Bishop Burbidge - The Arlington Catholic Herald

Faith / Bishop Burbidge

Statement by Bishop Burbidge regarding actions of the USCCB Administrative Committee

The Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement in which four actions were laid out as priorities of the U.S. Bishops as we prepare for our meeting in November.

9/20/18

Bishop Burbidge encourages opt-out for controversial sex education

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge urges parents of children in the public school systems of Fairfax and Loudoun counties to opt their children out of certain Family Life Education classes.

8/28/18

A letter to the faithful

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, recently reminded us of the words of the Apostle Paul: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). With you, I share the suffering of victims of sexual abuse on the part of clergy, and the suffering of all who have lost trust and confidence in leaders of our Church.

8/21/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
Statement from Bishop Burbidge on accusations related to Archbishop Theodore McCarrick

Over the past weeks I, alongside so many others, have been deeply upset to hear of credible and substantiated allegations of sexual abuse by then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. As more accusations have come forward, with stunning similarity and detail, Cardinal McCarrick offered his resignation from the College of Cardinals. Pope Francis directed now-Archbishop McCarrick to live in private, observing prayer and penance until a canonical trial is carried out. More

8/1/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

Statement from Bishop Burbidge for the 4th of July

Each year, Americans gather in prayer and gratitude because nearly two and a half centuries ago, men and women sacrificed everything to establish freedom from tyranny in this great land. Since then, many more men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the rights given by God and enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. While the years have passed, our national appreciation for the virtues of liberty and justice has remained steadfast and resolute. More

7/3/18

Bishop Burbidge appoints Deans

Bishop Burbidge is pleased to appoint Very Reverend Michael Dobbins, V.F., Pastor, St. John Bosco Church, Woodstock, to be the Dean of Deanery IV for a term of 5 years, effective July 1, 2018. More

7/3/18

Bishop Burbidge's statement on 50th anniversary of 'Humanae Vitae'

On July 25, the Church marks the 50th anniversary of Blessed Pope Paul VI’s prophetic encyclical on human life (“Humanae Vitae”). In 1968, at a time of great social and moral confusion, the Holy Father confirmed the beauty of the Church’s teaching on married love and the transmission of life. He cautioned against the false spirit of the world that separates the marital embrace from its life-giving end.More

6/28/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

Statement from Bishop Burbidge on World Refugee Day

On June 20, we celebrate World Refugee Day, welcoming and praying for all refugees, asylees, special immigrant visa holders, and other secondary migrants who were forced to flee the violence or destitution of their homelands. As we raise awareness for newcomers who have recently arrived in our country and Diocese, may we also stand with refugees and commemorate their courage, resilience and perseverance. More

6/20/18

Bishop Burbidge's Memorial Day statement

On this Memorial Day, we solemnly pause to remember those who fought and died for our country through many conflicts, battles and wars to ensure that we continue enjoying the freedom envisioned by our Founders. We also pray in a special way today that our nation and world will be rid of all conflict and division so that we may live together as God’s holy family. More

5/25/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

Statement from Bishop Burbidge on collection for retired priests

The Collection for Retired Diocesan Priests assists us in caring for our current and future retired priests and offers a way to show gratitude for their many years of dedication and faithful service. I encourage all in the Diocese prayerfully to consider a gift to this collection and, in so doing, recognizing the profound impact our priests have had on the mission of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Arlington. More

5/18/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

On the call to holiness in today’s world

Pope Francis' new exhortation is a call to holiness in today’s world, which he notes is “not meant to be a treatise on holiness” but rather a “call to holiness in a practical way for our own time with its risks, challenges and opportunities.” He reminds us that, “the Lord has chosen each one of us to ‘be holy and blameless before him in love’ ” (Eph 1:4), and to “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Mt 5:12) just as Jesus told the crowds on the Sermon on the Mount.More

5/3/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

Bishop Burbidge's statement on the National Day of Prayer

As we pause today, May 3, to offer a National Day of Prayer, we reflect upon this year’s theme: Pray for America—UNITY. More

5/2/18

Bishop Burbidge's statement on World Day of Prayer for Vocations

The Catholic Church celebrates its annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, April 22. More

4/19/18

On ‘Gaudete et Exsultate’

The goal of an apostolic exhortation is to encourage — literally, to “give courage.” In his new apostolic exhortation “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”), Pope Francis achieves this goal by calling us to renewed boldness and courage to pursue holiness. “The only great tragedy in life,” our Holy Father reminds us in the words of Leon Bloy, “is not to become a saint.” More

4/10/18

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

Statement from Bishop Burbidge on the 50th anniversary of MLK's death

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was tragically assassinated 50 years ago today. More

4/4/18

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