• National Migration Week set for January (04-255)
  December, 30 2004
  The nation's bishops have designated January 2-8 as National Migration Week, and have asked Catholics to mark the week with special prayers and activities that highlight the contributions of immigrants, migrants, refugees and people on the move to the United States and the Church's mission of welcoming them.
• Pope's Peace Message has Implications for United States (04-254)
  December, 30 2004
  Pope John Paul II's message for the World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1, "has special implications" for the United States, said the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops International Policy Committee in a statement released today.
• USCCB President Expresses Solidarity With Tsunami Victims (04-253)
  December, 29 2004
  As the death toll from Sunday's tsunami continues to rise rapidly, Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops today offered prayers for the victims and solidarity for the survivors.
• Pope Creates Ecclesiastical Province Of Galveston-Houston; Accepts Resignation Of Abp. Flores In San Antonio And Names Bishop Jose Gomez As His Successor; Appoints New Bishops For Saginaw And La Crosse (04-252)
  December, 29 2004
  Pope John Paul II has created the new Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston-Houston and has elevated the See of Galveston-Houston to a Metropolitan See. Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, who has led the diocese for the past 20 years, will become the first Archbishop of Galveston-Houston.
• Catholic Film Office Announces Best Films Of 2004; Among Them: The Passion, Aviator And Shall We Dance? (04-251)
  December, 22 2004
  The U.S. Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting named movies ranging from Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ to The Aviator, a tale of entrepreneur Howard Hughes, and the romantic Shall We Dance? to its list of Top Ten Films of 2004.
• Worth Noting – January 2005 (04-250)
  December, 22 2004
  
• Late Congressional Action on Several Bills Addressed Issues of Major Importance to the Catholic Bishops (04-249)
  December, 17 2004
  In the final weeks of this Congress, several issues of major importance to the Catholic Bishops were addressed.
• American Bishops Overseas Appeal Renamed The Catholic Relief Services Collection (04-248)
  December, 17 2004
  The American Bishops Overseas Appeal has been renamed the Catholic Relief Services Collection, reflecting a more focused effort to support emergency relief, human development, and peace initiatives around the world.
• Pittsburgh Diocesan Official Is Named Auxiliary Bishop (04-247)
  December, 16 2004
  Pope John Paul II has named Monsignor Paul J. Bradley, General Secretary and Vicar General of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, to serve as Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh.
• Father Robert J. Vitillo Will Leave Catholic Campaign for Human Development For New Post With Caritas Internationalis (04-246)
  December, 16 2004
  Father Robert J. Vitillo, for the past eight years Executive Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, will leave CCHD for a new post with Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based global confederation of national Catholic social service and development organizations that operate in some 200 countries.
• Down the Road – January Calendar (04-245)
  December, 16 2004
  
• Bishops' Spokeswoman Criticizes Abortion Advocates' Suit To Allow Discrimination Against Pro-Life Doctors (04-244)
  December, 13 2004
  Today a pro-abortion association whose members include Planned Parenthood announced plans to file a federal lawsuit against the pro-life conscience protection in the newly-enacted federal spending bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005.
• Streaming Video of Bishops' Meeting to Continue Through the End of the Year (04-243)
  December 10, 2004
  The Department of Communications of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that streaming video of portions of the proceedings from the USCCB's Fall General Meeting in Washington, DC, will continue to be available on the Conference website through January 3, 2005.
• Bishops' Official Applauds Pro-Life 'Conscience Protection' Provision of Appropriations Bill (04-242)
  December 9, 2004
  Yesterday President Bush signed into law a federal spending bill which includes a provision prohibiting discrimination against hospitals and health care providers who choose not to provide or participate in abortions.
• Bishop Wilton Gregory Named to Succeed Archbishop Donoghue in Atlanta; National Shrine Rector Will Succeed Bishop Schmitt in Wheeling-Charleston (04-241)
  December 8, 2004
  Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Archbishop John F. Donoghue of Atlanta and appointed Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville to succeed him.
• Pope Calls For All Out Effort To End The 'Scourge Of Aids,' Lauds Pharmaceutical Companies That Keep Drug Prices Down (04-240)
  December 8, 2004
  In a message for the World Day of the Sick, to be celebrated in Africa early next year, Pope John Paul II said "Everyone should feel involved in the fight against AIDS.
• World Day For Consecrated Life Celebrated Feb. 6 In U.S. (04-239)
  December 6, 2004
  The U.S. celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life will be held Sunday, Feb. 6, across the nation.
• Catholic Communication Campaign Christmas Special To Air On NBC-TV Stations (04-238)
  December 1, 2004
  Washington's newly-renovated Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle is the setting for "Christmas from the Cathedral of St. Matthew," to be distributed to NBC-TV stations December 19th.

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