UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS DOCUMENTATION COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANS

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1 UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS DOCUMENTATION COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANS SUBJECT: Strategic Plan Priorities ACTION ITEM #01: Do the members approve the Strategic Priorities for the USCCB Strategic Plan? VOTE: Majority of Members Present and Voting General Assembly November 16-18, 2015 Baltimore, MD

2 ACTION COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANS Members: Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, Chairman; Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond, Chairman-elect; Bishop Kevin Farrell; Bishop Robert C. Evans (Region I); Bishop William F. Murphy (Region II); Bishop David M. O Connell (Region III); Bishop Paul S. Loverde (Region IV); Bishop Ronald W. Gainer (Region V); Bishop Joseph R. Cistone (Region VI); Bishop David J. Malloy (Region VII); Bishop John T. Folda (Region VIII); Bishop John R. Gaydos (Region IX); Bishop James A. Tamayo (Region X); Bishop Robert W. McElroy (Region XI); Bishop Michael W. Warfel (Region XII); Bishop James S. Wall (Region XIII); Bishop Frank J. Dewane (Region XIV); Bishop John Michael Botean (Region XV) Consultant: Msgr. Ronny E. Jenkins Staff: Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield; Ms. Linda Hunt; Mrs. Joyce Jones; Ms. Helen Osman; Mr. Anthony R. Picarello, Jr., Esq.; Mr. James Rogers; Mr. Robert Yates Approval of Strategic Priorities for the USCCB Strategic Plan. During the June 2015 General Meeting, the Committee on Priorities and Plans presented the Proposed Strategic Priorities for the USCCB Strategic Plan to the body of bishops. The proposed strategic priorities and emphasis areas presented at that time were developed based on inputs from two questions on strategic priorities for the Strategic Plan considered during the November 2014 regional meetings and the results of the January 2015 Bishops Only Online Strategic Priorities Survey. The Committee likewise consulted the National Advisory Council (NAC) regarding proposed strategic priorities for proposed priorities for the strategic plan. The June 2015 presentation thus constituted the third consultation with the body of bishops itself on the priorities for the strategic plan and included the input of the NAC. The June consultation resulted in several interventions from Bishops regarding further refinements to the proposed wording of the proposed strategic priority statements and priority emphasis areas. The General Assembly voted to approve the proposed strategic priorities as working draft priorities to be used in development of the proposed Strategic Plan in the coming months. The exact language of the CPP action item voted upon was: Do the members approve the working draft of the Conference Strategic Priorities for the USCCB Strategic Plan? The vote carried, with 91% in support, 8% opposed, and 1% abstaining. Finally, there was consensus that the working draft priorities should be refined based on Bishops interventions, and re-presented for approval at the November meeting. The refinement, coordinated by the Chairman and chairman-elect, took place during July and August 2015 in consultation with the chairman of the Committees whose mandate areas correspond to the subject area of the respective June interventions. The Committee on Priorities and Plans dedicated extensive consideration to these refinements during the meeting of September 14,

3 at that time the committee unanimously supported, requesting that the Administrative Committee place consideration of the priorities for the USCCB strategic plan on the proposed agenda for the November 2015 General Assembly. The attached strategic priorities for the USCCB strategic plan are therefore presented to the body of bishops for approval. ACTION: Do the members approve the Strategic Priorities for the USCCB Strategic Plan? Archbishop J. Peter Sartain Chairman November

4 REFINED WORKING DRAFT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE USCCB STRATEGIC PLAN I. EVANGELIZATION: OPEN WIDE THE DOORS TO CHRIST THROUGH MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP AND PERSONAL ENCOUNTER USCCB EVANGELIZATION EMPHASIS AREAS: 1. GO INTO ALL COMMUNITIES WITH THE MESSAGE OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO AWAKEN ALL GOD S PEOPLE TO A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER AND RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. THIS CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP SHOULD BE ADDRESSED PARTICULARLY TO THE MARGINALIZED AND THOSE MOST IN NEED OF CHRIST S MERCIFUL LOVE 2. INSPIRE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO ENTER INTO THE JOY OF A SACRAMENTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST 3. REKINDLE THE FIRE OF CHRIST S MERCY, RECONCILIATION AND HEALING AMONG THOSE WHO NO LONGER ATTEND OR HAVE LEFT THE CHURCH 4. FOSTER PERSONAL COMMITMENT AMONG CATHOLICS TO FAITHFUL WEEKLY PARTICIPATION IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF OUR FAITH, THE HOLY EUCHARIST 3

