U.S. Bishops to Choose a New President from List of Ten

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops today announced the list of ten candidates for their next president and vice president.

The highest vote-getters in the election will replace outgoing president and vice president Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, whose three-year terms will expire at the end of the Fall General Assembly.  Among  the nominees, I’m proud to say, is my archbishop,  Archbishop Allen Vigneron.

The new officers will be elected at the annual Fall General Assembly, which will be held November 11-14 at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott Hotel.

The ten candidates are:

• Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans
• Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., of Philadelphia
• Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane, Washington
• Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston
• Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles
• Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky
• Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore
• Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati
• Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit
• Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami

The days leading up to the USCCB General Assembly are always exciting, as each day’s news carries more information about the agenda for the sessions.  At this point, I can report that the agenda will also include:

• A report from the National Advisory Council and a report on the status of their strategic/pastoral plan, The New Evangelization: Faith, Worship, Witness.
• Discussions and votes on the 2014 Conference budget and 2015 diocesan assessment.
• Consultation on the sainthood cause of Mary Teresa Tallon, Servant of God.
• Discussions and votes on the Misal Romano, the Spanish translation of the book of prayers at Mass, and adaptations to it for use in the United States.
• Discussions and votes on the draft translations of the Order of Celebrating Marriage and the Order of Confirmation, as well as proposed adaptations for the Order of Celebrating Marriage.
• An update by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.
• Presentation for a proposal to develop a formal statement on pornography.
• Presentation by Bishop Gerald R. Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, chairman of CRS, and Carolyn Woo, CRS president, on the work and strategic priorities of CRS.
• An update and discussion on the Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty.
• Discussions and votes on proposed revisions to the USCCB handbook and regulations.

The bishops will also vote for

• the chairman of the USCCB Committee on Catholic Education,
• the chairmen-elect of five other USCCB committees and
• new board members of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS).