Source: Dallas Morning News
Wire Service: AP
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/111704dnnatbishops.672b9698.html
On November 17, 2004 the Associated Press reported, "the nation's Roman Catholic bishops voted Wednesday to join a new alliance that would be the broadest Christian group ever formed in the United States, linking American evangelicals and Catholics in an ecumenical organization for the first time. Separately, church leaders also authorized a third-round of annual audits of all U.S. dioceses to determine whether they are complying with the bishops' policies on preventing clergy sex abuse. The bishops also agreed to launch a multiyear initiative that would aim to strengthen marriage by, among other projects, raising awareness about church teaching on the importance of the sacrament and provide resources for church programs on preventing divorce. The votes came as the bishops' worked to wrap up business at their fall meeting, which ends Thursday."