Catholic Diocese Tucson

CATHOLIC OUTLOOK 9 DECEMBER 2019 192 S Stone Ave Tucson, AZ 85701 Tel: (520) 838-2500 Fax: (520) 838-2599 Web: diocesetucson.org Editor and Publisher Most Rev. Edward Weisenburger Director of Communications Steff Koeneman Managing Editor Michael Brown mbrown@diocesetucson.org Tel: (520) 838-2562 Advisory Board Most Rev. Edward Weisenburger, Father John Arnold For Advertising Contact Michael Brown mbrown@diocesetucson.org Tel: (520) 838-2562 Winner of 2012 international award for ‘general excellence’ The Catholic Outlook is not liable, or in any way responsible for the content of any advertisements that appear in its pages. Statements, claims, offers or guarantees made by The Catholic Outlook’s advertisers are solely the responsibility of the advertiser. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau. The Catholic Outlook reserves the right to reject any advertising copy or art. C atholic O utlook By CAROL ZIMMERMANN Catholic News Service BALTIMORE — During their Nov. 11-13 meeting in Baltimore, the US bishops elected new of- ficers and discussed challenges in the church and the nation. They spoke of their renewed efforts to help immigrants, youth and young adults, pregnant women and the poor, and steps to combat gun vio- lence and racism. On the second day of the meeting, Nov. 12, the bishops elected Arch- bishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Ange- les to a three-year term as president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit as conference vice president. Archbishop Gomez, the first Latino to be elected to this role, was chosen with 176 votes from a slate of 10 nominees. He has been USC- CB vice president for the past three years and his new role began at the end of the Baltimore gathering. The bishops voted overwhelm- ingly on a revised set of strategic priorities to take them into the next decade. They approved adding new materials to complement “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizen- ship,” their long-standing guide to help Catholics form their conscienc- es in public life, including voting. The addition included the statement that called abortion the preeminent social issue of our time. The second day of the bishops’ meeting coincided with oral argu- ments at the US Supreme Court over the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. The bishops at the Baltimore meeting spoke up in defense of DACA recipients on the floor and in interviews with Catho- lic News Service. Bishops also heard a wide-rang- ing report on immigration Nov. 12, which included updates of policy, how programs to resettle refugees, including those run by the Catholic Church, have closed or reduced ac- tivity because the administration has moved to close the country’s doors to those seeking refuge, and efforts on the border to help asylum cases. The bishops’ second day of meet- ings also included a presentation of the pope’s document Christus Vivit , which was issued following the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discern- ment. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who had been a delegate at the synod, urged bishops to do more to support Catholic teens and young adults and to use the pope’s apostolic exhorta- tion as their guide. The previous day, Auxiliary Bishop Robert E. Barron of Los Angeles told the bishops the church is losing young people in greater numbers and must face the chal- lenges of how to get the religiously unaffiliated, or “nones,” particu- larly young people, back. The bishops adopted on Nov. 12 adopted the sixth edition of the Pro- gram of Priestly Formation of US dioceses and religious orders. US bishops discuss challenges facing church, country CNS photo by Bob Roller Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, vice president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, pray at Mass during the fall general assembly of the USCCB in Baltimore Nov. 11. Archbishop Gomez, the first Latino to be elected to this role, was chosen with 176 votes from a slate of 10 nominees. He has been USCCB vice president for the past three years and his new role began at the end of the Baltimore gathering.