5 II. FAMILY AND MARRIAGE: ENCOURAGE AND HEAL FAMILIES; INSPIRE CATHOLICS TO EMBRACE THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY USCCB FAMILY AND MARRIAGE EMPHASIS AREAS: 1. MAKE THE ADVANCEMENT OF HEALTHY FAMILY LIFE A CENTRAL STRATEGY FOR COMBATING POVERTY AND FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE HOMELESS, THE POOR AND IMMIGRANTS 2. REACH OUT AND ACCOMPANY STRUGGLING OR BROKEN FAMILIES WITH THE MERCY AND HEALING POWER OF CHRIST 3. INVITE AND FORM CATHOLIC YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO EMBRACE THE VOCATION OF LIFELONG, SACRAMENTAL MARRIAGE 4. PROVIDE MEANINGFUL, LIFELONG FORMATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO OR SEEK THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE 5. ENRICH THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY, THE DOMESTIC CHURCH, AND THROUGH IT ENCOURAGE THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS 4

6 III. HUMAN LIFE AND DIGNITY: UPHOLD THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH WITH SPECIAL CONCERN FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE USCCB HUMAN LIFE AND DIGNITY EMPHASIS AREAS: 1. FORM JOYFUL DISCIPLES WILLING TO PROCLAIM IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND FIRMLY REJECT THE THROWAWAY CULTURE OF ABORTION, EUTHANASIA AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE 2. WORK TO ELIMINATE THE DARKNESS CAUSED BY NEGLECT, POVERTY, RACISM AND ADDICTIONS INCLUDING PORNOGRAPHY 3. CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HEALING FOR VICTIMS AND ENSURE THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH EDUCATION, SCREENING, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE ONGOING PROMOTION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS REGARDING THE SCOURGE OF SEXUAL ABUSE THROUGHOUT SOCIETY 4. STUDY AND APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING IN SERVICE TO ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ADVOCACY FOR THE POOR, DISENFRANCHISED, IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES 5

7 5. JOYFULLY INVITE THE IMPRISONED, DISENFRANCHISED AND NEGLECTED INTO THE FULL LIFE OF THE CHURCH 6. TEACH AND ADVOCATE ABOUT INTEGRAL ECOLOGY, EMPHASIZING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE 6

8 IV. VOCATIONS AND ONGOING FORMATION: ENCOURAGE VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND CONSECRATED LIFE, AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL ONGOING FORMATION TO CLERGY, RELIGIOUS, AND LAY MINISTERS USCCB VOCATIONS AND ONGOING FORMATION EMPHASIS AREAS: 1. ASSIST DIOCESES AND EPARCHIES, PARISHES AND FAMILIES TO DEVELOP A CULTURE OF VOCATIONS FOR THE PROMOTION OF VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD, DIACONATE AND CONSECRATED LIFE 2. PROVIDE ONGOING FORMATION TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AMONG ALL PRIESTS, DEACONS, RELIGIOUS, AND LAY MINISTERS 3. RENEW AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A LIFE ROOTED IN PRAYER AS CENTRAL TO THE CALL TO MINISTRY 7

9 V. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: PROMOTE AND DEFEND THE FREEDOM TO SERVE, WITNESS AND WORSHIP, IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD USCCB RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EMPHASIS AREAS: 1. DEFEND THE FREEDOM TO LIVE BY OUR FAITH AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO BOLDLY PROCLAIM CHRIST IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE 2. ADVOCATE FOR AND ASSIST THE GLOBAL CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL WHO, WITHOUT THE GUARANTEE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, ARE SUFFERING PERSECUTION AND MARTYRDOM FOR LIVING THEIR FAITH 3. PROCLAIM THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 4. BUILD A RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MOVEMENT WITHIN AND BEYOND THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 8