respect, recognition and reconciliation.

The bishops also passed a strong statement in support of the suffering people in southern Sudan, a people more or less forgotten by the international community. Sudan is the largest country in Africa, larger than the eastern United States. A genocide has been going on there for years between the aggression of the Arab Muslims in the north and the Black African Christians in the south. The war has been of religious and cultural as well as political and economic dimensions. Innocent people are being exterminated; youth are being taken into slavery. One bishop said it well when he stated that the only goods delivered by the United States has been a cruise missile that landed in the capitol of Kartown. Our bishops would want to raise the consciousness of our Catholic people to the terrible human tragedy in Sudan in which over 2 million, mostly innocent people have died. The bishops call for new efforts to revive the peace process.

Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore presented a strong statement, unanimously approved, entitled "Abortion and the Supreme Court - Advancing the Culture of Death." The present day abortion culture has an ever worsening effect on our national character in which the wholesale destruction of innocent human life has become an acceptable way of life in our country. In particular, the bishops point out the most recent Supreme Court decision which allowed the killing of a child mostly born (partial birth abortion) under the guise of "a woman's right to choose". “The Right to Life" of all, from the unborn to the elderly, is the most sacred right that must be upheld in our country. Together we must bring an end to the abortion culture, the culture of death in our country.

Part of today's culture of death is reflected in the present day prison system in our country. Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles, head of the Domestic Policy Committee, presented an excellent paper entitled " Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice". Ours is a prophetic statement needed to raise the consciousness of our people. The bishops are concerned for the victims of crime who need and deserve our pastoral care. Unfortunately, the poor and minorities are disproportionately among both the victims as well as those in prison. Tragically, there still remains among our own people a strong urge for vengeance. There exits much cynicism to which the bishops address a message of hope because of our unique belief as Catholics in redemption. Ours statement is lengthy and balanced, calling for the better treatment of those in prison. Ours is a broken criminal justice system in which over a million persons languish behind bars with little or no hope. The bishops call for a more restorative approach rather than a retributive one, the protection of public safety as well as the return of individuals to society. The bishops also call for an end to the death penalty which only enforces today's culture of death at the expense of the culture of life.

Another human concerns issue addresses the plight of refugees and immigrants. The bishops issued two statements - one entitled "Welcoming the Immigrant into the Church" and "A Resolution on Immigration Reform". The bishops reflect on better ways to integrate immigrants and refugees into the life of the Church. Regretfully, there exists today an anti-immigrant stance in our country. Our own diocese, as it celebrates the 25^th Anniversary of our Refugee and Immigration Services, has a proud history of welcoming, hospitality and integration of persons of diverse cultures into our communities. We strive for unity while at the same time respecting diversity. Among our pastoral concerns we must pay special attention to those who seek freedom and self-reliance rather than dependency.

The bishops also call your federal policy makers to re-examine immigration laws in order to enhance the basic dignity and human rights of immigrants and to preserve the unity of the immigrant family. They call for legalization opportunities for undocumented persons, the preservation of due process rights for immigrants and a more equitable and generous immigration system.

Liturgical matters always draw the attention of the bishops. This year the Revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal was uppermost on our minds. Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb of Mobile informed us that the Latin text most likely will be published this spring and an English translation must then be approved at a later date. The USA Appendix to the General Instruction still remains in effect although certain changes must be made in accord with the new Instruction. At the same time, the US bishops can seek an indult for exceptions. Already the Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy has recommend an indult dealing with the role of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The bishops emphasized patience in regard to the process of implementation.

The Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy also issued a long document on art, architecture and worship entitled "Built of Living Stones". The document does not pave new ground but puts into one document a wide variety of existing liturgical principles. Because of many approved changes to the text of about 100 pages, I must wait for the final approved version. I will send a copy of the excellent text to every parish of the diocese. I rejoice that we have an excellent Building and Renovation Commission under the direction of Msgr. Thomas Shreve of Epiphany Parish in Richmond. All new building projects and renovation efforts must receive the recommendation of the commission before I give the final approval. Right now we have over 30 projects either underway or under consideration.

The bishops also had a good discussion on the question of cooperation, formal and material, in connection with hospital mergers and new partnership. The Church outlaws any cooperation in terms of abortions and assisted suicide. The Church also condemns formal cooperation and immediate material cooperation on the question of sterilization. Thankfully, I am in constant dialogue with the Catholic hospitals in the diocese. Father Russ Smith, who has a doctorate in moral theology and is an expert in medical ethics, serves as my advisor on complicated issues. I can say that all our Catholic hospitals uphold the sanctity of life.

Finally the bishops, with the approval of Rome, have settled on the age of Confirmation. The bishops in our country decree that the Sacrament of Confirmation shall be conferred between the age of discretion and about 16 years of age, within the limits determined by the local diocesan bishop. This is in accord with canon 891 in the revised Code of Canon Law. In our own diocese, the age of confirmation is for juniors and seniors in high school, a practice which is followed in many other dioceses of the country.

I personally received a special recognition as The Bishop for Campus Ministry. I was recognized because of the commitment in our diocese to reach out to all Catholic students and faculty on all college campuses. We have 68 altogether, although 24 are community colleges without resident students. Our diocese has 20 full time and 24 part time campus ministers. Catholics make up the largest religious-affiliated student body on our 44 resident college campuses. I meet annually with the Campus Ministry Commission and Campus Ministers. Our budgets exceed $500,000. The award given to me really is a tribute to Brother Cos Rubencamp who for 29 years has headed up the Office of Campus Ministers. Cos reminds me that over 5,000 college students have made the Encounter with Christ Retreat Program since its inception.

I conclude this report by saying that I experienced a wonderful spirit among our Catholic bishops. The new millennium has proved to be a springtime of hope for all of us as we celebrate Jubilee 2000.
 
 

+ Walter F. Sullivan
Bishop of Richmond