Catholic Bishops

Maryland's Catholic bishops have called for an end to the state's death penalty, challenging lawmakers and the majority of Catholics who support capital punishment. In their six-page statement, "A Prayer for Mercy," the bishops of the Maryland Catholic Conference, which includes the dioceses of Baltimore, Washington (which encompasses some parts of Maryland), and Wilmington, Del. (which includes the Eastern Shore), said Wednesday that they believe "the use or threat of capital punishment in Maryland ... will continue the erosion of respect for life in our society."

The U.S. Catholic bishops, led by Cardinal William H. Keeler, have added their collective voice to the growing call for media to reconsider their portrayals of sex and violence.In a 12-minute video, "Renewing the Mind of the Media: Overcoming the Exploitation of Sex and Violence in Communications," Keeler and other church leaders urge action against what they consider offensive and dangerous portrayals of sex and violence on television, in films, on radio, in print and on the Internet.The video, based on a pastoral letter the bishops issued last year, is being made available to dioceses, parishes and schools nationwide.

Executive Director for Catholics United James Salt says the Catholic bishops' "Fortnight for Freedom" initiative is a "political attack" on President Barack Obama and that the bishops are playing "sexual politics" ("Catholics challenge U.S. health policy," June 22). Baloney! The Catholic bishops did not seek a confrontation with the administration; it was thrust upon them by the Health and Human Services mandate requiring religious institutions to include contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilizations, all contrary to Catholic teaching, in their employees' health plans.

I expect the Catholic bishops to hold the line on abortion and contraceptives. No surprise. ("Catholic bishops vow to hold line," Nov. 14.) Too bad, over the years, the bishops did not speak out as fervently about the "unjust war" the United States waged on Iraq where thousands of military, civilian men, women and children died. Too bad, that the bishops were not as fervent in exposing and excommunicating the pedophile priests in their midst. Too bad the bishops did not send letters to all the churches about the slanderous, vitriolic, unfounded accusations about President Barack Obama.

In their standoff with the Obama administration,Archbishop O'Brienand the other Catholic bishops should blink ("O'Brien's quixotic fight," Feb. 9). Catholics long ago declined to follow the Church's teaching that contraception is immoral. It demeans the important principle of religious freedom to make a stand on behalf of this discredited doctrine. John C. Murphy

Baltimore resident H. Richard McCord has been named executive director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth of the U.S. Catholic bishops conference in Washington.Associate director of the secretariat for the past 10 years, McCord succeeds Dolores Leckey, who is retiring at the end of the year from the post she has held since 1977.Before going to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, McCord served the Archdiocese of Baltimore in various positions for 13 years in the Department of Christian Formation, the Comprehensive Ministry Formation Program, the Division of Adult and Family Ministry and the Division of Adult Religious Education.

HE WAS THE PERFECT candidate to lead a national panel scrutinizing the Roman Catholic church's response to the sexual abuse of children by its priests. Frank Keating was a tough former prosecutor, a governor with a national profile, a devout Catholic unafraid to speak his mind. His resignation this week - after he publicly accused church leaders of obfuscation and likened them to the Mafia - was premature and regrettable. But it shouldn't deter the year-old citizens review panel from holding the bishops accountable in ensuring that children are safe.

Roman Catholic bishops and pastors should appoint more women to leadership positions in the church, U.S. bishopsdeclared yesterday in a 15-page document about the roles women can play in parish and diocesan life.While the document, "From Words to Deeds: Continuing Reflections on the Role of Women in the Church," breaks no new ground in doctrine, it does attempt to shift attention away from what Catholic women cannot do -- be ordained as priests -- to what they can do in the church.The statement suggests placing women in decision-making positions in parishes, dioceses and Catholic organizations; hiring spokeswomen; and training women to act as legislative advocates and community activists.

Keeler's life and times March 4, 1931: Keeler is born in San Antonio. 1952: He graduates with a bachelor's degree from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pa. July 17, 1955: Then-Archbishop Luigi Traglia ordains him a priest at the Church of the Holy Apostles, Rome. 1956: Keeler graduates from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome with his licentiate in sacred theology. 1961: Keeler earns his doctorate in canon law at the Gregorian University. 1962-1965: He serves as special adviser during the Second Vatican Council.