Bishop's Statements

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

On Feb. 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to the mandate that violates the religious freedom and religious expression of faith-based institutions. The announced notice fell far short of addressing concerns raised by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Those concerns are:

First, the administration continues its narrow understanding of religious ministry.

STATEMENT ON REVISED HHS MANDATE BY BISHOP DAVID A. ZUBIK 

Bishop David A. Zubik issued the following statement on the Notice of Proposed Rule Making issued by the Department for Health and Human Services concerning the HHS Mandate:

To the Clergy, Religious and Faithful of the Diocese of Pittsburgh:

We have seen the news coverage of the devastation wrought from the wind, rain and flooding of Hurricane Sandy. The east coast of our nation has been dramatically altered by this disaster. The magnitude of this storm, first of all in human lives and secondly in material damage, is unfathomable. Over 100 lives have been lost; over a million people are still without power; tens of thousands are homeless; whole communities remain underwater; roads, bridges, subways are flooded.

The campaign has finally ended. The election is done. The citizens of our country have weighed in through the ballot box. I congratulate President Barack Obama on his re-election and thank Governor Mitt Romney for carrying out a vigorous national campaign. Speaking for the Catholic community, I also thank the senatorial, congressional, and state candidates for their commitment to public service and their willingness to serve in these difficult times.

It has been a distinctly difficult and at times a very harsh campaign.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Very often over the course of the last several weeks, I’ve gotten the question: “What should I do on Election Day?” My answer is always the same: “VOTE!”

To be sure, some people might be looking for a bit more, even to the point of wanting me to tell them who the best candidate might be from my perspective, or from the perspective of the church.

That, I won’t do. That, the church won’t do. That, neither the church nor I can do. The church is not a political party nor any part of government. Neither am I.

By John Franko

Staff Writer 

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua hoped that he would be remembered as someone who, despite his weaknesses, tried to be a good bishop in union with everyone in the Church of Pittsburgh.

"I would like to be remembered as someone who tried to bring Christ to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the diocese to Christ," he told the Pittsburgh Catholic in January 1988, shortly before he left the diocese to become archbishop of Philadelphia.

Cardinal Bevilacqua, who died Jan.