Catholic Conference of Ohio The official representative of the Catholic Church in public matters affecting the Church and the general welfare of the citizens of Ohio.

Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month.  As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life.  Visit the CCO issues page and the USCCB Respect Life Progam page for resources.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Robert J. Brennan, Bishop of Columbus, as the Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. The appointment was announced in Washington, D.C. on September 29 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.  A Mass of Installation for Bishop-Designate Robert Brennan will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.  The Conference extends its heartfelt congratulations to Bishop Brennan and deep appreciation for his ministry in Ohio.

The Cathoic Conference of Ohio testified in support of HB 183  legislation to end Ohio's death penalty. The message to the House Criminal Justice Committee:  "It is time for the State of Ohio to abolish the death penalty."  Conference testimony also highlighted that "the Catholic opposition to the death penalty is ultimately rooted in mercy and is eminently pro-life."  

Take Action:  Contact your Ohio Representative.  A companion bill, SB 103 is expected to have more hearings in the fall.  Read Cinciannati Archbishop Schnurr's letter to the faithful in support of SB 103.

Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, bishop emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, died on September 21, 2021, at his residence.  He was 88 and served 26 years as shepherd of the diocese until retiring on May 15, 2006.  Bishop Pilla served on the board of the Catholic Conference of Ohio and was elected in 1995 to a three-year term as president of the National Catholic Conference of Bishops - now called the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Governor DeWine issues four more execution reprieves for a lack of available drugs to carry out Ohio's lethal injection procedure.  The governor's orders announced September 10, 2021, rescheduled executions for between December 2024 and May 2025.  The Conference commends this action.

For Labor Day, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, released a statement observing that there are both encouraging signs of economic recovery and ongoing hardships related to COVID-19.  Archbishop Coakley echoes Pope Francis’ call from the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, to rise out of this crisis with an economy that expresses universal fraternity...

“Hurricane Ida has hit the Gulf Coast and brought with it catastrophic damage with wind, rain, storm surges, and flooding. As the storm moves inland, it continues to hit communities in several states and causing damage. Multiple dioceses of the Church in the United States have been affected. I call on people of good will to join me in praying for the safety, well-being, and protection of everyone in these impacted areas.   We also pray in a special way for the first responders, health care workers, and emergency personnel who bring relief, comfort, and healing...

Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, issued the following statement in response to the Senate’s adoption of the budget resolution:

“While Catholic social teaching is implicated by many components of the budget resolution, we are pleased that the resolution sets up an opportunity for many undocumented persons to receive legal status. For decades, the bishops of the United States have been proponents of such reforms..."

TAKE ACTION! Contact Your Senators and Representative Today

Tell Congress NO MORE DELAY! Urge your senators and representative to support the enactment of immigration reform this year by completing these action alerts:

 SENATE action alert
 HOUSE action alert

Pope Francis has called for an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1, marking the beginning of the "Season of Creation," which lasts through the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4.

Educational and Promotional Materials

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement: 

“...The U.S. Department of Justice is acting in dereliction of its duty to enforce the plain meaning of federal law. It is hard to imagine a more horrific civil rights violation than being forced to take an innocent human life..."