US bishops approve draft of priorities for 2017-2020
June 12, 2015
In what the leadership of the bishops’ conference described as a “straw poll,” the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on June 11 approved a working draft of its strategic plan for 2017-20.
The plan includes five priorities: family and marriage, evangelization, religious freedom, human life and dignity, and vocations and ongoing formation. After several bishops called for a more explicit attention to poverty in the strategic plan, the conference’s leadership decided to hold a vote on the plan as a “working draft” rather than a final document, and it passed by a large 165-14-3 margin in a June 11 vote.
By large margins, the bishops also approved a revised translation of the canticles of the Liturgy of the Hours and a five-year renewal of the US program of priestly formation. Both items require Vatican approval.
Before entering into executive session, the bishops heard from three married couples who testified to the importance of Catholic family life and from Curtis Martin, founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, who discussed how his organization helps students to encounter Christ.
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Further information:
- U.S. Bishops Vote On Conference Priorities, Liturgy Of The Hours, Priestly Formation At General Assembly (USCCB)
- USCCB General Assembly - 2015 June (USCCB)
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