America's Roman Catholic bishops came to Baltimore at least 10 times in the 19th century to discuss issues they shared and make decisions that affected their far-flung flock. The bishops' meeting did not return again until 1989 -- for the bicentennial of the diocese, the first established in the United States.
This week, they have retraced their steps to the country's "premier see" for the fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with issues on the agenda including ministry to gays and clarifying the church's stance on contraception.
About 250 clerics opened the meeting yesterday evening with pageantry and a Mass at the restored Basilica of the Assumption -- and against a backdrop outside the historic cathedral of demonstrators protesting the church stance against the ordination of women and its handling of sexual abuse by priests.
"Being together again in this basilica -- newly returned to an ancient glory -- we are mindful of the responsibilities facing us as we, too, chart a course for the future of our church," Cardinal William H. Keeler said during his homily.
Wearing miters, the bishops proceeded across Cathedral Street from the central Enoch Pratt Free Library to the basilica -- through an aisle formed by a color corps of the Knights of Columbus.
Congregants applauded Keeler -- still recovering from an automobile crash in Italy -- as he used a walker to approach the altar.
Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, the main celebrant of the Mass, is a Baltimore native and a former auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, and he was acting as special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI. He offered an apostolic blessing for those inside the church, including many invited guests, as well as those watching the service on the Internet or on television.
Stafford carried the pastoral staff that Baltimore's third archbishop, Ambrose Marechal, used when he dedicated the cathedral in 1821. During the service, the envoy blessed wine that had been poured into a chalice given to Marechal by Pope Pius VII, and also used by Pope John Paul II at his 1995 Mass at Oriole Park.
Outside the church, a small group of protesters tried to share their views with the bishops and cardinals. Victims of clergy sex abuse and advocates for the ordination of women waved signs at Cathedral and Mulberry streets.
